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Express & Echo feature - 06 October 2010

Take note if you're looking to have fun

Pass St Sidwell's School on a Monday evening and you may hear the joyous sound of a group of 50-somethings belting out "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. This is no organised choir, however, but the voices of Forever Young, a community singing group who meet once a week to sing for the sheer fun of it.

Set up by Dave McGeorge, of Stoke Hill, in 2007, the group operates on an extremely informal basis and anyone is welcome to go along, whether every week or just occasionally. "It is just singing for the love of it really; that's why I call it singing for fun," says Dave. "We don't rehearse and we never do any performances – every time we sing we are performing just for ourselves."

The group started with about 17 members, a children's party karaoke machine and a huge old television set, which showed the words to the songs, that Dave had to lug into the school every Monday. As the group has grown, the words are now projected on to the wall of the school hall and the weekly class fee of £3 goes towards the hire of the hall and purchasing more backing tracks. There is also a social element to the evening, as the group organises nights out two or three times a year.

Forever Young, which takes its name from the Bob Dylan song, which Dave says, ruefully, was the only song at the start no one knew, meets at 7pm every Monday and sings for two hours, with a break in the middle. "We now have a big list of songs and backing tracks and people choose the songs we are to sing that night. Usually we get through 28 or 29 songs and most people know the tunes." "I've got songs from the 1940s right up to the present day – there is just a massive range of music with many different styles," he says.

The group attracts all sorts of people, Dave says, and they benefit from their location in the centre of the city, with plenty of public transport access plus parking in and around the school. "We have people who already go to proper singing groups and also those who enjoy singing on their own in the car or the shower but would never want to do it in public. It is just fun to sing a lot of songs, rather than perhaps in a more formal setting where you can rehearse the same part over and over again one night. "When you project the words on the wall, you have 40 people singing, rather than just one. No one feels obliged to be really good and yet depending on who's there you sometimes get this amazing sound. Of course I am biased, but sometimes I listen and think how fantastic it is. And if people want to join in all they have to do is turn up or they can contact me by email."

It is clear that for people who just want to have a good old sing-song, Forever Young is a great way of doing just that without any pressure. And although the average age is in the fifties, people in their thirties are just as welcome as those in their eighties. "It is really the informality that people love, I think. Right from the word go I have always stressed the things that you don't need to be able to do in order to come and sing with us. Sometimes they don't even need to be able to sing," Dave laughs. "That might sound a bit strange, but if people come along and then don't want to sing on the night or even sing along very quietly, then they can. We're not going to tell them off."

Forever Young meets at St Sidwell's School, York Road, EX4 6PG every Monday night from 7-9pm. For more information, either just turn up on the night or email for.everyoung@hotmail.co.uk

Express & Echo Feature - 01 October 2007

ENJOYMENT OF SINGING IS BETTER THAN ANY THERAPY

You do not have to be a great vocalist to enjoy Forever Young, an informal singing group held in Exeter every Monday evening. Regulars of all abilities attend sessions, which give them a chance to socialise and to relax after a hard day's work, as well as trying their voices at a range of songs.  For a novel way to chase away those Monday blues, regulars at Exeter singing group Forever Young say sessions are cheaper than therapy and more fun.  People of all abilities are welcomed at the sessions, which are held at St Sidwell's School in York Road every Monday evening.  In each session, every member chooses backing tracks from a growing song bank, and try to get through as many of their choices as possible.

The group, named after the Bob Dylan song Forever Young, was set up in January 2007 by Dave McGeorge, from Stoke Hill, who works in publications and marketing.  He said: "We used to sing with our families at home and thought we would see whether it would work doing it with other people."  "I think the main thing to say is that it is fun. It is a good start to the week and gives people the chance to let their hair down."  Singers aged from their 20s to their 60+ attend the group and this is reflected in the eclectic mix of songs chosen.

Exmouth supply teacher Bernard Walsh, who first attended the group in its second week, said that is what makes the sessions interesting.  "It is very open-ended," he said. "Every week is different. You could have a song from Oklahoma, then a song by Katie Tunstall. You don't know what's coming up next, which is part of the fun."  A member of several singing groups, including the Northcott Gospel Choir, Bernard attends Forever Young just for enjoyment. He also likes the group because it is for people of all abilities, with no pressure to join in.
"We all have a good sing-song and are not put on the spot," he said. "If you want to join in, you can or if you just want to sit and watch, you can. You haven't got to keep in tune. That is why it is so attractive to people."

Julian Pegley, from Broadclyst, heard about the group from his sister. He wanted to sing without making a commitment, so Forever Young is ideal. "The thing about Forever Young is that you choose what songs you sing," he said. "The other part is that you try songs that you wouldn't normally have tried, but you end up learning them and appreciating them."  "You don't have to be great. You can sing in a large group of people and are not on your own. It is your own choice and is very lighthearted and easy."  "At the end of the two hours, which goes too quickly, you feel uplifted. When we try a song and it sounds absolutely rubbish, we have a laugh about it.
"It is a bit of fun, where you meet new people. It is an enjoyable two hours and, if it suits you, it is addictive."

Another regular is 24-year-old administrator Alan Simpkin, from Exmouth, who first went along in February, after hearing about it from a friend at work. He said: "There is a relaxed and informal atmosphere and no expectation that you have to know everything that's going on. I would definitely recommend it. It is an opportunity to meet new people, who are very friendly and welcome you into the group."

Masters student Anna Mooney, from the city centre, is friends with group founder Dave and has attended sessions from the start. She said: "I like singing and it's a fun group. It's an informal group for anyone who enjoys singing." "There are lots of singing groups out there, but this group is more of a democracy and there is not a leader."

Administrator Sue Stocks, from Countess Wear, has been going to the group with her daughter for 10 weeks.
She said: "I have always sung in a structured music group and was looking for something more relaxed. Forever Young filled the gap admirably. It is friendly and the music is from my era."

The group meets at St Sidwell's School every Monday, between 7pm and 9pm, and welcomes new singers.