Cwmbach Choir at Staple Hill Methodist Church Bristol

Last Saturday (10/06/2023) saw us return to one of our favourite venues, Staple Hill Methodist Methodist Church and what a welcome return it was.

We set out from Aberdare at 4pm in high spirits with everyone on the coach bristling with excitement for the upcoming performance. On arrival at the church we quickly regrouped in order to set up and sound check alongside our guest solo performer Gareth Blake before the audience arrived.

As usual the concert was well attended and the audience were very welcoming, listening intently to every bar and responding with appreciation and enthusiasm at all times. They were truly wonderful.

Our set included traditional welsh songs O Gymru, Myfanwy, and Tydi a Roddaist (whos final Amen took the roof off) as well as more contemporary songs like You’ll never Walk Alone, World in Union and This is the Moment to name but a few.

The audience were equally as appreciative for Gareths solo spots. Consisting of a solo set on cello in the first half and then singing a few songs on his own in the second half (Old Man River being a particular favourite), his beautiful, rich, bass tones resonated throughout the room and gave you goosebumps.

An incredible concert indeed.

And it didn’t stop there!

Fired up and wanting to carry on we moved ourselves to the pub opposite where the afterglow (informal singing that takes place in a pub after the concert) took place with much gusto.

The pub was entertained with a selection of old favourites from Tom Jones to the Beach Boys and we even did a few requests to rapturous applause and cheers from the pubs customers.

Not a night we’ll forget in a hurry and we’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year.