‘Alt’

Singing in the Shed

March 22 - 24 2024

NOW in our 8th year,

… Singing in the Shed is a friendly, open access men’s singing weekend suitable for absolutely all men. There's no need to read music, and you don't even need any prior experience. All you need is the desire to have a great weekend making music in amazing spaces!

(Yes, 2024 will have a few differences to previous years - hence the ‘Alt’ in the title - but at its core, it’s the same event you know and love).

The next event will take place on
March 22nd - 24th 2024.

Morris Hall, Shrewsbury

WATCH

Our promo video gives you a solid sense of what Singing in the Shed is like, all in just 59 seconds!

How does it work?

Two expert leaders teach everything “by ear”, listen and repeat. There’s no need to read music. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can pick up brilliant songs in three or four part harmony

WHO is it for?

This is an event for all men. You don’t need to be able to read music, and you don’t need any prior experience - just the desire to have a brilliant time!

WHAT do you sing?

We’ve sung new and old pop songs, African tribal and Georgian drinking songs, sea shanties, songs in Welsh, songs in Xhosa… Our leaders are experts are picking songs that just ‘work’ for our group

where is it?

Our 2024 event takes place in historic Shrewsbury - nestled in a loop of the River Severn, lined with half-timbered houses and surrounded by a wealth of excellent pubs and restaurants

what’s the schedule?

Sessions will take place Friday 7.30-9.30pm, Saturday 10am - 6pm, and Sunday 10.30am - 3pm. The rest of the time is yours to relax, socialise, eat, drink - and sing!

where will WE sing?

In 2024 our sessions will alternate between the incredible acoustic and atmosphere of St Mary’s Church, and the charming and historic Morris Hall

MEET The leaders

  • Anna Tabbush

    Anna is a composer/arranger, choir conductor, singer and multi-instrumentalist based in West Sussex, UK. She currently runs Guildford Vox Community Choir and Horsell Community Choir. Her compositions and arrangements are popular with community choirs across Britain and the world. She has recently published a number of them with Choir Community.

  • Philip Read

    Philip is a singer, choir leader and one of the founders of Singing in the Shed. He started ‘MAN CHOIR’, his first community choir in 2013, and today it is a 40-strong group of passionate and enthusiastic singers. Philip also runs The Best Sing Since Sliced Bread, a mixed community choir with 60 members, and holds a diploma in choir conducting from the Royal Academy in Denmark.

cost and booking

Changes for 2024

If you have been to Singing in the Shed before, you should be aware of two key changes for the next event: firstly, it is taking place in Shrewsbury city centre, and secondly, this time, no meals or accommodation are included. However, there are many excellent options for both nearby.

Shrewsbury has more than 100 hotels covering all budgets, including two extremely reasonable Travelodges and a Premier Inn, and Airbnb has many beautiful properties available too. For meals, both singing venues are located right in the centre of the city and surrounded by a wealth of good choices.

Cost

Tickets for Singing in The Shed 2024 cost £95 per person.

This includes: access to all the singing sessions on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday day time, the Shed Cabaret on Saturday evening, and bottomless tea, coffee and biscuits throughout the weekend.

This does not include: any meals or accommodation.

Dates and times

The event will run from 7.30pm on Friday 22nd March to 3.30pm on Sunday 24th March 2024.

Booking

To book, just click the button!

What they say

Over the years we have been fortunate enough to get a lot of fantastic feedback from our singers. Here’s just a small selection of comments:

“Musically, the leaders were brilliant, the songs a superb eclectic mix.”

Simon

“As a novice, I found it truly accessible whilst being delighfully challenging and rewarding.”

John

“Cannot fault anything. Perfect pace of teaching, great selection of songs.”

Alan

“My first time. An amazing experience I would like to repeat next year..”

Phil

“It's impossible to find fault, a wonderful weekend!”

John

“The overall experience is magical.”

Declan

FAQ

  • We hope to either book a room in a pub, or at least be able to direct singers towards a particular pub, for optional pub singing after the singing on Friday evening. We will keep you posted.

  • As part of the changes necessary to run our 2024 event, we will be using two leaders, Anna and Philip, instead of the ‘usual’ four. We’re absolutely confident that you will still have a brilliant weekend of singing.

  • Yes, there will be a low key performance at the end of the weekend. It will take place in St Mary’s at 3.00pm on the Sunday. You are welcome to invite any friends and family for this informal performance.

  • It’s possible, but it’s not clear yet. We’ll tell you more when we know it.

  • Dave is, happily, absolutely fine, but other commitments in his life means he is unable to help with organising Shed this year - which in turn necessitates the changes to the event. We hope that Dave will return to the team next year.

  • The event begins with a two hour workshop at 7.30pm in central Shrewsbury, on Friday 22nd March.

    The main singing session on the Saturday will start at 10am and run until approximately 5.30pm, with tea breaks and lunch.

    The Sunday session will start at 10.30am and will run until 3.30pm. Please note that this is slightly later than the event has run previously.

  • For all queries, please email us at singshed@gmail.com.