Ipswich Orpheus Choral, Amberley Brass, Jam Pact to perform Best of British at SPARK Ipswich festival

With sounds from the 1800s, the 1960s and now, a huge night of music is in store for audience members at this SPARK Ipswich event.

The Amberley Brass Band, Ipswich Orpheus Chorale and Jam Pact will share the stage on Friday night for Best of the British in the SPARK Ipswich festival.

A 70-person-strong rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody is in store for SPARK Ipswich audiences on Friday night.

Musicians from three Ipswich bands have formed a supergroup to present an evening of music as part of the inaugural SPARK Ipswich festival.

Two of the city’s oldest musical institutions, Ipswich Orpheus Chorale and Amberley Brass, have joined forces with 1960s-esque Jam Pact.

Conductor Robert Shearer said the event would be a celebration of all things English and all things musical in Ipswich.

“English music tends to be the bread and butter of brass bands and, certainly from the choir’s perspective, we’re very much in the English tradition,” Mr Shearer said.

He said the choir and brass band had met by chance and found they could perform carols together.

“We happened to know two Christmas carols in the same key,” he said.

“So we started singing with them in those two songs.

“The idea bloomed to try and combine as many of the Ipswich-based musical groups as possible for a concert.”

Brisbane-based Camerata, Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, will perform alongside the Ipswich groups.

Mr Shearer said the bands would serve up an evening that would suit just about any music fan’s taste.

“We wanted a show that would have something for everyone,” he said.

“We go the full gamut from the 1800s right the way through to the modern day.

“Anyone who’s enjoyed the pub rock circuit will hear pub rock stuff with 50 voices singing it.”

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Older pieces such as Edward Elgar’s famous tear-jerker Nimrod will share the setlist with sounds of the Beatles, The Who and Fleetwood Mac.

About 70 musicians will come together to bring Queen’s 70s classic Bohemian Rhapsody to life.

“We’re actually getting the rock band and string orchestra together with the choir for that one,” Mr Shearer said.

“That ends up being about 70 performers at once, rocking out.

“It’s a heap of fun.”

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Tickets were already being snapped up but began selling even more quickly after the State Government announced the three-day Covid lockdown.

“We were very, very scared when the lockdown happened because we expected ticket sales to stop stone dead,” Mr Shearer said.

“In fact the opposite happened and they started selling quicker.”

The show will take place on Friday July 16, 7pm-9pm, at St Mary’s Church, Woodend.

To buy tickets, visit the website.

Read more news by Ebony Graveur here.