Last weekend saw the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers celebrating their 50th anniversary at their annual Convention. The association had done an excellent job getting everyone to look forward to it, not just with their communications throughout the year, but also with anniversary pins sent to every member, anniversary merch, and a new arrangement of Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold’ to mark the occasion. Many of these, including crucially the new song, had been introduced for the Harmony College back in April, so we could arrive musically prepared and emotionally ready.
It was without doubt the biggest LABBS Convention I have been to – and I’ve attended every one since 1997. (Indeed, one of the things I’ve found quite boggling is what a high proportion of the life of the organisation my 30-year membership represents.) The groups who are always there were there, plus lots of the groups who only come sometimes quite sensibly chose this year as one to make the effort.
