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Hand in Hand Asia / Singapore

Attending Hand in Hand Asia was an extraordinary opportunity to experience the depth, diversity and resilience of LGBTQ+ choral culture across the region. The festival brought together choirs from across Asia, each carrying its own cultural history, political context and unique sound. Hearing these voices side by side was powerful — not just musically, but socially and politically. There was a real sense of solidarity in song, shaped by shared joy and very different lived experiences.

The workshops were especially eye-opening. Many choirs spoke candidly about how they navigate LGBTQ+ life in countries where visibility is limited or even risky. Some shared how making music means working against systems that restrict expression or identity, yet they still find creative ways to gather, perform and build community. Their determination to sing — not in spite of adversity, but as a response to it — was deeply moving and expanded my understanding of what queer choral activism can look like.

It was a privilege to represent Blackpool and run a Singing for Creative Health workshop at the festival. I spoke about the journey of Electric Pink Voices — a choir rooted in a town facing huge economic and social challenges, yet thriving through connection, creativity and care. Our links with Blackpool Public Health, local partners and national organisations have allowed us to grow something meaningful in a place that is often written off. Sharing that story with international choirs sparked rich conversations about wellbeing, resilience and community power.

Singapore itself was an incredible host — generous, organised, vibrant and full of heart. The hospitality and care shown by the festival organisers made every participant feel welcomed and celebrated. To stand in a space where cultures, politics and identities converged through music was something I’ll carry forward. The experience reinforced not only the power of choirs in our own communities, but the global relevance of what we’re building in Blackpool.

Blackpool Pride Vigil

Blackpool Pride this year was a powerful moment for Electric Pink Voices, and being invited to sing on the main stage felt like a real celebration of the work we’re doing in the town. Our set brought together songs that speak to belonging, courage and joy, and it was moving to look out and see so many people singing and smiling with us. Later in the day, we joined forces with Renaissance to take part in the Pride Vigil, which gave the event a deeper sense of reflection and purpose.

The vigil was led with real grace and strength by Tiara, who spoke beautifully about the history and ongoing impact of HIV and AIDS in our communities. She grounded the space in remembrance, dignity and hope. We chose songs with lyrics that spoke to home, solidarity and collective strength, honouring those we’ve lost while standing firmly with those still fighting for visibility, health and justice. The meaning of a Pride Vigil isn’t just remembrance — it’s about acknowledging the struggle that made Pride possible, holding space for grief and resilience, and recommitting ourselves to protecting and uplifting each other. It was an honour to lend our voices to that moment.

New York Gay Mens Chorus

While in New York City, I had the wonderful opportunity to connect with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. Meeting their Musical Director on a couple of occasions gave me a real insight into the scale of their organisation — the incredible membership, the quality of their sound, and the way they structure and manage such a large and dynamic choir. As both a Creative Producer and Musical Director, it was invaluable learning to see how they balance artistry with organisation, community with professionalism. Just as importantly, it was beautiful to begin building a relationship with their team, who also direct the GALA Festival week in the USA. I left feeling inspired, and I hope to reconnect with them at their next GALA festival to continue sharing and learning across our choral communities.

Singing by the Sea from 5 to 103

Singing by the Sea was a community music project I had the privilege to both co-produce and musically direct, bringing together people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities through song and shared stories. The project was rooted in our seaside identity, using music as a way to explore place, memory, belonging and wellbeing. What made it particularly special was its openness — everyone from seasoned singers to complete beginners took part, including members of Connect Choir and young people from a local primary school who had never been part of anything like it before.

One of the most powerful elements was the cross-generational collaboration. Older participants shared memories, while younger voices brought fresh perspectives and energy. These contributions helped break down stereotypes and created a genuine sense of shared ownership over the project. It wasn’t just about performance — it was about connection, dignity and celebrating the voices that are so often unheard.

StreetLife – Big Sing

Streetlife Blackpool is a vital youth homelessness charity working with some of the most vulnerable young people in the town – including many who identify as LGBTQ+ and have faced rejection, family breakdown or unsafe living situations. Homelessness disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ people, especially young people who are navigating identity, stigma and isolation without support. Streetlife provides emergency accommodation, advocacy, counselling and pathways to independence, giving hope and dignity where it’s most needed.

This year, Electric Pink Voices were honoured to sing at Streetlife’s Big Sleep Out, where fundraisers spent a night on the streets to raise awareness and essential funds. We offered our voices in solidarity, using singing for creative health to bring warmth, connection and encouragement to everyone taking part. It was powerful to stand alongside a community determined to highlight homelessness and create change, and we were proud to support such meaningful work in our hometown.

Devilled Eggs – Black Liver – Community Chorus

Welcome to the Dakota Guest House!
The most glamorous B&B this side of Blackpool!

It was a Joy to arrange the opening number of this new musical to include local community members to integrate into this production.

The Dakota is the true spirit of Variety; comedy, music and mystery are resident guests here and every room has its tale to tell.  Let your hosts, Roman and Prudence, flip through their guest book and regale you with showbiz stories and anecdotes.  From their heyday as “the B&B to the stars” to their present day haven of secrets, Ro and Pru will introduce you to the characters that reside in The Dakota.  Expect songs, sketches and verse as each guest room opens.

Credit: Blackliver

Pride through Creative Lives

Thought ‘Creative Lives’ Know Your Neighbourhood fund, Phill was able to produce a programme that enabled Electric Pink Voices to sing with Pride in their hometown. The week started with stage make up workshops, allowing members to express themselves creatively in a safe space. Throughout the week they attended photography exhibition openings celebrating 30 years of funny girls. They then had a tour of Showtown, Blackpool’s new museum followed by a choir performance prior to a heritage talk about the life of an LGBTQ+ historical Blackpool character Colonel Barker from the 1920’s.

The choir took to an open top heritage bus thanks to Blackpool Council and sang their way down the golden mile, before heading to perform on the Pride main stage to a warm and welcoming home crowd. On the Sunday they opened the community Lord Street party singing their co produced Pride Set.

Summer Singing at Lowther

Getting out and about and connecting across the wider community is very important to us, so we were excited to have the opportunity to perform in The Tent at Lowther Pavilion over the summer. This was an opportunity for us to bring choirs together to share their songs and support each other in an afternoon of music in the sunshine. From Easter, the choirs had been learning their pieces to share, and through these rehearsals we upskilled our musicianship to sing confidently together and collectively produced a sound the members should be proud of. The afternoon was full of creativity, fun, support and singing that boosted wellbeing, and gave carers and members, whatever their personal situation, the chance to catch up with friends, be creative and sing out. Each voice in the choir is valued and listened to. Thanks also to BBC Radio Lancs for coming down and giving us the opportunity to share our music and what we do throughout Lancashire.

Be Who You Want To Be Launch

Electric Pink Voices proudly sang as the Be Who You Want To Be village quarter officially launched, celebrating Blackpool’s long standing LGBTQ+ heritage and building on the existing area in Claremont to support equality and inclusion whilst celebrating the diversity in our town. Blackpool Council and its partners including:

• The Blackpool North Shore Business Group
• Renaissance Charity
• LGBT+ Facebook Friends
• Hoteliers group BAGS
• Blackpool Pride Festival
• Electric Pink Voices

all made an action plan in hopes that it will catalyse the regeneration of the area and also build an inclusive culture in the wider town.

Jane Claire Bradley’s book launch

Through our new partnership with Blackpool Central Library, we’re collaborating with a series of Queer authors throughout the year and curating co produced events, bringing our lyrics and songs to cohesively run alongside and relate to the authors narrative. We were blown away by the community support at the first launch.

Blackpool Creative Network

The Old Electric host a regular monthly breakfast meeting and networking opportunity open to any creative professionals living or working in Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre.  The focus of these meetings will be to:

• share plans & programmes in order to connect with and complement each others’ ideas
• discuss larger funding applications and how we can offer value to each others’ bids
• find out about ideas for positive practical solutions eg ticketing, training, work experience etc.
• network informally across organisations and individuals
• engage with presentations about current relevant initiatives and projects
• take inspiration from occasional inspirational speakers from artist communities & other relatable fields 
• participate in moments of creative activity
• explore how skills-sharing and other forms of currency can be developed in the town
• disseminate commissioning opportunities and other information

They have built invaluable partnerships and offered opportunities I’m incredibly grateful for. See you there!

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Chester StoryHouse

In 2023, Chester launched Storyhouse Queer as a brand new festival and invited people of all ages and identities to join us in celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and putting queer talent centre stage. This year Electric Pink Voices were invited to perform as Storyhouse Queer returned with an all new programme of specially curated events across their theatre, cinema, library and community spaces – celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community both in Chester and beyond.

Christmas Carol Collaboration at the Harbour

A beautiful event in the calendar is our Christmas caroling visit to The Harbour, a mental health hospital in Lancashire. We come together and sing with/and for patients who’ll be staying onsite over the festive season. It’s great to offer a wellbeing session to the NHS staff and members at the Harbour, and we’re currently exploring a partnership with a research team to show the benefits of music for physical, mental health and well-being.

Connect Community Choir over Zoom

Staying creatively connected is the core of how we deliver our work, but we didn’t let covid stop us. Throughout the isolated periods of lock down, from the very first week, we met every week without fail on Zoom to sing together and check in on one another. If you can’t make it to our Tuesday morning choir 10 am – 11.30 am, email us on connectcommunityuk@gmail.com for the zoom code. 

A Cross Generational Christmas 

After several separate rehearsals with Connect Community Choir and St John’s Primary school in Blackpool, we brought the two groups together for an afternoon of cross generational Christmas activities. The group had prompted questions and shared past christmas stories before donning their christmas hats for an emotional sing along. A huge thank you to the children from St John’s for the positivity and joy they brought to the event.

Tramshed signed Sing-A-Long

Access and Inclusivity are two of the important foundations that shape Connect Community Groups, and it’s always a pleasure to work with the Tramshed Theatre Company who create outstanding theatre which inspires and celebrates everyone. Last December their group of young creative singers came and shared their signing with our singers from Wesley’s Cafe Choir and Connect Community Choir