The
Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS) recently launched their
2015 Convention in fine vocal harmony at an evening of singing and much
banter. The event was launched by Maire Hunt, Chairperson of IABS, and
Edward Horkan, represented the Mayo International Choral Festival
(Chairman), the working team on the ground who will assist with the
running of the event. The national award winning female Barbershop
quartet - Note-Orious 4 and also the sizzling Sandbars male quartet
provided a taste of what's to come in October - and boy were they in top
vocal form!
Maire
Hunt said “We are delighted to be bringing our celebration of
Barbershop Singing to Castlebar this year. We have great interest from a
lot of overseas groups who want to come to the West of Ireland. Our big
announcement is that we can confirm that Storm Front, one of the
premier quartets in the USA, will be our guests at the 2015 Convention”.
She also thanked the Mayo International Choral Festival for their
ongoing help, the Royal Theatre, the TF Royal Hotel and Harlequin Hotel
for their assistance with the launch.
Edward
Horkan, stated that, as Chairperson of Mayo International Choral
Festival and on behalf of the committee, he was delighted to welcome
Maire Hunt and the Barbershop Singers to the official launch of
The IABS Convention and is looking forward to an extremely successful
event this October.
Pat
Jennings who spoke on behalf of the Royal Theatre and Martina Nicholson
from The Harlequin Hotel said that the team was eager to show the
Barbershop delegates true Mayo hospitality throughout their stay in
Castlebar.
Michael
Baynes, Castlebar tourism and events coordinator, expressed the
importance of so many visitors coming to Castlebar over the IABS weekend
and what a fantastic opportunity it was for both the Barbershop
delegates and the people of Mayo to have such a wonderful convention in
the county town. He thanked IABS for deciding to host their convention
in Castlebar.
Every
year the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS) hold Quartet
and Chorus competitions for National and International Barbershop
Singing in different locations around Ireland. While the emphasis is on
competitions, it also impacts the streets and nightlife of Castlebar,
generating a significant boost to the local economy. Castlebar can
expect top quality concerts, and a host of free performances, taking
place at key locations across the town on a Barbershop Trail.
All
events are open to the public and the evening concerts are the
highlight of the weekend, when the award winners take to the
stage! Barbershop groups from many countries travel each year to enjoy
the Irish convention including from the U.S.A., England, Scotland,
Wales, Holland, Finland and Sweden.
The
internationally renowned event is being hosted by Mayo International
Choral Festival, who contacted IABS in 2013 to consider hosting the
event in Castlebar, and subsequently invited the IABS committee to have
one of their meetings in Castlebar, where they experienced first hand
the hospitality and friendliness of Mayo people, as well as performance
and accommodation facilities.
The
Irish Association of Barbershop Singers was founded in Offaly in 1988
and promotes the tradition of barbershop singing in Ireland. The first
Irish Barbershop Convention was held in Birr in 1989. Since then a
dedicated and growing number of Barbershop enthusiasts have ensured the
growing popularity of this very distinctive four-part harmony a
cappella style of singing. There are many studies and theories relating
to the history of Barbershop, and many believe that, as the name
implies, it started in barbershops in the USA, while people were waiting
their turn for a haircut or shave.
The
barbershop soon became the place to hang out, and the singing continued
in the streets after the barbershop closed for the day. By the early
1900s, barbershop had become immensely popular, and no show was complete
without a Barbershop Quartet. The influence of barbershop music on
other forms of popular music has been profound. Frank Sinatra sang in a
barbershop quartet before he became famous as a solo singer. The vocal
quartets of bands such as those of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller were
also greatly influenced by the barbershop style. Close harmony was the
hallmark of many pop groups such as the Beach Boys and the Four Seasons,
and is very popular today with many singers and groups.
Castlebar, Thursday 1st - Sunday 4th October 2015.
For more information, contact iabsconvention2015@gmail.com
Tickets to the concerts, open to the public, available at a later date.
