If you’re a fan of Choir! Choir! Choir!, then this one’s for you.
And if you haven’t yet become a fan, what the heck is wrong with you?
Either way, the first New West Sings event is coming to River Market on Thursday, Jan. 31.
The pop-up choir event is being held in the spirit of Choir! Choir! Choir!, the Toronto phenomenon that started as a weekly drop-in singing event and has since become an international sensation – with major artists (think Rufus Wainwright, Tegan and Sara, Bruce Cockburn, Sarah Harmer and Rick Astley) dropping by to lead the crowd in singing.
New West Sings will work in a similar way: You RSVP to the event, you find out what songs are being sung, and you have a chance to look at posted videos of the songs in advance. On the night of the sing, local artists – the a cappella quintet Quayside Voices – will provide instruction before the crowd launches into singing.
New West Sings has partnered with River Market and Downtown New Westminster BIA to offer the event, and everyone’s invited.
A Facebook event (search for New West Sings!) reveals that the songs on offer for this inaugural outing will be We Built This City and Downtown. Plus, you’ll get to hear performances from Quayside Voices.
The whole thing is scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“We hope you join us and sing with all your heart,” organizers say in their Facebook event post.
So what are you waiting for? RSVP and turn out to share in the fun.
Meanwhile, be sure to acquaint yourself with Choir! Choir! Choir! Here's one of their shining moments - a 2016 event with Rufus Wainwright singing the Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah. We dare you not to sing along - or cry.
