Welcome to Front Room

- the singing group from North West Kent

See Forthcoming performances for more details.


About Front Room

Front Room is a group of local singers who came together in July 2008 following the very successful TV talent show 'Last Choir Standing'. After spending a few fun evenings during the summer months singing round the dining table with a glass of wine at Heather’s in Longfield or gathered round the baby grand at Jerry’s in New Ash Green, we were enjoying ourselves so much that we simply didn’t want to stop when our regular commitments started again in the autumn.

For our first public performance at Gravesham Festival of Music & Speech in March 2009, we needed a name. It could only be one thing, couldn't it? A front room was where it had all started, so Front Room it was!

Front Room currently has 23 members, and under the leadership of our Musical Director Jo Love, we rehearse regularly at the New Ash Green Community Centre. We have also established two smaller groups, the Front Room Ladies and the Back Room Boys, to expand our repertoire and these groups still meet in a front room!

Full length concerts have been given at many venues including Gravesend, Luddesdowne, Meopham and Ash. Front Room has also provided the cabaret at Rotary and Golf Club gala dinners, and many other private parties. Canon Chris Stone of St George’s Church Gravesend has been a huge support to Front Room since its beginning and we were delighted, along with Gravesham Choral Society and Kent Chamber Choir, to help fund a replacement for the church’s old upright piano. Front Room has also supported the work of ROPE charity, singing at their Christmas and tea-time concerts in 2015.

We also are regular performers at the annual Hastings Beatles Day – an event held in the White Rock Theatre, where groups perform Beatles’ songs all day long in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. This event has the added bonus of Crazy Golf in the afternoon and a fish and chip supper!

News

Best Choir in Kent 2019

We were delighted to be declared Kent Choir of the Year by MASC in Folkestone on 29th September 2019. We performed three songs to a large audience of other choirs and 5 judges in the Leas Cliff Hall. Competition was stiff and the standard was high, with choirs singing gospel, soul, African, ‘50s and classical pieces. Front Room were on stage last, and tension was building in the hall. We sang our first number – Swing Low Sweet Chariot – and the audience burst into loud applause! We relaxed, and sang our other two pieces – And So It Goes and Let’s Do It – and felt we had done well, but was it enough? It was the unanimous decision of the judges that we had! We now have a trophy to keep, and lots of happy memories of a wet and windy day in Folkestone.


Best Choir in Kent



What we've been up to:

We made a welcome return to the Hastings Beatles Festival on 2nd April 2023, being one of the few choirs among a host of bands, each with there own angle on Beatles songs. Our contribution was "I'll follow the sun", "Here, there and everywhere" and a madrigal style arrangement of "Can't buy me love". In between setting up, performing and watching the other acts, we made time for our favourite Hastings activities: eating fish and chips and playing crazy golf!

We took part in the Fawkham and Hartley local concert on May 12th along with other local groups in a well attended and well appreciated evening of music.

Our main Summer concert was held in New Ash Green Community centre on the 8th July 2023. Again, a very varied evening with Roger Harris accompanying on the keyboard, and the "singing Six" (ladies) and the "Backroom boys" (gents) adding to the interest. There were also solos from Izzy Love (soprano), Dave Saunders (harmonica) and Alan English (saxophone). The audience reaction was summed up by a lady who stood up at the end and announced "I'd just like to say 'WOW!' "

The Summer's round of concerts was finished off by a joint concert with the Southdowns Singers on July 9th and a visit to Horley in Surrey on July 22nd to sing in the church there.

On the 12th November the choir took part in an evening of remembrance at Ash church along with a number of other acts, mostly folk musicians, who each had their own take on remembering the fallen from different conflicts.

The choir's main Christmas concert was at Southfleet church on December 2nd. As it was still a little way from Christmas we sang from our usual repertoire in the first half and Christmas songs to finish off. Solos by Izzy Love and Dave Saunders were well received as well as the "Singing Six" ladies group and the Back Room Boys barbershop ensemble.




Video recordings

Front Room Youtube playlist
Click the playlist icon, top right, for a list if recordings

Forthcoming Performances

In Harmony

Joint concert with the Maidstone Singers
Saturday 11th May 2024

St. James Church, Church Walk, East Malling ME19 6AG

Tickets £12 on the door or £10 in advance from
Also from choir members or telephone 07802 575656





Getting in touch

If you would like to find out more about our group or want to contact us about a concert or short 'cabaret' performance, please send us an email or give us a call.

By Email:
By Telephone:
Judy Burrows on: 01474 873721

What people say

Read some feed back from the MMF Choir Showcase: View feedback (PDF)


Who's Who?

The Front Room singers are:

Sopranos:

  • Carol Arman-Addey
  • Louise Banks
  • Kathy Dyke
  • Annette Hughes
  • Izzy Love
  • Joanna Love
  • Marianna Stone

Altos:

  • Vanessa Best
  • Judy Burrows
  • Carole Gracey
  • Heather Pickering

Tenors:

  • Paul Houston
  • Nick Noakes
  • Tony Rumsey
  • Tim Stone
  • Jerry Sykes

Basses:

  • Steve Doerr
  • Alan English
  • Mike Hickie
  • Peter Jaques
  • Dave Saunders
  • Derek Wheeler