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# REVIEW: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: “Out, and wanting everyone to know it!”
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/review-brighton-gay-mens-chorus-out-and-wanting-everyone-to-know-it/
- Published: 2023-07-30T14:49:10.000Z
- Updated: 2023-07-31T08:58:01.000Z
- Description: Brian Butler hears a power-packed concert with a message
- Author: Brian Butler
- Tags: LGBTQ Choirs, Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, Joe Paxton, Tim Nail

Out, and wanting everyone to know it, **Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus**’s (BGMC) summer concert at **St George’s Church**, Kemptown packed a Duracell bunny punch with a powerful display of emotion.

And the big audience revelled in its tough love, advocacy and defiance. They opened with the full-throated *Scared of the Dark*, compete with hand actions, and followed up with the aptly titled *Does Your Mother Know?*. It was at a rollicking pace and led on to that queer anthem True Colours, with a great heartfelt solo by **Joe Christopherson**.

*Madness* had a punchy rhythm, hammered home with the repeated mmm… mad. It had a real kick to it. A juxtaposition of *Confide In Me* and *Can’t Get You Out Of My Head*, was dramatically powerfully with a slight sinister tone to it.

Elton John’s *I Want Love* deals with the improbability of romance and **Karl Fisher** brought out a new look at this song: “I want love; just a different kind”, and I hope he won’t mind me saying, an older man’s perspective. Later we got more Elton with **Adam Betteridge**’s staggering version of *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road* – mournful, cynical and full of anguish.

I’ve written before about BGMC’s take on *Secret Love* – giving it a defiant, proud, queer new life and they really rose to it this time round too. **Ben Fowler** in *Roar* also gave us a song of defiance, with a determination to be yourself – “I went from zero to my own hero,” Ben sang triumphantly.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nfp_8488outbgmcpress02-scaled-e1690728511828.jpg)

And how could you have a queer celebration of being out, without *It’s A Sin*? They completely mastered its complex rhythms, and then topped it with *Venus*. “She’s got it,” and they had it too!

In the second half, we got classics like *It’s Raining Men*, but also the hilarious double entendre patter song *Way Ahead Of My Time*, in which the tap dancing **Graeme Clark** half-outed himself as the first queer caveman. Brilliantly performed.

We had to get *Over The Rainbow*, but in an arrangement for **South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus**, which had strange harmonies but a very interesting piece I’d need to hear again. **Rod Edmunds**’ solo *A Change In Me*, was simple, beautiful and full of emotion. A fault with the mic meant that **Sadao Ueda**’s *No Matter What* wasn’t amplified but his gentle tones meant it didn’t matter and the whole hall was silent during it. It was a gripping song from the heart.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nfp_8691outbgmcpress03-scaled-e1690728536568.jpg)

I’ve said a couple of times before that the chorus’ inclusion of dramatised dialogue scenes in my opinion – and it is just my opinion – doesn’t add to the evening and interrupts the flow and musical and emotional arc. This time it was a kind of take-off of *The Wizard of Oz*. I’ve said my piece and others will disagree I’m sure.

What adds so much to the strength of this chorus is the sensitive, generous piano accompaniment of **Tim Nail** and the energetic, charismatic leadership from chorus director **Joe Paxton**.

The concert raised funds for the marvellous **Albert Kennedy Trust**, which helps homeless LGBTQ+ young people who have often been thrown out by their families. More information [HERE](http://akt.org.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)

**Photos by [Nick Ford Photography](https://www.nickfordphotography.co.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**