“What they do to one of us, they do to all of us”

On the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Brighton’s Rainbow Chorus gave an emotional, defiant and joyful concert under the title Anthems In Colour.

And they had a battle of their own with technical issues. No stage lighting because it had been stolen and a last-minute sound system didn’t take the edge off their enthusiasm, harmonic joys and strong message of hope - even if it grew increasingly difficult to see them!

Under the dynamism of musical director Aneesa Chaudhry, this group rarely fails to please, though I did think the technical gremlins may have made some of their performance a little subdued.

There’s always emotion when they march through the audience but especially so when their co-chair Sally Pullen said the choir was proud to follow in the Stonewall group’s footsteps, adding: “tonight we sing with Pride and unity.”

Seasons of Love from Rent gave an appropriate kick-start. We got Metallica next with a soulful Nothing Else Matters, followed by regular favourite Hand In Hand, with rousing great harmonies.

Chosen Family had the lyric “tell me a story and I’ll tell you mine,” and storytelling was what the evening was about. This song was achingly good in its harmonies and its staccato rhythms.

There were too many items to cover every one but in Part Two, seemingly more relaxed, we got the haunting Skyfall from a small group within the choir, again with its theme of resilience.

Bridge Over Troubled Water was an appropriate choice to this evening theme of helping each other. Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) was just brilliantly conveyed, and You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen, when taken out of context, takes on a new life as a glorious anthem of hope.

How would they end the night? With an absolute emotional gem - The Lavender Song - written in the Weimar era of Germany in 1920, it’s probably the first gay anthem and it was a fitting super-emotional end to a great night.

As chorister Finola Brophy reminded us: “what they do to one of us, they do to all of us.”

The Rainbow Chorus were at St George’s, Kemptown. Catch them next at Trans Pride Brighton on 19 July and Brighton & Hove Pride Parade on 2 August.