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PENSIONERS, STUDENTS, CHILDREN AND EVEN PETS JOIN SOCIALLY-DISTANCED STREET CHOIR IN CLARENDON PARK
PEOPLE living in one Leicester street have been chasing away the lockdown blues by holding a weekly singalong outside their homes.
Residents of Central Avenue, in Clarendon Park, have been lifting each other’s spirits every Monday evening during the pandemic by belting out classic pop hits in the street.
It has been happening since April, with pensioners, students, children and even pets all joining in - along with guests from the surrounding area.
Nick Jukes, the street singalong’s organiser, said: “We’ve had between eight and 30 people every week, and usually we stand in our pathways, by our gates, or socially-distanced in the street.
“The songs are varied - from the 1950s and 60s to right up to modernday tracks.”
They sing four songs each time from a lyric printout - often with an encore or two - with members coming up with ideas for songs to sing the following week via Facebook.
Their playlist has included The Beatles’ Help; Fire by Kasabian; Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side; Heroes by David Bowie, and The Scaffold’s Lily the Pink.
The group was inspired by communal singing seen from balconies across Italy during the first coronavirus wave, and a similar weekly event that ran in Leicester’s West End area during the spring and summer.
The singers haven’t missed a weekly get-together for seven months - and intend to keep going.
Nick said: “We use a phone, Wi-fi and an amp - and then all our voices. Occasionally, we’ve had an electric bass, a cello and an accordion.
“It has been great for morale, and provides a chance to chat and socialise (with social distancing) for the neighbourhood.”
The exercise is certainly working to relieve the gloom of lockdown.
Resident Jacqui Jones said: “It’s been a constant little piece of fun every week during what’s been a really difficult year, something that’s really enjoyable and I look forward to.”
Lucy Micheals, who regularly turns out with son Aaron Gordon and Lev the puppy, said: “It feels like kind of a nice break in the week. It’s been going since April and we’ve definitely come quite a few times. It’s just felt very free, you meet friends and be outside.”
Helen Beynon travelled from Wigston with her dog Alf for Monday’s singalong.
“It’s the first time I’ve really smiled for a while,” she said.
Caroline Moles, from Springfield Road, Clarendon Park, said: “It’s the best thing happening at the moment. And it’s really important, some of us would be on our own otherwise, and can go whole days without seeing anyone.”
The singers recommend anyone living in other neighbourhoods to give it a try and organise a singalong of their own.
“We encourage other people to get outside and get together to sing along to some tunes,” said Nick. “It really lifts the spirits in these tough times.”