Wrexham’s streets to be filled with sound of music when choir festival returns on Saturday

Huge crowds are expected to fill Wrexham town centre this weekend for a popular choir festival.

Wrexham Singing Streets takes place this Saturday (September 28), when a total of 31 choirs will perform at various locations throughout the town.

The centrepiece of the day will be a ‘big sing’, featuring choirs and members of the public, in Queen’s Square at 1.30pm.

The event is organised by Wrexham MP Ian Lucas and, this year, it has been supported by former 110m hurdles world champion and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Colin Jackson.

Colin is Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndŵr University, one of Singing Streets’ key partners, and he was keen to learn more about the event on a recent visit to Wrexham.

Colin said: “Wrexham Singing Streets sounds like a great day out – and with more than 30 choirs singing, the streets of the town will be alive with music.

“I’m delighted to lend the festival my backing and I’m sending everyone taking part my best wishes for what promises to be a wonderful event.”

Mr Lucas established Singing Streets in 2016 as an extension of the popular street festivals that were held regularly in the town centre.

The idea is to celebrate North Wales’ proud tradition for singing while also promoting Wrexham in a positive light, boosting footfall in the town.

The event has gone from strength to strength and has become a popular annual fixture.

“With 31 choirs due to perform at this year’s Singing Streets, the event will be our biggest and best yet,” explained Mr Lucas.

“The diversity of the choirs this year is something to behold. We have traditional male voice choirs, pop and rock choirs and signing choirs, where the members use sign language to tell the story of each song.

“We have choirs made up of cancer survivors, LGBT+ choirs and the Wrexham One Love Choir, which is for people who have experienced homelessness, addiction or mental health issues. It means all kinds of music will be heard throughout the town centre on the day, from a diverse range of performers who have very different stories to tell.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped make this year’s festival possible – from our key partners and sponsors to the wonderful choirs who will fill the town with song on the day.
“Please come along and enjoy the music.”

Wrexham Glyndŵr University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maria Hinfelaar, added: “We are delighted to be backing Singing Streets for the fourth successive year and to have supported the day right from the beginning.

“Singing Streets brings people young and old from our community together and helps draw hundreds of people into our town each September.

“Many of our staff and students attend the festival, whether as singers, supporters, or both – and it is always a great day which showcases Wrexham positively.”

Of the 31 choirs due to attend, many are from the Wrexham area while others are coming from further afield. Performances will take place at Wrexham Museum, Hope Street/ Queen Street junction, Lord Street by the Miners’ sculpture, Queen’s Square, Tŷ Pawb and Eagles Meadow.

Sponsors this year are Wrexham Glyndŵr University, Ty Cerdd, the Arts Council of Wales, Gateway Church, Hays Travel, Rawson Digital, the Rotary Club of Wrexham Erddig, Welsh Government, Nightsafe Group, Wrexham Council and Wrexham Business Group. Sound is coordinated by John Jones Quality Acoustics and a team of volunteers – including helpers from Wrexham Glyndŵr University and Wrexham Community Choir – will assist on the day.

Performances begin at 11am, with the final ones starting at 3.30pm.

A full event timetable can be found below and at the official event website, singingstreets.org. Updates will also be on the Singing Streets Facebook page (search ‘Wrexham Singing Streets’).