‘Like men’s shed with singing’: Men in Suits in full voice on city streets
He says it’s “awesome” to harmonise with other people for a common goal.
The choir’s tradition, after its Thursday night rehearsal at Armadale Baptist Church, is to adjourn to the Orrong Hotel, gasbag and sing over beers, finishing with the maritime classic Sloop John B.
Men in Suits during a pop-up performance at Flinders Street Station on Sunday.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
Fallscheer said he felt “immediately welcomed and embraced” by the choir and can talk with other dads about raising teenagers. “It’s an opportunity to belong somewhere,” he said.
The choir has a social forum called Bullshit Channel on WhatsApp “where various problems get solved”.
Choir master Chris Blain describes Men in Suits as “a bunch of old geezers” who poke fun at blokey culture.
The upcoming tour, of England in June, will include performances at BlokeFest men’s choir festival in the village of Pewsey in Wiltshire, and at venues in Bath, Bristol, Portsmouth and London.
In Australia, the choir has sung at festivals, business conferences, weddings and in flash mobs at places like Block Arcade, from which they were once ejected by security guards.
Chorister Alan Stephens was touched when choirmates travelled to Acheron, north-east of Melbourne, to sing Hallelujah and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother at his brother John’s funeral.
Stephens said he had to look at the ceiling while singing so he didn’t break down.
A retired engineer and skydiving school owner of Ferntree Gully, Stephens describes the choir as “like a men’s shed, except we sing instead of building things”.
“The camaraderie and support means so much to me,” Stephens says.
Doug Clark, a chorister for 10 years, said: “I’ve had struggles, like a marriage break-up last year. These guys, even if they may not know it, have got me through some tough times.”
“We are blokes, and there’s a lot of banter and bravado. But we’re not just singing together, we’re supporting each other.”
Send Us Packing, a fundraising concert for the Men in Suits overseas tour, is being held on March 29 at Armadale Baptist Church hall.
Details can be found at www.meninsuits.com.au/concert
Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
