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Preview: Fron Male Voice Choir

by Elizabeth Kerfoot
23/ 2/2007

FRON Male Voice Choir is riding the crest of a tidal wave. It's not every day a group of 60 retired builders, policemen, farmers, miners and prison warders from a tiny North Wales coal-mining village top the album charts and have their lives made into a Hollywood film.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the choir was spotted by a Universal Records mogul while singing at a North Wales wedding. They were snapped up, and now share the label with the likes of Eminem and 50 Cent.

Before they knew it, the choir were Number One in the classical album charts with debut album, Voices of the Valley, which was recorded at Manchester's Blueprint studios.

The album went gold within three days of release and platinum within a fortnight. Choir chairman Dave Jones said: "Our feet have not touched the ground. It's a wonderful adventure, very heady stuff."

Despite a combined age of 3979, Fron choir are holding their own alongside world-famous artists Katherine Jenkins and Russell Watson in the classical album chart.

The choir's nine-date UK tour hits Manchester's Bridgewater Hall this Sunday. Expect a mixture of album tracks and traditional favourites.

The choir members are fresh from recent appearances at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the Royal Albert Hall, Parkinson, This Morning with Fern and Phil, The Paul O'Grady Show and even Ready Steady Cook - where Jones' culinary skills were pitted against his vice-chairman's.

Jones insists the media attention hasn't changed the attitudes the men he describes as his 60 best friends. "Our feet are firmly on the ground. We'll compete at the local Eisteddfod as usual."

The Hollywood producer behind Bend it Like Beckham and 2006's The Wicker Man re-make has optioned the film rights, and work has begun on scripting this thoroughly modern fairytale. Jones said: "It's an extraordinary story of ordinary people." Indeed it is. These boys are definitely ones to watch as well as listen to."

For tickets, contact the box office on 0161 907 9000.

Fron Male Voice Choir are at the Bridgewater Hall on Sunday.