London Community Gospel Choir

Uplifting song will echo through Hornchurch when the London Community Gospel Choir returns to the Queen’s Theatre on Sunday 30 November at 8pm.

Following packed-to-the-rafters performances at the Queen’s in past years, the LCGC are back at the Billet Lane theatre with another energetic show offering gospel, contemporary and seasonal songs including favourites such as Oh Happy Day, Swing Low Sweet Chariot and Amazing Grace. This is a show guaranteed to make everyone want to dance in the aisles!

The UK’s first gospel concert choir ranges from teenagers to singers in their 30s. They are renowned for their inventive cocktail of melody - incorporating traditional gospel, R’n’B, funk and swing-beat. All this mixed in with glorious harmonising and invigorating choreography, accompanied by a live band.

From politicians to pop stars, the LCGC have delighted audiences at a wide variety of high-profile events including Glastonbury, the Royal Variety Show, Nelson Mandela’s London visit and the wedding of Spice Girl Mel B. The choir have also worked with Madness, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross and Paul McCartney. They helped put gospel music on the BBC Proms’ map, sang on the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King and gave a truly memorable performance at Live 8 as Madonna’s backing choir, resplendent in white from head-to-toe.

Charismatic Monserrat-born founder Rev Bazil Meade set up the choir about 25 years ago amid the tensions of South London’s Brixton riots, in a bid to steer young people away from violence and focus on music instead. The result was one of the first gospel choirs to unite young worshippers from a multitude of Christian denominations. The group is also a melting pot of different cultures with members hailing from the UK, the Caribbean, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, France, Germany, Norway and Denmark.

Bazil said: “Viewers need to let loose and enjoy what the evening is about. They’ll walk out uplifted!”

“You cannot listen to the LCGC without moving or smiling.” The Guardian

The London Community Gospel Choir performs at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch on Sunday 30 November at 8pm. Tickets cost £18 and £15 for concessions. To book, call the

Box Office on 01708 443333. For further information about the LCGC, visit www.lcgc.org.uk or

to listen to tracks, go to www.myspace.com/londoncommunitygospelchoir