Sunday 5 August at 8.30 pm Marine Theatre Lyme Regis

Direct from the Sidmouth festival the Marine Theatre is welcoming the Spooky Men’s Chorale on Sunday 5 August at 8.30 pm.  “Book them, they’re great!” said the music loving son of the Marine Theatre’s Artistic Director, when he had heard that this highly original group could fit in a night at the Marine Theatre. Roy Bailey, the best loved musician, both on the folk circuit and beyond, said of them,  “They are simply astounding and outstanding. I admire them immensely. Their very ordinariness makes the Spooky Men extraordinary”, After hearing their impressive CD and reading their remarkable reviews the theatre team decided to go ahead and offer Lyme this amazing group. Genial buffoonery and immaculate, testosterone drenched vocals define the Spooky Men's Chorale, a ruthless bunch of larrikins based in the Blue Mountains of Australia.

Their stated ambition is to make women weep, small children quail, and insurance salesmen vaguely aware that somewhere, there is a whole world they've never experienced. With a sound as warm and grainy as a slab of teak, the Spooky Men give equally loving attention to ancient Georgian table songs, tawdry anthems like Don't Stand Between a Man and his Tool, and the odd ballad of terrifying beauty. Equally loving attention was also lathered on exquisitely mellifluous reinterpretations of such likely material as Ghost Riders in the Sky and Dancing Queen.

The repertoire is largely inspired by the pointless grandeur of everyday maleness, in the shower, in the shed and after breakfast. Stage presence is imposing, black and foolishly statuesque, with a cunning taste in hats. Their studied deadpan is no act: like most blokes, they've only got the faintest idea of what's going on...

Tickets are available from the box office in Lyme’s Tourist Information office 01297 442138 at £10.00 in advance, £12.00 on door. , under 16s at £5.00