‘’It has completely snowballed’ Damien Bowe reveals next exciting plan for Laois choir

From formation to pulling a record crowd in Electric Picnic in the space of nine months, Timahoe Male Choir have shocked even themselves at their overnight success.

The choir played twice at the picnic, and the audience was so big at the Hazelwood stage that the woodland venue hit capacity for the first time ever, forcing a ‘one in, one out’ policy, according to Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn who himself came along to hear them.

Melvin Benn (centre) MD of Festival Republic, attending the Timahoe Male Choir performance in Hazelwood. Photos: Alf Harvey

Choirmaster Damien Bowe spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live about the exciting weekend, and what is next.

“We absolutely didn’t anticipate the crowds, it exceeded our expectations by 1,000%. We all met yesterday and we’re in shock after it,” he said.

“We got a garda escort from Timahoe. One man in his 70s got down from the bus and said ‘I can’t believe this is happening’. That was a highlight for me.

“There were 48 of us, I thought, maybe 10 people per person, we might have 400 at Hazelwood. I didn’t realise until after the first song when I turned around and I thought ‘my god’. 

“The atmosphere was unbelievable. The energy from the stage and the crowd. It was brilliant. They had Hazelwood closed off due to the capacity. What a buzz,” he said.

For their second gig in Trailer park an hour later, “it was bananas, they let rip”, Damien said.

On a side note, an online photo of the choir with a giant cheque from Electric Picnic for €50,000 was explained as "a piss-take" spoof done in high spirits after their celebration.

The choir only formed last November just to sing Christmas carols at Mass, guided by Damien who is frontman to wedding band The Vows. 

They were encouraged to keep going, by invites to events like Portlaoise St Patricks Day, the Embrace farm charity annual Remembrance ceremony and Timahoe heritage festival.

They meet to rehearse on Monday evenings, alternating between the two pubs in Timahoe, the Tower Inn and Ramsbottoms. 

Young supporters from Timahoe.

The choir is doing good things for its members.

“It has huge benefits for mental health. All kinds of people are involved, guards, prison officers, farmers.  People live four miles apart but wouldn’t know each other. There is a great sense of respect. There are no solo singers, we sing as one voice. They have learned about singing and timing, now they want to keep it going,” Damien said.

Coming up to Electric Picnic, rehearsals ramped up to three times a week.

“We had a set of 14 songs. The lads always turned up. They are out of their comfort zone, some never sang a full song in their lives. Once we got the serious side done, two hours of rehearsals, it was a lot of fun. 

“It completely snowballed into something, there’s a documentary in this. I’m in music all my life, I understand the privilege of getting into Electric Picnic.  There were a couple of guys in Electric Picnic who took a chance on us, we were something novel.

“We have no agenda. We are not trying to make money, or publicise ourselves. It’s just for fun. I’d say Melvin could see that. I couldn’t believe he came to have a look and stayed 20 minutes, it’s quite a privilege.

“I believe he is interested in supporting the local area, but we were an unknown entity. The amount of interest from the media is bizarre. It’s gas, we’re not trying to sell anything or make money. It’s just lads getting together to sing and have fun,” he said.

The next chance to see them sing is at the Spink Threshing festival, but more is to follow.

“The plan always was to record something, I have something in mind. A couple of tracks, possibly for charity. We will be playing a Portlaoise venue too soon. It’s all a bit of fun,” Damien Bowe said.