Do you hear the people sing ?

 

Every traveller needs a bit of luck. Poor planning means you can miss out, but sometimes the heavens open and you are blessed in unplanned ways.

 

It’s a while since we last travelled and we forgot Rule Number One: check to see if Bruce Springsteen is playing a concert close to where you are visiting. On May 4 as we were planning to travel from Tenby (2 hours west of Cardiff) to Aberystwyth (150km north) we accidently discover that Springsteen is playing in Cardiff on May 5. In 2008 we travelled across Europe to see Bruce play a four hour concert in Milan in front of 80000 devoted Italian fans. A memorable night! Sadly, the Cardiff concert was already sold out…we checked. To sooth our ‘missing out on Bruce’ wounds, we dine at a historic pub in the tiny village of St Florence. The food is fine, but our pain is heightened, when it becomes obvious that the large family of twelve sitting at the table next to us have gathered together from across Wales, before heading off the next day to see The Boss in Cardiff. D’oh.

But…what comes around goes around, and a week later we are visiting the historic walled city of Caernarfon in the north west of Wales. We discover that our stay coincides with the annual food festival. The weather forecast is sunshine and 24 degrees. The large, warm and vibrant crowd bring vigour and life to this stunningly beautiful historic city. After a long, wet winter the locals are out in colourful new summer threads and we feel a little underdressed. The UK is not short on castles but Caernarvon’s grandeur and history is impressive. A royal castle for over 800 years and scene to a few bloody, but failed attempts, at overthrow from a lad named Madog and a more recently the investiture of the Prince of Wales (a chap we now refer to as King Charles III).

 

And then another slice of luck or blessing, depending on your doctrine of providence. The food festival was advertising five stages for live music, including some choirs. As we arrive we hear the powerful sound of Welsh slate miners walking through a valley as they prepare for another day of toil. Well close – it is actually Cor Meibion Caernarfon, a 60 strong all age male choir. There are two spare seats that we occupy with alacrity and we enjoy four glorious songs in Welsh. We cannot understand the words, but they are peripheral as the emotion and sheer beauty of the powerful singing transports. Between songs the MC, in Welsh, cracks jokes leaving the crowd and choir in stitches. We smile politely until we hear him say in English…  ‘Do you hear the people sing.’ The choir rises to the rousing anthem from the musical Les Miserables, leaving us with tears in our eyes and admiration in our hearts. This Welsh choir radiates a striking alternative to the ugly, toxic masculinity that is far too common today. Ordinary men singing with passion, purpose, joy and love while being brilliantly directed and led by a young and very gifted (female) choir director. Wow!

 

We could not help but sing in unison (but silently so as not to spoil it for those around us)…

 

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

Do you hear the people sing?