Spooky Men's Chorale: The Mount Without
2nd September 2025
LIVE REVIEWS- BRISTOL
Jon Cooper
The Spooky Men’s Chorale, or the Spookies as they are known, have been going since 2001; when they first got together all wearing black and sporting a different hat, as they still do now. Primarily based in Australia, they have added a few UK based members for this short tour of the UK, Germany and Denmark. Tonight, they are gracing the stage of The Mount Without in Bristol.
I’ve been to many gigs in Bristol but never been to one here. Before I get started on the main review, I think the venue itself deserves a mention. It is a stunning space, a former church now used for events and concerts, lovingly restored from the previous church which dates to the 1770’s. Now modernised in parts, with an artistic infinity symbol as it’s centre piece, it still retains the wonderful acoustics you’d expect from it being a church.
Now back to my role as a music reviewer, as opposed to a venue marketer. The Spookies definitely planned on making use of the aforementioned, wonderful space. They opened the set by singing either side of the rowed seating, as opposed to the stage. Shortly after playing ‘Sweetest Kick in the Heart’. An original Spooky Men’s song, written by Choirmaster Stephen Taberner, colloquially known as The Spookmeister.
‘We are not a Men’s Group” gives us a real introduction to the band, with drum circles and writhing naked, as you do. There is a real mix in the set, some songs are just fun and in very good humour, others stop you dead in your tracks with poignancy and, yes, even beauty at times. There is also the fun aspect of recognising the famous tune at times. One that falls into both the latter two categories is their version of ‘Jolene’, fittingly for our location it almost takes on a hymn like quality.
Talking of religious experiences, to close the first half, we had an incantation to the deity that a number of Spookies seemed to worship, “Ba'hari Ghibb”. Some bits of which had a similar, spooky even, resemblance to “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. During the interval most of the choir members stayed out front and chatted and mingled with the crowd, adding the nice atmosphere.
Now tonight hadn’t just been billed as a standard gig, but as a ‘Spooky Sing Thing’. Lyrics to some songs had been sent out in advance and the crowd was encouraged to sit where they wanted to. Whether that be on the stage among the performers or on the steps. A few brave souls did, but I think this needs to grow as an idea to get the reserved Brits to be prepared to step forth. There was a fair amount of singing though, so small steps in the right direction.
The Spookies did proceed to move around the venue through, with one song sung up in the galley-but I think that was to appease the people who had seats up there. Earlier in the set they had been accused of leaving it too late to book by the Spookmeister, and they seemed slow to forgive him, until this point. All in a good-natured way (we think/ hope). Though I’m still not sure all in the balcony had totally forgiven him, but then, maybe they should book earlier next time.
The second half matched, if not exceeded, the poignancy and humour of the first. The former coming in the form of a Georgian tune, sung in the native language and a Ukrainian folk tune, again in the language. Added to this was ‘Treaty’, some of which was in native Aboriginal, a tale of broken promises. These tunes all stunned the room into silence with both the power of message and the quality of delivery.
But as I say the more light-hearted aspects were also in the second half, including a mash of Tina Turner and Taylor Swift called “Tee Tee, Tay Tay”. One that did get the whole crowd involved as we were all allocated parts. The black shirts were also dramatically shed during the finale of ‘Rhapsody in Bluegrass’. Possibly one of the maddest versions of Queen’s classic tune I think I have ever heard, and the original is pretty nuts.
After they had been given time to get the black attire back on, it was finale time, which brought all of the elements together. A fun cover, getting the crowd interaction and of course all performed wonderfully. So, it was “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” closed the show, with several of the Spookies dancing with willing participants. If you want a lively, entertaining event mixed with some heartrending moments, then an evening with the Spooky Men’s Chorale should definitely be for you.