SONGS for a September Evening is tonight's roof raising concert by one of the region's most distinguished choral groups.

Barrow Male Voice Choir will be in fine voice at St Mary’s RC Church, Duke Street (7.30pm), performing a programme of tunes some of which have a sporting link.

Included will be Parry’s setting of the hymn Jerusalem, which is associated with the England cricket team, and the spiritual Swing Low Sweet Chariot often sung by English fans at Rugby Union fixtures. Welsh music and words will also play a major part with the famous male voice piece Myfanwy, an arrangement of the hymn Calon Lân and a setting of Eli Jenkins’ Prayer from Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood. Lively renditions of The Rhythm of Life and With a Voice of Singing are contrasted with more modern slower numbers You Raise Me Up and Robbie Williams’ Angels as the choir demonstrates its ability to perform a wide-ranging repertoire.

Sharing the stage with the choir will be talented Barrow soprano Ailsa McIntosh, who will be perform songs from Gilbert and Sullivan shows and 20th century musicals, ranging from Jerome Kern’s Showboat to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. Ailsa is a well known songtress around Furness following performances with local societies such as Barrow Savoyards and Abbey Musical Society.

Deborah Milledge will conduct the choir and has arranged one of its pieces, the Welsh hymn Morte Criste, to include a special part for Ailsa to feature as a fabulous finale to the concert. Accompanists for tonight's concert will be Margaret Harrison and Sue Quarmby.

Tickets are available at the door, choir members or by telephone on 01229-466069.