Hi folks

No, this newsgroup hasn't disappeared. It's just that we haven't been
singing locally recently - our last appearances were in Manchester at
the end of last year and in Berlin (!) in May.

RAINBOW WEEKEND

As many of you will know, neither Hyde Out nor the Pink Picnic are
happening this year. However a few community groups such as ourselves,
and a few energetic individuals, still want to see some sort of local
event over the summer and so The Rainbow Weekend will be happening from
the 20th-22nd July - ie the weekend after next.

This isn't some big impersonal organised thingy with dance tents and
stages and stuff, it's just whatever people want to put on. The main
event is a picnic on Hyde Park on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd (expect
the Lavender Cafe Orchestra at about 2 o'clock, ourselves singing at
about 3), but there's also a cabaret at the old Trades Club that evening
and any number of other things happening over the weekend - see Shout or
watch out for fliers. Turn up, relax, meet friends old and new.

SANG UND KLANG LOS

Leeds, as you may or may not know, is twinned with Dortmund in Germany
(along with other cities in other countries). A couple of years ago they
formed a lesbian and gay choir, and we're very proud that they've chosen
to make their first foreign trip to - Leeds!

The concert's on October 20th, so you've got plenty of time to clear
your diary for what should be a very special event. We've booked the
University's 700-seat Conference Auditorium (the old West Yorkshire
Playhouse), and we're hoping to welcome the Lord Mayor and assorted
luminaries. More details nearer the time.

In case you were wondering about the Dortmund choir's name - literally
it means 'Singing and playing: let's go!'. But like 'Gay Abandon' it
includes a play on words. Add 'mit' (='with') and you have the phrase
'mit Sang und Klang', which means 'in style', 'with panache'. So the
missing 'mit', like the 'with' in 'Gay Abandon', makes all the
difference, and a freer translation might be 'Let's do it in style!'.

--
Henry Tickner

for Gay Abandon, Leeds
http://www.gayabandon.org.uk