Meet Liverpool Indie Choir, the local group bringing people together through the power of music

Liverpool is a city of music as we know, but as well as the many bands and solo artists keeping us entertained there is a thriving choir scene in the region.

Hundreds of singers, in a host of different groups gather to sing songs of all varieties, all for fun and the love of the music.

And with the cost of living bringing added pressures, what better way to destress, have some fun and make new friends while singing your favourite songs?

The Liverpool Indie Choir meets weekly to rehearse tracks by everyone from Coldplay to Kate Bush, Pink Floyd and The Killers.

You can catch them on Friday at the Liverpool One Christmas launch when they will be singing a collection of their favourite tracks, as well as the odd festive song thrown in.

Tim Taylor launched the choir in summer 2019 with brother Colin, and they now boast an impressive roster of singers, with around 40 meeting each week. He’s previously led other choirs but was keen to do something different and share his love of different musical genres with other like-minded singers.

Tim said: “I had no idea if anyone would turn up the first time we met in 24 Kitchen Street. So, I posted something on social media saying I would buy everyone a drink that came to rehearse.

“Thirty people showed up. Luckily only around 15 took me up on the offer so it didn’t cost me too much!”

The choir moved to a new home at Constellations and were thriving until Covid forced them to stay at home and meet virtually. When lockdown lifted, Tim picked up the threads of the choir and the members quickly returned and were joined by new singers, keen to get involved.

Tim studied music at Liverpool Community College and founded the Liverpool Inspirational Voices choir for visually impaired singers which still sings together. He was keen for Liverpool Indie Choir to be equally inclusive. There are no auditions and singers pay weekly subs rather than a set fee.

“I have always wanted to make the choir as accessible as possible. I love the fact we have men and women of all ages involved. There are more young singers in our choir than I have seen before which is probably because of the songs we sing,” he said.

Tim works with his wife Sarah and Colin, who plays guitar for the choir, to pick tracks that fit the indie label but will translate successfully into choral styles.

He said: “I can’t be totally selfish and only sing what I like. We try to choose what we think will work for the choir.

“We take on board suggestions of the group and if they work that is great. For example, someone suggested The Keeper by Blossoms and it worked well as a choir song. But not everything will work, and we keep that in mind.

“We don’t pick songs to be obtuse, we choose what we think will work and the audience will like.”

Those audiences can be equally varied. In the summer the Liverpool Indie Choir played at a festival themed hen party, a reflective memorial event, a charity performance and in Sefton Park after a picnic.

Their set list includes Brit pop classics like Tender by Blur, 80s indie tracks including The Smiths’ Ask and more recent hits by Mumford and Sons and Coldplay.

They currently rehearse at Liverpool’s Nordic Church every Thursday evening and Tim says they will always stick to their city centre roots to ensure as many people as possible from around Merseyside can be involved.

He added: “I think we are doing something different, and I am very proud of the group for how hard they work and how much they enjoy the music.

“Music has never been more important than it is at the moment, and I love that we are bringing people together.”