Tune In

In this episode of Tune In, Peter Bryant and Alistair Lamyman discuss Alistair's recent appointment as Chair of the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) and the various initiatives and challenges facing the organisation, particularly regarding the upcoming convention and financial governance. The conversation covers upcoming events in the British barbershop community, including the return of Harmony College, the introduction of the British Open event, and the importance of participation in competitions. The hosts discuss the logistics and excitement surrounding these events, emphasising community involvement and the opportunities they present for singers.

Takeaways

• Alistair's vision for BABS
• Financial challenges of conventions Exciting events in barbershop
• Community engagement is key

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and New Beginnings
• 03:06 Alistair's Journey to Chair
• 05:54 The Role of the Chair
• 08:57 Financial Governance and Budgeting
• 12:00 Convention Costs and Challenges
• 15:00 BABS Financial Health
• 15:59 Upcoming Convention in Brighton
• 19:07 Chorus Registrations and Participation
• 21:57 Introducing the Spotlight Chorus
• 24:48 The Spotlight Chorus Experience
• 30:53 Anticipating a Great Event
• 31:43 Upcoming Music Calendar Highlights
• 32:31 Harmony College Returns in 2027
• 38:36 Introducing the British Open Event
• 49:14 Audience Engagement for the British Open
• 55:26 Calls to Action for Barbershop Community

In this episode I catch up with Dylan Gunasekera and Matt Friend, who are heading up the new BABS Youth Project.

To find out about BABS Youth and how you can get involved, go to https://www.singbarbershop.com/pages/babs-youth-project

It's been a little while since our previous episode, so we take a whirlwind tour through recent developments in BABS — including a recap of the fantastic Sing2026 convention in Harrogate — before diving into a momentous week in St Louis for the Barbershop Harmony Society 2026 International Convention.

For more episodes, visit singbarbershop.com/podcast. You can email comments, questions, and feedback to [email protected]

This month we're joined by 2025 BABS Male Quartet Champions, The 1234!

In this interview episode they reflect on their journey so far, what they have coming up, and where exactly their name came from.

We would love to hear your suggestions for other podcast guests. You can email ideas (any any other questions or comments) to [email protected]

We are excited to share the first of our interview episodes — this time with the wonderful Tim Briggs!

Tim is a prolific quartet singer, having graced the stage as part of many award-winning groups including The Emerald Guard and The Sharrow Vale Blues.

Tim also spent a decade on the leadership team for Hallmark of Harmony, and helped launch and deliver the chorus's Project Horizon initiative, the impact of which we are still seeing, 15 years after it was first envisioned.

We are back! Let's call this Season 2, shall we? It's a bit of a reboot, a return, a reincarnation.

But fundamentally, it's still Peter Bryant asking Alistair Lamyman about what's going on in BABS. This time, we're covering an excellent Directors' Academy with Sean Devine, and looking ahead to a revamped Sing2026.

Because this is a reboot, we are taking the opportunity to explore some new formats. We would love to interview interesting figures from across the British barbershop community, so if you know someone awesome, let us know about them so we can share their story!

As always, you can share questions, comments, and suggestions by emailing [email protected], or visit singbarbershop.com/podcast

In this episode, Peter is joined by BABS Director of Administration, Alistair Lamyman, to recap the recent BHS International and share some updates from BABS.

In this episode of the Tune In podcast, hosts Peter Bryant and Simon Lubkowski discuss the recent European Barbershop Convention and the BABS Convention held in Bournemouth.

In this episode of Tune In, Peter Bryant and Alistair Lamyman discuss the latest happenings in the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS). They delve into the upcoming Harmony College 2025, featuring guest educator Jordan Travis, and the exciting new structure of the event. The conversation also covers the Holland Harmony convention, recent BHS International prelims results, and highlights from the BABS AGM, including financial updates and future plans for the organisation.

In this episode of Tune In, Peter Bryant and Jaspa Stritt discuss the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) within the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS).