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Past issues: bit.ly/livewirearchive 

A capella about to get super-hot again
Farewell NZABS, hello BHNZ
Forefront brings hard-core barbershop to The Sing-Off Live Tour
Relive "The New Science of Sound"
Barbershoppy barbershop quartet lands finals berth in Harmony Sweepstakes
Why the lonesome face?
Barbershop musical comedy hits the boards
Grants deadline nearing
A MOVIE, A TV SERIES, A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY!
A capella about to get super-hot again
If this issue of LiveWire seems extraordinarily full of "look what else!" stories, there's a good reason. Barbershop performers are winning over non-barbershop audiences every time they open their mouths. We know our music is special; seems everyone else is starting to learn it, too.

Nice timing, too, because vocal harmony is about to explode in the general public's consciousness in May.

Pitch Perfect 2 Official Trailer 2 (HD)
Pitch Perfect 2

On May 15, the much-anticipated Pitch Perfect 2 will open large in theaters coast-to-coast. The sequel to the 2012 sleeper hit will put a cappella covers of Miley Cyrus, Beyonce (and even the Green Bay Packers singing Destiny's Child) in front of millions of viewers.

That same week, the PopTV network (formerly TV Guide Network/TVGN-- might be hard to find in your cable guide) will launch Sing It On , a reality series that takes you backstage at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA.)

Vocal harmony everywhere. What will YOU do to catch the wave of awareness and turn it into invitations to sing!
Sing It On - Coming to Pop This May
Sing It On - Coming to Pop This May


MEANWHILE, ACROSS THE PACIFIC... 
Farewell NZABS, hello BHNZ

It may not be as pronounceable as SNOBS or BiNG, but we think the rebranded

Barbershop Harmony New Zealand (BHNZ) looks great, and will be easier to find at the easy-to-recall www.barbershopharmony.nz and www.facebook.com/barbershopharmonynz .

 

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Forefront brings hard-core barbershop to The Sing-Off Live

2014 Silver Medalist Forefront rocks hard as opening act of The Sing-Off Live Tour, performing "I've Got Rhythm" and "Ring-A-Ding Ding."

Forefront on the Sing-Off Tour - March 25, 2015
Forefront on the Sing-Off Tour - March 25, 2015

Previously...
Relive "The New Science of Sound"

When Acoustix burst onto stage at the 1990 International Convention in San Francisco, everyone sat up and took notice. Reconfiguring semifinalist Class of the '80s with lead Rick Middaugh unleashed an awe-inspiring sound that blasted the quartet to a gold medal in its first international contest. Women swooned; babies cried; strong men reached for their nitro pills. (And that was only when they walked on stage!)


 

But it wasn't simply superb singing; the quartet also chose brilliant charts suited to their virtuoso voices, including Ed Waesche's "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade is Over." The temptation with this chart is to emulate those giant voices. Instead, performers should find their own voices in this anguished song of lost love.


 

Acoustix will be honored at this summer's international convention in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Brush up on this one, and hope to sing it with the champs.  
11159969_10153174922929034_3219657679194526231_nFROM THE BLOG
Barbershoppy barbershop quartet lands finals berth in Harmony Sweepstakes

Yes, sophisticated a cappella audiences can totally latch onto a "pure" barbershop quartet. 2014 Northeastern District Quartet Champion Timepiece proved it last week by advancing to the 2015 Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals!


 

Timepiece identifies itself as a "KIB-ber" (Keep-It-Barbershop) quartet, and, as such, primarily sings barbershop arrangements from the 20th century-they pay homage to the quartets and the chord-ringing from barbershop antiquity. On top of cherishing their own bright, brassy, ringing sound, the quartet loves getting lost within the power of the music they sing-a trait inspired in them by the last NED gold medalist quartet: The Boston Common. Read more...
 

Why the lonesome face? We're everywhere!

There are a zillion ways to connect with barbershop. No matter how you like to social network, we've got you covered. Bookmark these sites and check in regularly. 

Facebook

Twitter 

https://twitter.com/barbershopnews


 

YouTube 

www.youtube.com/barbershopharmony38

Reddit 

www.reddit.com/r/barbershop/ 


 

LinkedIn 

www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=33805 


 

Harmonet 

launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/bbshop/ 


 

Google+ 

Goggle Plus


BTW, you don't need to keep all this LiveWire awesomeness all to yourself. Anyone can subscribe to our weekly newsletter using the links at the foot of each issue. 


 

Know someone who might be interested? Click the link that says "Forward this issue to a friend" and add a personal note: "Doug -- This weekly newsletter illustrates the breadth of activity in the Barbershop Harmony Society. Subscribe free." Your buddy will get the current issue and a sign-up link.

IS 10% OF TWO BITS 2.5 CENTS? 
Barbershop musical comedy hits the boards As seen in the March /April Harmonizer, Two Bits: The Barbershop Musical is enjoying a nice run and favorable reviews at the Swift Creek Mill Theater in South Chesterfield, Virginia (about 25 minutes south of Richmond.) Barbershoppers get a 10% discount with coupon code BHS10.
Grants program deadline is April 30
Have a great idea that needs funding? Consider applying during second application window, open through April 30, 2015. Full details: www.barbershop.org/grants