Summer in Barham: The Good Gnus
Schedule
Fri, 17 Jul, 2026 at 07:30 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Barham Church | Canterbury, EN
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Summer in Barham returns to the beautifully intimate Barham Church this July with an evening of musical mischief from Canterbury favourites, The Good Gnus.Dr Jon Williams and Dr Chris Price—two singers who once shared not just a choir stall in Canterbury Cathedral, but also a love of music that would never have echoed through its venerable vaults—bring their playful spirit to Barham for one night only.
Joined by their talented friend and fellow musician, the dexterous Mr David Smith, the trio share their rediscovered gems from some of the greatest musical humourists of the last century. What began with the songs of Flanders and Swann has grown into a repertoire that now includes Noël Coward, Richard Stilgoe, Peter Skellern, Jake Thackray and Tom Lehrer.
Together they explore everything from love and romance to ecclesiastical curiosities, national affairs, and the ever changing economy—though Flanders and Swann's original Budget Song now requires a rewrite for every performance, a testament to the group’s dedication to freshness and topical wit.
Favourites such as The Gasman Cometh and Joyce the Librarian usually make an appearance, but the trio has one requirement: that their audiences should be prepared to roar the chorus of The Hippopotamus Song with as much gusto as is humanly possible.
As Chris notes, “We love the quicksilver wit and deft composition found in these songs, and their appeal is timeless. They’re also surprisingly topical.” The trio look forward to bringing their customary joie de vivre to the Summer in Barham weekend, promising an uplifting and thoroughly entertaining evening for all.
The church will be running a small bar with wine and light refreshments for a donation, with all proceeds going to help the church.
St John the Baptist's Church, Church Ln, Barham, Canterbury CT4 6PB
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Where is it happening?
Barham Church, St John's Church, Barham, The Street, Canterbury, CT4 6, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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