'Unlikely' group of pals form festive friendships through singing

The Unlikely Lads – a choir made up of older gentlemen who rehearse and perform at Centrestage in Kilmarnock – are gearing up for their annual Christmas concert tomorrow.

It’s a show guaranteed to warm the hearts of even the Bahest of humbugs!

The Lads have been performing for over ten years, brought together by more than just a love of singing. Their weekly rehearsals allow them to form friendships that go far beyond the stage. They are there through good times and bad, supporting each other all the way, as original member John King explained.

“I’ve had a terrible year in that sense; I lost my wife and then I just loss my sister,” he said.

“The most important bit of this choir is the friendships and the people that are there.”

Fellow choir member Andrew Drennan has also found comfort in the choir. “I started bringing my wide to CentreStage when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. When she went into a nursing home I was persuaded to join the choir. It was probably a low time but with all the lads it’s great fun and they make you forget your troubles.”

And you don’t have to be Frank Sinatra or Michael Buble to be one of the Lads.

Andy Baird said: “ I has never sung a note in my life until I joined this choir. We all get together on a Thursday and its absolutely brilliant. The banter’s great and we slag each other off – mostly about football!”

And the group have amassed quite a fanbase, quick to tell us they have their own dedicated ‘groupies’!

Keeping the choir (and groupies) under control is choir leader Fiona Dippie, who said it was a joy to teach the Lads every Thursday.

“They all have a love of singing but they’re often coming here for other reasons and it might be to find friendship, it might just be for that community sense as well but the great thing about it we’re having so much fun and it’s bringing joy to the lads and CentreStage.

“The Christmas concert is a really fun time – it’s a singalong and it means we can involve the audience and community in what we’re delivering as well.”

You can see the Unlikely Lads at their Christmas concert A Very Unlikely Christmas in CentreStage Kilmarnock, Thursday December 11 at 2pm. If you can get in before the groupies!