Music

The Spooky Men’s Chorale are once again mooring their man-ship at the Music Festival, awash with facial hair, dapper hats, oversized spanners and domesticated Mastodons. The Haze speaks with Spooky Dave about the global group of gregorian guypower

Dave is excited as he tells us about the current Spooky Men tour, heading West of their Mountain dwelling to take their man-choir to the rural masses in Orange and Bathurst regions, before readying their masculine music for the Festival. With a mix of comedy and choir, they suit a variety of venues.

“It’s nice to be at home in Katoomba for the Festival again,” says Dave. “The strategic weight of Spooky Men are in the Blue Mountains. Stephen (Taberner, the ringleader) now spends most of his time in Melbourne but we still call ourselves a Mountains group.”

With every performance the Spooky Men convert audiences to their choirish cult, and the phenomenon stretches from the Mountains to the UK.

“When we tour the UK we pick up half a dozen Spooky Men. I once asked Stephen how many Spooky Men have existed over time and he said there’s been 66! There is also a ‘chapter’ in WA with another name who carry on the Spooky tradition.”

The guys are heading back to the UK in July and in the past have usually recorded before travelling. “There’s a lot of airfares to pay for – so I’m willing to start a rumour that we’ll record soon,” Dave laughs.

Stalwarts of the Music Festival in Katoomba, the Spooky Men are excited not only about performing and workshops, but collaborating with other artists.

“Once we do our gigs we go and listen to the other bands. I recall in Katoomba turning up late at the Clarendon and just jamming, and Stephen will be performing with Lucy Wise this year.”

www.spookymen.com.au