Livestock Festival is back at Forty Hall Farm for its fifth year and a total of 20 bands, encompassing genres such as rock, folk, reggae and swing, will be performing during the day-long event.
Promising newcomers R Voices Choir, based in Winchmore Hill, will be singing a range of pop classics at the festival including tunes from Adele, Oasis, Clean Bandit and a bit of Motown thrown in. 
The chorus was set up by singer and songwriter Richard Forbes, with the aim of bringing a new sound to Enfield and providing a creative outlet for people who usually only sing in the shower. 
The 38-year-old has been in the music business for almost 20 years and has worked with popstars Sam Smith and Paloma Faith, as well as writing the scores for a BAFTA nominated comedy called Convenience and a short film called Life Sentence.
He explains why he wanted to get people in the community singing together. 
Richard says: “It’s all kicking off for us at the moment. We’ll be on stage at 12.30pm this Saturday and there will be around 30 singers of all age ranges performing. The youngest person is 18 and the oldest is und 71. It' a mixed group of people and everyone has been working hard and attending extra rehearsals.”
He has seen the choir grow in strength since he founded it in February this year. The group already cut its teeth at the Firs Farm Wetlands Festival two weeks ago and has been asked to be take part in Mayor of Enfield Bernadette Lappage's charity, Enfield Sounds Great.
Due to ever-growing demand and wanting to fit around people’s busy schedules, Richard holds two sets of rehearsals each week on Tuesdays at the Winchmore Pub, on Winchmore Hill Road, at 8.30pm and also Thursday evenings at 7.30pm, above The King’s Head, at the corner of Church Hill and Wades Hill. 
The musician, who grew up in Southgate but now lives near Enfield Town, wanted to set up a singing group as he felt there was a need in the area.
He explains: “I set up the choir because I wanted to do something creative as a musician and also wanted to involve the community. Nobody really knows about this sort of thing unless they really search it out. If people are into amateur dramatics, they can easily join a theatre group but if they enjoy singing, they will more likely sing in their car or in their home instead of in a choir. 
“People don’t realise that singing in harmony with others gives you a great feeling, is good for your soul and it doesn’t take up too much of your week either. I think choirs often have an old-fashioned stigma attached to them and are associated with being in church halls with churchgoers and schools. 
“However, this group is just everyday people who come along and enjoy singing together. Some are quite sheepish when they first attend but after a session, they are normally hooked because no one isolates you or laughs at you. You won’t feel alone, as everyone sings together and it is above a pub, so a glass of wine and beer often helps people to relax!”
Richard is proud of how quickly the choir has spread around his hometown after deciding to pursue the project in order to be closer to his family and feels it will keep on growing after the Livestock Festival. 
He says: “I definitely think it is beneficial for the area. I was born and bred in Enfield but have also travelled the world as a performer and studied music at the Musicians Institute, in Los Angeles, California. I have written songs with Sam Smith and other artists that have been part of Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor, as well as working with Paloma Faith on stage.
“I play the piano, guitar and the drums, although I just play the piano when I’m rehearsing with the choir. I’ve been in the music industry since I was 19-years-old and have done a lot of varied things in my career but now I have one child and another on the way, I just wanted to do something closer to home that involved less travel. So it has worked out well.
“Now I’ll be looking at how the choir can expand and will embrace all the opportunities that will be available for us in the future.” 

To find out more about R Voices Choir, email: Rvoiceschoir@gmail.com 

Five other reasons to go to Livestock Festival

The Edwin Starr Band 
Performing on the main stage, otherwise known as the Feelgood area, the band will lead the line-up of acts and features the late great Edwin Starr’s brother Angelo Starr with the original backing group The Team, to bring you the best of Motown and soul.

Abba Chique
In the early afternoon, tribute band Abba Chique will take to the main stage with their visual and vocal interpretation of Abba. They will be playing all the hits of the legendary Swedish group with beguiling harmonies and spectacular costumes.

La Bouche Manouche
The Black Barn Stage will host this swinging acoustic outfit who say their music is influenced by Django Reinhardt and the great gypsy jazz tradition. The band’s collection of songs encompasses swing, jazz, bossa nova and bolero, in the Hot Club style that has become so popular. 

The Quiet Quiet Band 
If you'd prefer not to make some noise and listen to a gentler sound, then sample the hushed harmonies of this dapper six-piece at the Black Barn Stage. Some of their songs may have a quiet and peaceful intro, but this is only the calm before the storm before they swing into action with their upbeat alt-folk set.

JFK Blues
The Woodland Stage is literally built in the woods and will be home to blues acts. Southern rock group JFK Blues will be performing their third ever gig since forming three months ago after building up an impressive back catalogue as session musicians for Carly Simon and Fleetwood Mac, Paul Kossof (Free) and Chaz Jankel (The Blockheads).

Livestock Music Festival, Forty Hall Farm, Forty Hill, Enfield, EN2 9HA. Saturday July 30, 12pm. Details: livestockuk.com