A Monthly Big Group Singalong for the Soul

BIG SING

Join an experiment where a whole lot of us gather in person to sing our hearts out.
Led by choirs and songleader luminaries, we’ll sing songs we know or can super quickly pick up.
Pop anthems, gospel, improv,  medicine songs, community classics -- all with themes we hope will leave us spirit-nourished and uplifted.

Let’s become a warm, inclusive, huge pop up choir of questionable talent and irrepressible joy.

This event is free and open to everyone, with RSVP required. Donations welcome to support the artists!

At The Bridge Yard in Oakland

24th

April

Fourth Thursdays of the month

07 - 09 pm
I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.

Rumi

What to Expect

Concentric circles

Campfire-style! This will be a non-performative, trance-out-in-the-music kind of space. You’re welcome to sit, stand or happy sway.

No talking no teaching no cell phones out

We won’t stop the songs to teach parts, preach or stage banter. 2 hours of non-stop singing. With phones away.

Lyrics on monitors

So you don’t have to hold paper, look down or effort to remember. Sing the lead melody, or choose your own harmony part and rock out!

Diversity of faiths and frameworks

This gathering isn’t rooted in any particular faith tradition, and songs will come from many.  Spirituality and religiousness of all types are welcome (and encouraged!)

Join us

At the Bridge Yard in Oakland

210 Burma Rd, Oakland https://www.thebridgeyard.com
Big Sing’s home venue is a historic, iconic event space that was once a maintenance facility for Bay Area street cars and features panoramic waterfront views of Oakland and San Francisco. 

We have 225 parking spaces. Doors open at 6:30pm.  Please arrive early to say hello and settle in. We’ll sing from 7-9pm non-stop!
Cost: Free! Donations for the artists welcome. The Bridge Yard is generously hosting us. When you come you can check it out as a possible venue for your next event!

I believe that music is one of the closest things we have to magic.

Haruki Murakami

What to Wear

Let’s match! As you likely know, choir members traditionally dress alike. Let’s keep that tradition and enjoy a cohesive element for our big group singalong. Each month, we’ll choose a color or theme to incorporate when you choose what to wear. 

April’s theme is:

Pink/Yellow/Gold

If it's fun for you, please come wearing pops of any shades of pink, yellow and/or gold. Go wild with fuchsia, mustard, lemon, blush or metallic gold to add to the bright springtime beauty!
Here’s an idea board for inspiration

Learn the Songs

You are invited  (if this kind of thing is your jam) to listen to the songs we will be singing in advance. Here is a playlist so you can familiarize yourself with this month’s set and, if you like, learn the lead melody or learn/create your favorite harmony parts. While knowing the music can support letting loose and rocking out, you’re also very welcome to show up with zero prep and be surprised! Sometimes songleaders lead by ear, so this list isn't comprehensive, but it will get you started!



About Us

We are a freshly forming community of diverse song lovers from around the Bay Area.  We are shower singers, garage band singers, and non-singers along with local choirs, a cappella groups, and seasoned song leaders.  We believe in non-performative singing for the joy of it!  We hope all people everywhere (the tone deaf and tone-masterful alike!) will reclaim the timeless and oh-so-human activity of coming together to raise up our voices in song. We wanted to create an experience of very large group singing without talking or pausing to teach, in order to invite transcendent states of consciousness.  And to have fun.  March was our first Big Sing! We hope you join us.

Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.

Ludwig van Beethoven

People Guiding our Journey

Meet our April Songleaders

Oakland Youth Chorus

The Oakland Youth Chorus, a part of Oakland Interfaith Choir, gets young people singing! https://www.oigc.org/youth

Phoenix Song

Phoenix Song is a celebrated Bay Area songleader, vocal coach, expressive arts facilitator, ritual artist, writer, mindfulness teacher, and healer. https://phoenixsongmusic.com/

Jonah Matranga

“You may know singer-songwriter Jonah Matranga from various projects--Far, Gratitude, New End Original, onelinedrawing — but Matranga may have done his best work while flying solo.” - ALTERNATIVE PRESS “One of music’s most charismatic, tuneful, purist geeks...” - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY https://jonahmatranga.com/

Vernon Bush

Vernon Bush has been spreading the joy of singing and speaking through the power of gospel music for over two and a half decades. He recently served as the Musical Director of the Glide Ensemble at the esteemed Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. vernonbush.com

Tobirus Mozelle
Songleader

Tobirus Mozelle is the vibrant voice behind the nu disco/deep house crew, The SyntheTigers. He puts his heart and soul into every track he is a part of and deeply believes that "music is the essence of life!"

Big Sing Pop Up Choir
Songleader

Our Big Sing organizing team is gathering a motley group of fabulous friends to lead us in a few wholehearted singalongs.

Inspiring videos of other groups Big Singing

Koolulam singing One Day by Matisyahu in Haifa

Pub Choir singing Africa by Toto across Australia

Come Join Us!

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No matter your gender, sexual orientation, religion, spirituality, abilities, race, housing status, or other unnamed things, you are welcome here.

We honor the land and waters where this gathering takes place, traditional homeland of Chochenyo Ohlone People.