Bringing the festive spirit alive, a flashmob surprised Christmas shoppers at Webbs of Wychbold, a top Midland garden center. The heartwarming video of iSing Flash Mob Choir’s performance has now gone viral, amassing over 300,000 views.
The flashmob, which began with The Pogues' hit The Fairytale of New York, provided a touching moment following the recent passing of the band’s lead singer, Shane MacGowan. Filmed in the garden center situated between Droitwich and Bromsgrove in Worcestershire on Saturday, December 16, the video captures the joyous sounds filling the air.
Starting at 1 pm in Webbs' Food Hall, the flashmob choir astounded shoppers, halting them in the midst of their Christmas preparations. The surprise performance, kept under wraps until the last moment, even caught most of the store’s staff and the owner of the family-run garden center off guard.
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The choir added to the enchantment by integrating seamlessly into the surroundings. Singer Sue Weston, for instance, initially posed as a store cleaner before bursting into The Fairytale of New York.
Two additional flash mobs took place, including one in the store’s Christmas section at 4 pm, in front of HobbyCraft, and another at Webbs' festive lights walk, The Enchanted Gardens - Neverland, after dark at 5 pm.
The i-Sing Choir also delivered a 30-minute performance outside the garden center, treating the audience to a repertoire of songs and carols, from Christmas Time to O Holy Night.
The surprise element was maintained with only a select few Webbs staff members in the know about the flashmob. Even the owner, Ed Webb, was not privy to the specifics of the performance.
As the impromptu singing began, bewildered shoppers were soon joined by others in donning Santa hats, marking the event as a true flashmob.
Expressing his delight, Ed commented, “The iSing choir gave a truly superb performance throughout our Wychbold store and gardens on Saturday, surprising not just our customers but many of our staff, me included! It was very moving and the perfect way to kick off the festive celebrations.”
Members of iSing Choir from Worcester and other parts of the country united to spread holiday cheer among the Webbs shoppers. In addition to The Pogues' hit, they also sang The Darkness' Christmas Time.
Choir director Helen Jones, a Welsh College of Music and Drama alumna who has worked with artists like Michael Ball, shared, “We had an amazing day at Webbs spreading Christmas cheer to all the shoppers. Wearing fairy lights to sing in the Enchanted Gardens at the end of the day was unforgettable. I believe strongly that everyone has a voice and should have the opportunity to find it. We have so much fun and are always welcoming new members, so get in touch if you want to join in the fun.”
For those interested in joining iSing, visiting the choir’s website is the first step to take part in uplifting experiences like these.