It has been a busy weekend with two appearances in two days, and involving a four-mile journey. This is as near to touring as we’re likely to get.

Saturday was a private party very close to our hearts: Kate Serenader’s 40th birthday in Emily Serenader’s and Il Maestro’s back garden. It even featured an exceedingly unseasonal Christmas carol.

Yesterday we were delighted to be invited to play outside Shenstone Community Library. The library’s volunteers were as lovely and generous as our ever-changing audience. Thanks to them we raised another £105 for the Crisis charity.

We’ll be at Shenstone Community Library from 2pm this Sunday, 5 July, as part of the biennial Shenstone Village Festival.

Lots happening around the village – for more information click here: https://shenstonevillagefestival.co.uk/

The weather got in the way of our outdoor appearance at the Kings Bromley Jazz Festival but the volunteers behind the tea and cake table were very happy to share their foyer with us.

Kate Serenader’s absence was remarked upon but still generous organisers and attendees meant we have been able to donate another £90 to Crisis. Thank you to KBJF!

We’ll be suffering delusions of grandeur tomorrow (Saturday 16 May) as we’re included in the programme of the Kings Bromley Jazz Festival.

It’s a one and a bit-day thing which starts this evening and continues tomorrow, all at Kings Bromley Village Hall.

We’re playing in between the proper jazz acts and will be out the back of the hall (or somewhere inside if it’s raining) from 5.40 to around 7.20pm.

All the details of the festival are here:

Kings Bromley Jazz Festival 2026

We remembered the songs, we remembered our hats, the passers-by were generous and we raised £60 for the Crisis homeless charity.

The Wayside Serenaders will be gathering in Dam Street, Lichfield, this Sunday morning.

Will we remember the old songs? Will we recognise each other? Come along to find out.

We’ll be there from about 10.30am till high noon.

For our third Inside Serenaders evening we celebrated 13th Night. Festive songs from All Souls’ Day right through to the eve of Epiphany were sung. It might have been a day or two late but the spirit of 12th Night was present in the form of the Master Of The Revels (Pete Serenader in lovely cloak and bird’s nest hat). The result was chaos of a thoroughly joyous kind.

Our generous audience donated £385 which we have passed on to Crisis, the charity which helps people who have nowhere to go but the streets.

Many thanks to John Watson for joining us and for these pictures of the band…

All photos are © John Watson/jazzcamera.co.uk

… and these of some of the mayhem:

All photos are © John Watson/jazzcamera.co.uk

Here we are greeting commuters today. It’s all part of a Friends Of Lichfield City Station initiative, so thanks to them for inviting us.

Generous passers-by mean we can send another £50 to the Crisis charity.

Thanks to Andy for the video.

This Saturday the Wayside… or, rather, Yuletide Serenaders will be singing and playing for commuters, either leaving from or arriving at Lichfield City station. So, whether you’re heading into Sutton Coldfield or Birmingham New Street, or arriving from Four Oaks or Shenstone, we’d love to see you.

We’ll be on the platform from 12.45 to 1.30pm. Toot toot!