Video: Hawkstone Farmers Choir wows Royal Welsh Show

Fresh from their historic Britain’s Got Talent victory, the Hawkstone Farmers Choir received a rapturous Welsh welcome as they performed before thousands in the Main Ring on the opening day of the Royal Welsh Show.

The appearance was the choir’s first official performance in Wales since becoming the first choir to win the ITV talent show and one of the highlights of Monday’s programme.

Originally formed for a Hawkstone advert led by Jeremy Clarkson, the choir has become a powerful voice for British farming, using music to raise awareness of rural isolation and mental health.

See also: Hawkstone Farmers Choir celebrates victory in BGT finals

The choir performed favourites from its winning Britain’s Got Talent performances, including Elbow’s “One Day Like This”, Bastille’s “Pompeii” and the original song “This Is Home”.

Members also sang the Welsh hymn “Calon Lân”– the first time the choir has ever sung in the Welsh language.

The choir performed from the back of an articulated lorry provided by Brecon farmer and contractor Gary Bowen, who had the back of the cab painted with an image of his late father Winston and his mother Lynda.

Recording studio

There was little time to celebrate after leaving Llanelwedd, with the choir heading straight to the recording studio on Tuesday 21 July to begin work on its debut album, which will feature original music including “This is Home”, written by songwriter Simon Gwillem.

Choir members described recent weeks as “an absolute whirlwind”, juggling rehearsals, performances and media commitments alongside the demands of farming.

With a Royal Variety Performance still to come and a debut album in the works, the Hawkstone Farmers Choir’s remarkable journey shows no sign of slowing down.