PRESS RELEASE issued in August 2007

A SINGING group from Bath are regretting the fact that X Factor guru, Simon Cowell, made it up with fellow judge Louis Walsh. Stockingtops are a new group, set up by Bath music man Grenville Jones last year. Over 60 girls from 16 to a little older auditioned for the group and they made their first live appearance at the hugely successful Bath Showcase concert in May this year, singing with a big band in front of an audience of 1500.

Stockingtops Manager, Grenville Jones takes up the story: “ From the onset, Stockingtops was always going to be a concert or cabaret group, not a choir, that would appear with any number up to the 30 singers. I took 10 of the girls to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the first X Factor audition and they just sailed through.

“ They sang for a young producer who thought the a cappella piece was fantastic.

“That meant a return visit to a Cardiff Hotel three weeks later for a 9am start. The group had to sing the same piece with a double audition. If the girls got through in the morning it would mean singing before the line up of Simon, Sharon and the main judges in the afternoon.”

Alice Ellis is one of the group, and said: “We were all pretty nervous, although many of the girls have sung at a high level, this was different. When we arrived at the Hotel there were TV cameras everywhere.

“Fearne Cotton and Dermot O’Leary were wandering around as well and we were called to sing almost as soon as we arrived.

“There were three producers who asked us a host of questions about where we came from and why we had entered. We sang our party piece and they told us yes, you are through. The big audition would follow that afternoon!”

The Stockingtop girls were then interviewed by Fearne on the staircase of the hotel and joined in with them on a chorus of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

Another member of the group is Ali Jones, who said: “By then our nerves were really taking over. Grenville had come in for the auditions up to that point but he wasn’t allowed to come in for the one in front of Simon, Louis, Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue.

“Eventually it was the walk down the corridor and an interview with Dermot.

Then in we all trouped to see the big four sat behind that desk!

“After loads of questions we sang our piece. Simon thought we were great and so did Dannii, Sharon said we had a fabulous sound, but felt that there wasn’t really a niche for us in x factor. Then it was Louis’s turn.

“He like the sound but told us that we should stick to Songs of Praise and singing at funerals! That caused a bit of a row between him and Simon, who said we were extremely marketable, however, when it came to the final vote it was 2-2 and, as Louis was taking the groups this year, we were out!”

“We all thought it would be a hoot, Aled Jones introducing a group called Stockingtops on Songs of Praise,” said Ali.

The Stockingtops then had to do more interviews with Fearne. Whilst they were walking through the hotel to the interview Simon Cowell wandered past and told one of the girls that he liked them and he wanted them to go through to the boot camp stage.

Stockingtops have a Christmas date in Bath when you can judge them for yourself! They will sing at the Bath Forum on Dec 15th, the annual Silver Ring Christmas Show, also led by Grenville Jones with guest star, Hayley Westenra. Tickets are available from Bath Festival Box Office on 01225 463362.



PRESS RELEASE issued in July 2006

GIRLS. If you like to sing, and foot-tapping close harmony music is your thing, then a new music group could be tops for you.

Grenville Jones, well known as the conductor of Bath’s famous Silver Ring Choir and the man who launched The City of Bath Male Choir this year has another target in his sights. This time, it’s a ladies singing group with a difference!

He explains: “ I went to the Widcombe Rising event this year in Bath and heard the super girls harmony group, ‘Handbags of Harmony’ from Chester. I have decided to start a similar girls singing group here in Bath. They will be called Stocking Tops and made up of girls who like some swing with their sing.

“ Stocking Tops will not be a ladies choir, not a ladies barbershop group, but a harmony group with a difference.  The music will vary from the Andrews Sisters, Bette Midler, 60 & 70’s numbers and lots more. Music to make your feet tap - think Chapel in the Valley and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!

“ The ST’s will be backed by a brass section, keyboard, drums and bass, all young local musicians, giving them a big band sound. It’s going to be an exciting project with our first gig in Bath next May.

“ I know there are many singing groups in Bath at the moment, but there’s nothing like this. When I started my Male Voice Choir back in January people told me that I would not get a response.

“ This Choir is now working towards it’s first concert in the Guildhall on Saturday November 4th which be a sell-out. Numbers are in the 60’s and rising with many young men as members, the first time many have sung in a choir.

“ I am convinced that there will enough girls in and around the City of Bath who would love to sing lighter swing and jazz music, which will be the repertoire of Stocking Tops.”

The ability to sight-read is not important. Voice quality and harmony experience will count and Stocking Tops entry will be by audition. Grenville is asking initially for anyone who is interested to contact him on 01761 479352, email jonesgrenville@aol.com or see www.stockingtops.biz .