From London to Dungog: the Spooky Men sing across continents

DUNGOG audiences are in for a treat this September when the internationally acclaimed Spooky Men’s Chorale takes to the stage at The James Theatre.

Formed in 2001 by Stephen Taberner, the Spooky Men’s Chorale has become a cult favourite at folk festivals across Australia, the UK, and Europe.

Known for their extraordinary blend of rich, resonant harmonies and offbeat humour, the group first performed just three songs at an event called “This Was Nearly My Life”.

Their big break came at the 2004 National Folk Festival, where they debuted their now-famous theme song and cemented their place as folk festival legends.

Since then, the “magnificent, many-headed singing beast” has recorded seven albums, toured widely, and gathered a devoted following drawn to their ability to move effortlessly between musical power, exquisite tenderness, and “charming stupidity.”

“The foolishness came later,” said founder Stephen Taberner.

“The original idea was somewhat more modest: to assemble a group of men and sing deep, sonorous, resonant songs, in deep sonorous, resonant places.

“Like somewhat hip, agnostic monks on a roving commission amongst the crypts of the world.

“This was the original notion for the Spooky Men’s Chorale.”

Before arriving in Dungog, the Spooky Men will take their signature sound to audiences across the UK, including Portsmouth, Bristol, and London, followed by performances in Germany’s Frankfurt and Berlin, and then on to Denmark, with shows including Korinth and Copenhagen.

Despite their self-deprecating description as “just a bunch of blokes,” the Spooky Men’s Chorale has been praised for creating musical worlds far beyond what their casually hatted, black-clad appearance might suggest.

Dungog’s historic James Theatre will host the performance on Friday, 26 September 2025.

Expect a night where deep notes meet deep laughs.

Bookings via TryBooking.

By Shannon BENTON