Vocal Olympians talk to FLICKY HARRISON about their unusual show at the Wyvern

WINNING BBC2’s The Naked Choir competition in 2015 saw Sons Of Pitches throw off their boiler suits and create their own theatre show.

The singers are heading for Swindon this month with their vocal gymnastics in a new show celebrating the world of television including TV themes, sketches, panel shows and talent shows. The singers perform a mix of their own songs, unusual arrangements of pop and classical, beat boxing, harmonies and comedy.

The acapella group got together in 2010 when Joe Hinds and Joe Novelli were at Birmingham University, and set up a harmony group as a bit of fun.

They were spotted on Youtube by producers of Gareth Malone’s show and invited to audition.

“We had to put a song together in a week,’’ said Joe. “We decided on Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off. It was nerve racking and we were a bit sceptical about it as we were trying to steer clear of the mainstream because it is all about how you are perceived on TV.

“But then we met Gareth, he helped us. He was new to acapella but he loved it and it gave us a platform, pitch battle TV.’’

The singers’ unusual improv takes on the form of daring the audience to come up with a subject they can’t write an instant song about.

The Sons Of Pitches go down a storm each year at the Edinburgh Festival and during their early years the boiler suits were their regular costumes.

“We soon got rid of them, a bit of a boiler suit alert, and now have new costumes for this tour, but we are keeping them under wraps,’’ said Joe. “Edinburgh is amazing, there is such a buzz where everyone supports each other.’’

But it was winning The Naked Choir that launched the group as a professional outfit, inducing the singers to give up teaching jobs, office work and even being a barrister.

“When we graduated from uni we didn’t take the plunge because it was financially scary,” said Joe.

“But now we are busy every day. We manage ourselves and always do things democratically all together and take it in turn to drive the tour bus.’’

There are three Joe’s in the group, the third being Joe Betham. The other members are Jamie Hughes, Josh Mallett and Mide Naike.

Joe Hinds began singing with his father’s music group in church when he was just seven, so performing in public has never been an issue.

He plays guitar and piano and has entered the entertainment world in his sister’s footsteps.

“She is Rebecca Hinds, an actress who has appeared in Shamus and The Syndicate. I think she is quite glad I went into music,’’ he said.

Sons Of Pitches have played in a number of countries but one of their first really large concerts was in Hong Kong in front of a 4,000-strong crowd.

“It was huge and we were more used to the local pub but they loved the acapella,’’ said Joe.

Not only big in Japan, acapella is winning a huge fan base in America and they are hoping to win over Swindon when they come to the Wyvern Theatre on Tuesday, June 27 from 7.30pm. Tickets cost from £26 to £33 on 01793 524481. www.swindontheatres.co.uk