On Sunday 17th August, we had the absolute pleasure of performing at Christchurch Carnival, a day filled with colour, music, and community spirit. The carnival was raising money for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, a cause very close to our hearts and our chosen charity, so it felt especially meaningful to be part of the celebrations.

We sang two sets: the first just before the procession arrived, and the second once the last float had reached the Quay. Thousands of people turned out to enjoy the carnival, and we were so grateful to sing to such a warm and enthusiastic crowd. To stand on stage and represent our community in this way is always an honour, and Sunday felt particularly special.

A Familiar friend

For our warm-up, we returned to the same spot we’d used during the Christchurch Music Festival earlier this year. Last time, we’d picked up an unexpected fan… a curious squirrel who watched our rehearsal from a nearby tree. We jokingly nicknamed him “Sid the Squirrel,” and couldn’t resist testing our luck to see if he’d reappear. To our delight, Sid showed up again, peering out at us as we warmed up. A little touch of magic before stepping on stage.

A beautiful moment.

During our second set, we performed Symphony by Clean Bandit, led vocally by Lucy Slater and beautifully signed in British Sign Language by Helen Steel. This was a first for us, and we’d chosen the song with inclusivity in mind. The moment became even more moving when a young girl in the audience, who happened to be deaf, started signing along with Helen, dancing with joy right in front of the stage. It’s a moment none of us will ever forget.

We closed our second set with Pink Pony Club… fittingly, the favourite song of the Carnival Princess, who joined us on the dance floor right in front of the stage. Seeing her dancing with so much joy was the perfect way to round off the day.

Celebrations and gratitude.

Sunday also doubled up as a triple birthday celebration! We raised a glass to our “Mama Bear” Denise Wright, our very own “Jessica Rabbit” Niki Merritt, and Chris Armstrong, husband of Cadence member Emma. After our sets, we gathered with friends and family for a picnic… sharing food, music, and laughter in true Cadence style.

We’d like to give special thanks to Jason Steel for keeping our sound on point, to Janine Pattison for helping with transport on a very busy day, and to Dianne Archer for capturing our performances on film.