Welcome to our Cadence Newsroom! Here you’ll find the latest updates, event highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, and stories from the heart of our vocal group. We’re so proud of what we’ve built together and can’t wait to share it with you.

21st March 2025

Cadence Bring Sunshine (and a Squirrel!) to Christchurch Quay

After a soggy start to the weekend, the clouds parted just in time for Cadence to kick off the final day of the Christchurch Music Festival, and the sunshine wasn’t the only thing that came out to play!

We opened Sunday’s community stage on the beautiful Christchurch Quay, where the bandstand was wrapped in wind and washed with light. It had poured the whole night before, and even the morning of the performance looked uncertain, but by the time we arrived, the skies had cleared and the boats along the river were bobbing gently beside us. There was a breeze (to put it mildly), but we powered through! hairspray can only do so much and we each had a Beyoncé ‘hair-whip’ moment.

Warming up in the park, we had an unexpected audience: a squirrel peeking out from a hole in a tree, head in paws, watching us like a tiny woodland critic. It was a moment straight out of a Disney film. These are the kind of little joys that make Cadence what it is, spontaneous, heartfelt, and just a little bit surreal.

This performance marked the debut of our new neutral colour palette, which we all absolutely loved. Simple, timeless, and totally us. We also unveiled a fresh set list, complete with choreography by Harri Harris, Vicki Armstrong, and Emma Perkins. It was the first time running the new songs live, and it felt electric. New soloists, new energy and some incredible moments.

We were especially proud to feature this wave of new soloists, each one rising to the challenge with confidence and flair. Russell Tickner delivered a crowd-pleasing rap in ‘Levitating’, Niki Merritt brought sass and sensuality to her lead vocal in ‘Espresso’, Lianne Anderson took us straight to the glittery heart of Nashville with a spirited performance of ‘Pink Pony Club’, Helen Steel and Donna Levaggi delivered an uplifting and vibrant duet on ‘Hold my Hand’, and Donna, in her first solo performance with Cadence, absolutely shone. It was a joy to watch each of them step into the spotlight and make it their own.

And while we sang, something just as special was happening offstage. A small group of young supporters from Julia’s House were out in the crowd, wearing their T-shirts and carrying collection buckets. Quietly, with big smiles, they helped raise money throughout the performance, charming the audience, and reminding us all why we were there. Their presence gave the afternoon a real sense of purpose, and we were so grateful for their help.

As always, performing in our local community, under the open sky, with friends, family, and strangers singing along, is a feeling like no other. Christchurch Quay gave us the most stunning backdrop, and we were honoured to be part of such a wonderful day.

A big thank you to Sandie Wood from Funky Little Choir for helping us organise this .

Next up: our Summer Party Fundraiser on Friday 9th August at The Factory Space.

It’s going to be bold, joyful, and full of Cadence magic! we’d love to see you there.

🎟 Book your tickets here