Issue 147

Nacht von Musik und Bier

23rd October 2006

The annual Fresher's Fayre Bierkeller night offered everyone a riotous night of music and beer, writes Kim Davies

Bierkeller, translating as Beer cellar, was held in a marquee on Fulton House lawn on the first Friday of term. There was a German music band present, playing traditional German music all night long, kitted out in traditional German attire.

Those who attended sat at tables in long rows down the marquee and joined in with all the actions and the songs; students were made to stand up, raise their glass and take a swig of drink. You were also required to clap hands with your partner across the table from you and also clapping and hitting your foot. While this may sound more like a child's party rather than a university event but if you picture yourself doing those actions with a few beers down you, you will soon be able to see how amsuingly unstable you can become!

The songs and actions you had to participate in encouraged people to socialise a great deal and therefore get to know those around you as you all did it together and was a great way to meet new people in a relaxed environment. The songs included old classics such as The Music Man with new verses like The Dambusters, where you sang along while pretending to fly, and The Archers where you had to sing the theme tune. All this added to the great spirit the event was held in.

It was a little disappointing that the beer was more expensive that what it would be in the Union however but that didn't put too much of a dampener on the German spirit that night! Later in the evening there were competitions where people were invited onto the stage to take part - the girls had to blow some sort of horn while the boys had to yodel. They of course had a free drink for taking part on stage, which was the perfect incentive!

It was a relaxed, fun night in a great location and saw students enjoy a good old traditional German sing-along under the influence of some rightly deserved beers after a hard freshers week!!

Kimberley Davies