GALA Water Singers isn’t letting the Borders weather dampen its spirits as the choir rehearses for its summer concert 'Songs of Africa!!’.

At the heart of the programme is the magnificent and exciting Zimbe - an uplifting celebration of African music which combines traditional song with infectious jazz accompaniments to whirl us through a dawn to dusk day in the life of an African village, including playground songs from Ghana, Xhosa lullabies and drinking songs from Zimbabwe.

Complementing Zimbe! are songs from African Jigsaw, Toto’s Africa and a medley from The Lion King.

But the vibrancy of Africa in this music can’t be contained within one valley and from Heriot to Hawick, from pupil to semi-professional, this ambitious, joyful, Africa-inspired programme involves literally hundreds of interweaving local community singers and musicians as the concert is performed in three venues.

At Stow Church on Sunday, June 1, at 3pm and Melrose Parish Church, Tuesday, June 3, at 7pm, alongside Gala Water Singers are Gala Water Singers Children’s Choir from the three valley schools of Heriot, Fountainhall and Stow; Melrose Community Singers; guests from the well-known Abbey Consort Choir; plus talented jazz players coming together to create the Zimbe! Jazz Quintet.

The Melrose Concert also includes the Melrose Primary School Singers with both Melrose groups formed this spring specifically to sing Zimbe! and currently rehearsing vigorously.

With over 100 performers already engaged in the first two concerts, the final concert in Teviot Church Hawick on Tuesday, June 24, at 7pm sees a magnificent 250 plus performers on stage. Hawick Schools Singers from Hawick High School and Drumlanrig Primary, also formed to sing Zimbe!, take the place of the Gala Water Valley and Melrose children.

Gala Water Singers, Abbey Consort Choir, and the Zimbe! Jazz Quintet all take the high road to Hawick and are joined by the Melody Makers, numbers much expanded for this performance, to complete the cast.

This ambitious community performance involves a kaleidoscope of six schools, four adult singing groups and six musicians in creating a joyous and memorable concert ensuring a wonderful experience for each audience, but important as this is, others will benefit too.

Charities benefitting are: Save the Children (supporting children in 120 countries); Malawi Street Kids; Malawi Rural Clinic; CLIC Sargent (supporting children with cancer) and Nyumbani Kenya (supporting children with HIV).

Tickets are £8 for adults; school age children free; available on the door; for local sales outlets visit galawatersingers.org.uk.