Where four guys make one sound
In the close-harmony barbershop style (acappella without instrumental accompaniment), a quartet of four people is not just a tradition, but a structural necessity. Barbershop music is built around four distinct vocal parts:
- Lead: sings the melody, usually in the second-highest range
- Tenor: harmonises above the lead, adding sparkle and brightness
- Baritone: fills in the gaps in the chord, often weaving above and below the melody
- Bass: provides the foundation with low harmonies
These four parts create the rich, full chords characteristic of barbershop, especially the "ringing chord" – a perfectly tuned consonance that produces audible overtones. A barbershop chorus such as Cottontown takes those four voice parts and expands the sound beyond that which a quartet could produce,
Looking to hire a quartet for your event?
Hiring a quartet is often the easiest, quickest and most cost-effective means of bringing acappella music to your event, and we can put together a quality quartet to suit your needs, using our own diverse repertoire – or we could even learn your requests! You can contact us directly to enquire about your event, or check out our details on the Encore website.
Our featured quartets
As a chorus, we're keen to promote and support singing in quartet, to develop the intimacy and tight interpersonal chemistry that allows a deep connection with an audience through regular performances in public and on the competition stage. Here are some of the current quartets involving members of Cottontown who we're proud to be associated with.
Meridian
Barbershop quartet based in the UK - bronze medallists at the British national male quartet contest 2025. We love putting a new twist on classic songs and ringing chords.
| County: | UK |
Flat Chance
Flat Chance quartet formed in October 2022, consisting of Mat (lead), Dale (bass), James (baritone) and Charlie (tenor) who all sing with Cottontown in Bolton. They like singing barbershop songs with Big Tags and loooong posts, as well as other acappella arrangements. They've won various awards including "Most Improved Quartet" at the men's national barbershop contest in 2025, and are available to sing at your charity or musical event - drop them a message on Facebook!
| General public contact: | Send us a message via Facebook |
| Area of operation: | North West England |
| County: | Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire |
