Just a quick reminder that we meet again on Monday night for a couple of hours strumming and singing.

Monday 30th April 8pm – 10pm

The twiddly bit can be daunting – especially if only shown them once a fortnight. So here’s the song broken down.

The entire song in a PDF Good Riddance
The plucking Good Riddance Picking

Youtube clip:

 

My hand closest to the tuners:

My plucking hand:

Hi everyone,

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow night  (16th April 2018) is the Hull Ukulele Group get together and strum along.

8pm- 10pm Old English Gentleman.

I look forward to see you all.

John

Hi everyone,

In January we decided to skip Easter Monday – so the 2nd April meeting to not happening.

This gives everyone extra time to practise all the lovely new songs.

Next Monday night meeting will be 16th April, 8pm Old English Gentlemen.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Ta

John

 

 

Yorkshire Dales Ukulele Weekender

Where: Victoria Hall, Settle, North Yorkshire, UK
When: March 23-25
Featuring: Dead Mans Uke, Hedge Inspectors, League of Ukulele Gentlemen, Dani and Liam, Elisabeth Pfeiffer, Unplugthewood
Website:http://www.ukuleleweekender.com/

Big Boat On The Thames

Where: London, UK
When: April 7
Featuring: TBC
Website: http://worldofukes.co.uk/events-shop/big-boat-on-the-thames-luxury-london-ukulele-experience

Lincoln Ukulele Festival

Where: Bishop Grosseteste Univerity, Newport, Lincoln, UK
When: April 15
Featuring: Opera-lele

“Lincoln Ukulele Festival Sunday 15th April 2018 doors open 10am, musical fun right through to 5pm.
Cafeteria on site, access for wheelchairs, free home – made cakes at teatime,  singarounds, workshops,
songbooks, all completely free of charge!
Bishop Grosseteste University campus Newport, LINCOLN LN1 3DY”

Website: http://www.lincolnukuleleband.co.uk/festival/

Ukulele Takeover – Mossley Hill Beer Festival

Where: Mossley Hill, Liverpool, UK
When: April 28
Featuring: Splintered Ukes, D’Ukes of Hazzard, Secret Ukulele Band, Ukulele Club Liverpool, Summer Strum Band
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/921922901299671/

Ukulele Festival of Scotland

Where: Crichton Estate, Dumfries, Scotland, UK
When: April 27-29
Featuring: TBC
Website: https://ukulelefestivalofscotland.co.uk

Grand Northern Ukulele Festival 2018

Where: Huddersfield, UK
When: May 11-13
Featuring: Winner of the 2017 Best Ukulele Festival prize in the Got a Ukulele/UKE Magazine awards – Andy Eastwood (GB), Andrew Molina (US), Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer (GB), Peter Luongo (CA), Bad Mouse Orchestra (DE), Amelia Coburn (UK), Elisabeth Pfeiffer (AT), Natasha Ghosh (NL), Fake Plastic Tigers (NL+GB), Matt Griffo (US), The Ukelites (DE), Oli Mansell, Iain Glencross, Opera-lele, Andydan, Belfast Ukulele Jam, Rag House, Plastic Jeezus, Astraluna, Marc Gallagher, The D’ukes, Matt Hicks, Professor Chris, Ooty and the Cloud, Belfast Ukulele Jam, Dawn and her Uke, Isaac Hughes-Dennis and David Collins, Pitsmoor Ladies Ukulele Chorale (and more!) are performing and offering new workshops and experiences.
Website: http://northernuke.com
– My personal favourite.

New Forest Ukulele Festival

Where: New Milton, Hampshire, UK
When: May 12-19
Featuring: Opera-lele, Plastic Jeezus
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/135780580445374/?hc_location=ufi

Meet The Ukulele Maker Festival 2018

Where: Snowdonia, Wales, UK
When: May 18-19
Featuring: Andy Eastwood, Paul Tucker, Zoë Bestel

“The Festival will start off with an open mic session on Friday evening in the Oakley Arms hotel at the bottom of Plas Tan y Bwlch’s drive. On Saturday morning ukulele makers will be available to answer questions and have samples of their work on display for sale. In the afternoon there will be the opportunity to attend workshops on various ukulele building techniques and song writing and more. After dinner there will be concerts held in the library and in the theatre with headline players Andy Eastwood,Paul Tucker and Zoe Bestel. Support acts include Liz Panton.”

Website: http://www.mumf.co.uk

Skipsea Ukulele Festival

Where: Skipsea
When: 21st April
Skipsea Ukulele Festival aims to bring together Ukulele players and enthusiasts from all over Yorkshire and beyond.

UKE Power

Where: Drax Social Club, North Yorkshire, UK
When: May 26-28
Featuring: Phil Doleman and Ian Emmerson
Website: https://www.chrismcshanemusic.co.uk/uke-power/

Winchester Ukulele Festival

Where: Winchester Rugby Football Club, Winchester, UK
When: June 1-2
Featuring: Manitoba Hal, Andy Eastwood, Tobias Elof, Zoë Bestel, Remco, Plastic Jeesus, League of Ukulele Gentlemen
Wesbite: http://www.winchesterukefest.co.uk/tickets18.htm

Ukulele Festival On The Beach

Where: Oddicombe Beach, Babacombe, Torquay, UK
When: June 9-10
Featuring: TBC
Website: http://www.torquay.com/ukulele-festival-on-the-beach/

The Forest Ukulele Retreat

Where: Harts Barn Craft Centre, Forest of Dean, UK
When: June 15-17
Featuring: Phil Doleman, Samantha Muir, Peter Moss, Steven Sproat
Website: https://theukeroom.com/retreat/

Upton Ukulele Festival

Where: Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, UK
When: June 15-17
Featuring: TBC
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Upton-Ukulele-Festival-137039586872660/

Haworth Ukulele Group Extravaganza 2018

Where: Haworth, Yorkshire, UK
When: June 16-17
Featuring: TBC
“HUGE 2018 will be on Saturday 16th June.  On Saturday 16th June we’ll be in the Old School Rooms, Haworth for the usual mix of ukulele mayhem and fun – with a few new tricks up our sleeves.  There’ll also be a flash mob during the day.  More details coming soon!!”
Website: http://www.haworthukulelegroup.co.uk/huge-2017/

Biddulph Ukulele Day

Where: Biddulph, Staffordshire, UK
When: June 23
Featuring: Samantha Muir, Manitoba Hal, Amelia Coburn
“A great line up of ukulele officionados for BUG day. Including Sam Muir, Manitoba Hal, Amelia Coburn and not forgetting our own Peter Moss. There’ll be the usual ukulele entertainment throughout the day with performances from individuals and groups from far and near. There’ll be workshops put on by some of the top performers above, and an opportunity for everyone to improve their skill and technique and have fun doing so.”
Website: TBC

Ukes In The Sun

Where: Farmers Arms, St Merryn, Padstow, Cornwall, UK
When: June 22 -23
Featuring: TBC
Website: TBC (Contact mdhealy@hotmail.com )

Ukulele Festival Of Wales

Where: Gower Heritage Centre, Wales
When: June 29 – July 1
Featuring: Georgia Mae, Hedge Inspectors, Ukoholix, Sarah Kelly, Madison Martin, Ben Rouse, Fflip Fflops, Manitoba Hal, Gaudy Orde, Elderly Brothers, Amigos Gypsy Jazz Orchestra.
Website: https://www.visitswanseabay.com/events/ukulele-festival-wales-2/

Tees Ukulele Festival

Where: Redcar UK
When: July 7
Featuring: Dead Mans Uke, Mersey Belles, Peter Moss, Workshops
Website: https://www.teesukefestival.co.uk

Box Ukulele Festival

Where: Queens Head, Box, Wiltshire, UK
When: July 14
Featuring: The Mighty Lemons, The Mother Pluckers, Whispering Pauline and her Pleasant Pluckers, The Strumming Birds
Website: http://www.boxukulelefestival.co.uk

Ukulele Hooley by the Sea

Where: Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
When: August 25 – 26
Featuring: TBC
Website: http://www.ukulelehooley.com/

Highland Ukulele Gathering

Where: Scotland’s Hotel, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland
When: September 14 – 16
Featuring: Samantha Muir, Cera Impala, Nigel Gatherer
Website: https://www.facebook.com/PerthUkeFest/

Uke East 2018

Where: Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich, UK
When: September 21-23
Featuring: Tricity Vogue, Phil Doleman and Ian Emmerson, Dead Mans Uke, Ukulollo
Website: http://uke-east.co.uk

Bracklesham Bay Ukulele Festival

Where: Eastbourne, UK
When: October 26-29
Featuring: TBC
Website: TBC

Uke Express Steam Train and Uke Weekend

Friday, November 2, 2018 7:00 PM
Sunday, November 4, 2018 11:00 PM
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
12 Park St, Pickering YO18 7AJ
The Uke Express returns to Pickering on the weekend of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of November!

With options to include:

Friday Night Big Strum & Open Mic
Specially Chartered Steam Train on Saturday
Saturday Night Triple-Header Concert
Specially Chartered Steam Train on Sunday
Sunday Night Big Strum & Open Mic
Workshops

http://worldofukes.co.uk/events-shop/the-uke-express-2017-minehead-1-train-300-ukes-6b5bw

The Big Christmas Ukulele Party – Blackpool

Saturday, December 9, 2017
2:30 PM 11:00 PM
Hilton Hotel (map)

A fantastic way to get in the festive mood, our Big Christmas Ukulele Party promises fun, learning, music and bright lights!

Hello all you lovely uke players.

Monday 8th January at 8pm will be the first meeting of the year.

As usual (for the first meeting of the year) I want to have a quick chat about plans for the year and discuss the direction of the group.

After that (It’ll only take about 10 minutes) it’ll be back to the usual social sing-a-long with suggestions from the floor and shenanigans.

So see you at Old English Gentleman from 8pm on Monday.

Anyone with a new uke, bring it along and show off!!

CLICK HERE

Ta
John

Thanks to those who came to the last meeting – despite me telling everyone in January there wouldn’t be a meeting due to bank holiday.

It’s was interesting to sit around a table where I can hear that some people actually have very good singing voices.

11th September will be the usual night of singing and playing in a relaxed and happy atmosphere.

I’m on a training course in Leeds all week (7:30am to 6:30pm sort of thing). I’ll be tired, but I will be there trying my best.

So, see you from 8pm on 11th September Old English Gentleman.

Evening all.

Last meeting I tried an experiment. Worried, each meeting, that I don’t bring enough music, I brought all 5 songbooks, complete with braille identifying holes, (finally a solution that won’t wear off or fall off!).

I wrote a out a list of 30 (yep – 30!) songs as a suggested list.

It turns out that we only got through a couple of books (maybe 5 or 6 from each) before we tried the 5 news songs I brought in and Saalo’s original composition.
I was impressed by Saalo’s song. The rhythm breaks away from the unusual Hawaiian strum that we fall into.

So my conclusion is that we really only need a couple of songbooks per night plus a few new songs to try.
(It was back breaking bringing in that many books anyway!).

The new songs that we tried were :
(each song has the music HERE and then the VIDEO HERE to play along with)
Fat Sam’s Grand Slam HERE  – which I though went better than expected – VIDEO HERE
Always look on the Bright Side of Life HERE – Which went well (obviously) VIDEO HERE
Tonight you Belong to me HERE    VIDEO HERE   Or HERE
Maxwell’s Silver Hammer ( a simple version ) – HERE VIDEO HERE
The Times, They are A Changin’ HERE    VIDEO HERE

The Times, They are A Changin’ – there are extra chords at the end of some of the lines. These have to be played. The line that don’t have a chords at the end go straight into the next line. Look at the music while the video is playing.
Anyone with a harmonica is welcome to play along.

 

Next meeting is 8pm on 19th June. It might be hot, so we’ll take a vote on playing outside.

 

 

Here’s my report from the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival 2017.

 

I hope this serves as a guide for those who may have wanted to go in the past but were unsure.

I hadn’t planned to go to GNUF 2017. Like all those uke lovers who haven’t been, I didn’t know if it was worth the £46 for the whole weekend. Having been to Glastonbury and a few other camping festivals, I know there is lots to do and see and you are willing to pay quite a bit. Is GNUF worth £46? One of the volunteers at this year’s GNUF contacted me and offered a complimentary ticket. Did you read “volunteer”? Yes!. They don’t get paid to put on this amazing weekend. They work with the community, with disadvantaged communities and give up their time to support the ukulele and the local communities in and around Huddersfield).

Thanks Tess!

I have been to many open mic nights, bands  or ukulele based days where people go up on stage and “do a turn”. After you’ve heard “Wonderwall”,  “Bad Moon Rising” or “I Wanna Be Like You” the third time, you start to feel a little tired.

The GNUF had a stage for people to “get up and do a turn”. This is true. But they were polished and they produced a good sound. There were good singers and chose a great selection of songs to perform. I believe “Mim”, the organiser, had put effort into choosing the right groups.

BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!

At GNUF there were more than one stage. I counted 4 stages, but they host different events on each stage. One is an intimate performance area during the day, Cabaret at night.

There is a Main stage – which is a large theatre with stalls, side seat and two balconies. This is the type of place you’d see a pantomime or opera.

Downstairs there is The Cellar, where intimate performances are held. You can hear every breath and, (if you are lucky), you can sit 2 feet from the artist and converse with them.

Outside there is an open air stage with amplification and seating. This is where I ate my lunch and listened to group – after singer – after group sing their hearts out. The ideal place for a pint and a sandwich.

Did I mention a pint? The cellar has a bar and there is a bar upstairs. In each corner there are small gatherings strumming out their latest efforts. There were some really good singers in there and a whole band complete with tea chest bass.

As I couldn’t be there long (only Saturday of the three day event) I will take you through what I saw in order.

I arrived late – around 1pm, having found the venue quickly in the van, parking and then getting lost on foot. I parked about half a mile away and my sat nav told me that the venue was 7 miles away in a different Queen street.

On first arrival I walked into the open air performance square where “Mim’s Stage” was encouraging groups and singers to stand up give their all. I was very impressed with the standard.

Keen to explore, I wandered into the front of the Lawrence Bately Theatre. I was impressed. This is a wonderful venue. The organisers have picked a perfect venue. James Mason stared on from a plinth within.

In the foyer there were stalls selling ukuleles. Lots of Ukuleles.
At the Moselele stand, I tried a Moselele (Bamboo) uke at £60 and thought it very nice.
Duke of Uke were up from London with a massive stand of ukes ranging from £17 to £900. I was very VERY tempted into an oil can ukulele at £129, but thought of my wife burning my other 15 ukuleles to make space for the new one and decided to avoid.
I have UAS.
See here: http://adukes.org/members/ukulele-acquisition-syndrome/

Other stalls sold hangers to put your beloved uke on a wall, straps to put your uke around your neck, t-shirts, badges, raffle tickets, stickers, gadgets and CDs of the artists playing. I bought a programme and started to read.

Into the Cellar. 13:55-14:45 Here there was the “Unplugthewood stage”

First act I saw (as I said I turned up late and had to leave early – so tried to get as much in as possible.

All the way from The Netherlands: We Tigers. She has the voice to die for and plays toy instruments as well as a glockenspiel.  He’s a master of the uke.
A taste:

This was brilliant!

They finished with

Next up was a chap who taught a workshop (GOD!! I MISSED ALL THE WORKSHOPS!!! Next year I will be more organised!!).
PERCY COPLEY. He teaches finger picking and his performance puts us all to shame.

He’s funny, warm man with a massive talent.

I’m going to watch all of his videos on the youtubes!

Main stage 15:00 – 19:00
This was amazing!!!

Hosted by the utterly wonderful Heidi Bang Tidy, the afternoon flew by. Moving drum kits off stage became a 10 minute audience participation session with Miss Bang Tidy. A brilliantly funny lady. I think I counted 3 or 4 costumer changes. A proper show woman!

First up was The Poor Boys of Worcester. Six lads playing and at any one point there would be up to 4 ukuleles on the go. On chap strumming, one chap noodling, one chap doing a “guitar hero” solo, one playing a chisel. They were great. Really good fun. I’d love to see them in a pub.

Quaintest Show on Earth. I loved these. Only one uke, but great musicians. Lads from Wigan with a great sense of humour and plenty of talent.

Samantha Muir. This classically trained guitar player just has too much talent. It was almost like having a revelation. She played the predecessor to the ukulele – the Machete and another tiny Ukulele that I cannot remember the name of. Then moved on to a “normal ” ukulele. Seriously, people were sat with their eyes closed in a religious trance. She got a standing ovation and it was well deserved. She finished with a piece she’d written herself about the rain in all it’s forms and you could hear the patter of drizzle on a tent, a tropical downpour and all the variations in between. She can do anything from folk to jazz to classical. I’d personally like to see her do a heavy metal solo to be honest.

Small Change Diaries. Ukes, great singers, mellow bass and drums. This is a professional group playing cool music. They write their own songs and were great.
Judge for yourself:

Spotlight: here players under 25 were given a chance to shine and it was blinding. I’m not sure if the artists here didn’t turn up as two players were listed here as Dani and Liam – but the lady who played accompanied Samantha Muir earlier of classical guitar. She was amazing as you might expect. She did a French A level on Friday and has her Spanish A level on Monday.

Next: All the way from Australia. Another chap who is in the same vein as Jake Shimabukuro. Ryo Montgomery. Long haired and laid back, he was superb. He didn’t sing much, but he played like he’d made deal with the devil. Another standing ovation. He specialised in playing his own rhythm and melody at the same time. Beautiful.

 

Finally – The act I had missed two years ago at Cornucopia: Biscuithead and the Biscuit Badgers. Brilliantly funny and talented. Approved by Prince Charles. . They had the audience laughing, singing and waving their arms with (what are classics in my household), “David Attenborough“, “I’ve go my Finger up my Nose” and “My Mysterious Uncle“. Superb lunacy. I only wished they’d had more time to play “Tweed Jacket” or “Soy Milk“.

After over 4 hours sat in the main theatre, I went to stretch my legs and buy chips.
With a “small one” in tow, (she’s taller than her mum), I decided she’d had enough and it was time to head off home. We’d had a great day and I was utterly impressed.

I had only been for a small part of one day. There was a Friday night in various pubs for weekenders that seemed to be legend now. There was an evening in the main theatre that I was going to miss. There was a late night cabaret in the Cellar (over 18s only). There was a whole Sunday of workshops, 4 stages and a get together in the bar. I missed more than 75% of the weekend.

It’s a massively inclusive festival that supports local people who in turn support the GNUF.

It’s brilliant.
It’s Grand!
It’s definitely worth £46

The title of Best Ukulele Festival in the UK is well deserved.

If you think of the best performer you have seen at a ukulele festival and then multiply that by 50 acts – you are close to the quality of GNUF.

These people should be very proud of themselves:

Mary Agnes Krell
Robert Collins
Kris Ball
Clarice the Ukulele Pirate Queen
Mark Ramsden
Sara Francis
Mim

(Can you tell I couldn’t find a definitive list of the people who make this work and don’t get paid?)

This weekend (May 5th – 7th) is the Grand Northern Ukulele festival in Huddersfield.

Uke Magazine said:

A Grand Northern Ukulele Festival (GNUF) is much more than just a ukulele gathering. It’s a properly unique festival that belongs to every one of its punters, players and makers. We couldn’t let a landmark like a 5th birthday pass us by so we’ve got some truly spectacular things in store! See you there, 5-7 May, 2017!

There are still ticket available and it’s just over an hour drive to Huddersfield.