BUSKING CONFIRMED!

John and I have decided on a date for Christmas busking…… We are taking the bull by the proverbial horns and calling all fellow Uke-buskers to join us next Monday evening, the 14th of December. We’re going to meet at the usual Ukearist venue of 6 John’s Place for a wee practice before heading up town to the German market at the mound. We’ll then busk around the area and just see how it goes.

It would be good if you could try to get to 6 John’s Place as early as possible, like between 6pm – 6.30pm. If you can’t make the practice but still want to busk with us, no problem, you can meet us there. We’ll probably try to get to the mound for around 7.30pm or so. It won’t be hard to spot us, that’s for sure! 

The idea is to do some Christmas songs as well as some of our ‘favourites’. We’ll post a songlist for the Christmas songs at some point tomorrow, so keep checking the site.

Santa hats, full costumes, anything Christmassy (sure that’s not a word!) welcome!

I have a music stand and it’s quite a sturdy one so i’ll bring that. I also have a headlamp that will help us to see the song sheets… Depending on how many people are interested, we might need more music stands so if you have one, please bring it along.

Now, the most important thing of all – in order for this to be possible, we will be relying on decent weather. Decent weather to me means no hurricanes, rain/sleet/snow. If any of these elements are showing face on the day, we might have to call the busking off but that doesn’t mean we still can’t meet at the school and busk to ourselves! I’m sure Sofi’s would welcome some Christmas cheer too….

Gee, what a long posting. So whaddya think folks?

Over and out!

Chris

Ukes for sale

I’ve decided to sell my brueko #6 soprano which many of you will have seen and maybe played at the ukearist.  The body is made from solid mahogany and it is strung with worth strings which I found suited it better than aquilas.  The action has been lowered at the nut, the body is unmarked and it has a lovely bright and loud sound to it.  £80  to you good folk of the ukearist.

I’m also going to be selling my Rose Brothers ‘Savannah’ banjo uke which you won’t have seen as it’s never made it to the ukearist.  I just don’t play it so it’s going to go.  I think it dates from 1920 or so and is made from maple.  It has V neck profile and sound pretty nice I think.  The action is pretty high at the moment.  It’s up on ebay here.

Of course I can’t just let two ukes go and not replace them with anything, the proceed from these ukes will be soundly reinvested back in to ukuleles, hopefully a vintage soprano if I can find something suitable at a reasonable price.

Pictures to follow at some point…

John

This guy rocks

I found this guy on youtube earlier this evening whilst searching for ukulele inspiration and thought he looked interesting – http://www.youtube.com/user/rawuke

He only does instrumental solos it seems but does them wonderfully and he makes it look effortless.

He has to be either – a) a musical genius, or b) someone who just takes a song, dissects it, and practices & experiments for hours on end….

I’m hoping he is the latter! I am wholly inspired! How about you??

Ukulele Festival of Great Britain

19th – 20th June next year in Cheltenham – http://www.ukulelefestival.co.uk/

I would really like to try and get to this, be great if we could get a crowd of us from the ukearist down there.

Christmas Busking!

Tim was suggesting getting a few of us together for a spot of Christmas busking this year, I’m definitely up for this and was wondering who else might be too?

I guess we’d have a couple of practices so that we know what we’re playing and how and then get out there and busk till we drop, bosh!

Christmas Ukearist!

Getting into the festive spirit the Ukearist on the 21st December will have a Christmassy theme and we will play lots, many or exclusively Christmas songs depending on how we feel on the night.  “But where will all of these Christmas songs come?” from I hear you ask.  The Taunton Ukulele Strummers Christmas Song Book is where.  I won’t be printing all of these songs off for everyone so if you’re coming on that night please print off your own copy and bring it along on the night.

If you have any other Christmas songs that you would like to play then please just print off at least 12 copies yourself and bring them along on the night.  If it’s available on the internet and you send it my way I’ll post it up in this thread so that other can practice it before the time.

Might even have a visit from Father Ukemas if you’ve all been good boys and girls!

After the Ukearist will be heading to sofis for traditional Ukearist Christmas drinks, hope plenty of you can make it!

Here’s a few more Christmas songs that I’ve come across that we could have a crack at:

• Here Comes Santa Claus (A classic from the Phil Spector Christmas album!)
• Fairy Tale of New York (We have to do this one!)  There’s a twiddly bit too that folk can learn if they choose
• Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
• The very PC  Vancouver Winter Holiday Songbook

Uke Boogie 2nd December

Edinburgh’s Ukulele open mic night, Uke Boogie is back on again on Wednesday 2nd December from 19.30 to 23.30, full details here:

The best Ukulele open mic night in town.

Happy night hosted by pockets *Kazookeylele Kid* and Alex *Melodica Muncher*.
bring your ukulele and rock out hard style, or play us some calm ukulele to melt our minds!

Play ukulele in one of the best bars in town The Bowery!
“POW POW POW”

********RULES*************
We have a NGA policy, that means “No Guitars Allowed!”
You can play other instruments like mandolin. Or flute.
Or spoons but no guitars!

Visit
http://www.ukeboogie.co.uk

or if its still down visit
http://ukeboogie.mmmfruity.com

I reckon I’ll head down later on the night (got a woodwork class earlier in the evening), anyone else fancy going?

Chunking

Hi everyone.

This week at Ukearist we looked briefly at the technique for chunking. Click on the following link to view a video tutorial focussing on just that:

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-play-the-chunking-technique-on-the-ukulele-251099/

I use chunking all the time and really enjoy the way that it adds rythym to my playing. As well as a tutorial for chunking there’s a whole load of other useful ‘how to’ videos on there so check them out and have some fun.

Personally, I learn more from watching tutorials than I do from books or just messing around. For youtube we are truly blessed!

Chris

Victoria Vox needs help!

Victoria Vox needs our help!

Victoria Vox is an accomplished uke player/singer/songwriter.

Many of you might have been lucky enough to be at Victoria’s gig in Leith a while back.

If not, you missed one of my top 3 gigs ever.

Check out her website: http://www.victoriavox.com/

Victoria is currently trying to raise funds for her next CD and is asking for help from the masses.

If you want to nurture a ukulele talent, have a bit of spare cash which needs a cause or just want to be immortalised in CD history, consider supporting Ms Vox in her latest endeavours.

Check out http://www.victoriavox.com/newalbum/ for the list of benefits you will reap in return for your donation *.

If any of you opt for the house concert and need any guests that particular day/evening, please feel free to let us know!!

*in addition to providing support to a worthy recipient

Uke players – favourite or obscure?

Who’s your favourite uke player?

The more obscure, the better.

The most impressive I’ve found has got to be Jake Shimabukuru.

The video of him in Central Park is now a legend.

I’m not much into heavy metal uke, but his “Play Loud Ukulele” DVD (US standard) shows him strutting his stuff. The best part of that DVD – for me – is the interview clips and teaching stuff as part of the extra gubbins.

Of course, now that the 40th anniversary celebrations for Sesame Street are in full swing, many thoughts are filled with all things muppet.

Although not a resident of the Street, Fozzie Bear has had my top muppet vote for quite a while.

How delighted was I to learn that he is also a ukulele player? (Pretty darned delighted, to be sure!)

If his uke playing is as good as his comedic skills, well, Jake has nothing to worry about. (OK, even if his uke playing is better than his comedy, he’d still be miles behind Jake.)

So, who gets your vote for best – or most obscure – uke player?