Comments on: Paris Ukulele Festival

By: Ken Middleton

Ken Middleton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:51:59 +0000

Now that Lionel has announced that he is not going to be organising a festival in Paris in 2010, I hope that someone takes up the challenge and puts one on. Paris needs a festival, and it needs to be every year.

As for the 2009 festival? I really enjoyed it. But it did need more people. Some Parisians turned up but there were very few people from other countries. No disrespect to Lionel. He worked very hard. But it needs to be a more prestigious event.

Some people seem to be complaining about little criticisms made of them. I think they are being overly defensive. Armelle’s reviews are always more than fair. I would say, in all honesty, that some of the performers were not that good. One particular “act” was abysmal. To think that he can just simply strum along to Beatles songs and expect people to applaud, is absurd. If he had been a guitarist, and played twice as well, he would have been laughed off stage. The ukulele community deserves better.

Some performers were superb and deserve all credit. Remco (Zaza), as always, played brilliantly with such panache.

A festival in Paris could, and should, be one of the world’s premier uke events. Is there anyone who will put on festival next year?

By: Bill Robertson

Bill Robertson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:02:24 +0000

@ Armelle: I do hope you could tell I was just kidding. My movie is an acquired taste, I know. It connects with some. Others…not so much. I do wish I could’ve been there, though. Would love to have seen Patti Plinko and Ukulelezaza, both of whom I’ve admired from afar for a few years. Nice reporting job.

By: Armelle

Armelle — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:11:53 +0000

@ Bill Robertson : Seeing a uke being destroyed between each section of the film was too much for me to bear, I’m afraid.

@ Al : I wonder, do you have a policy for guest posts? This one should apparently have been censored :) Sorry to have caused such a stir ;)

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:38:07 +0000

Armelle: I let you do one guest post and you cause more fury than I managed in two years. Congratulations ;)

By: Bill Robertson

Bill Robertson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:48:36 +0000

I’m a little late in responding to the comment here about my documentary, “Rock That Uke,” since I’ve only just now stumbled across this post. But I must take issue with your characterization of this groundbreaking movie as “weird.” Indeed, I feel strongly that… that… well… um… actually…. Now that I read your comment again, it seems like a pretty fair assessment of the film.

Never mind.

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:21:14 +0000

Tim: If your audience are misinterpreting what you’re trying to say, you should probably look at how you’re putting it across.

There were many exciting and interesting acts on the bill. In contrast, I find your music very dull and uninspiring. Perhaps Armelle was too polite to say and thought it better not to say anything.

If I’d have written this post you’d have had something to complain about.

By: Tim Sweeney

Tim Sweeney — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:25:18 +0000

Unfortunately, the one sentence review here completely misrepresented the nature of my workshop. I made it very clear at the outset that playing ukulele with a pick is not for everyone, but a tool to be experimented with for the creation of different strumming styles and lead playing.
I did, by the way, perform in the concert, which was entirely overlooked in the review. I admit that because it was a rare solo performance for me, I was missing the on stage interaction between musicians to which I am accustomed. Still, it was great fun and I’m happy I was there.
Tim Sweeney

By: Armelle

Armelle — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:16:40 +0000

Thanks Mikael, it was great meeting you and your wife at the uke fest !
If you’d like to see a video of the afternoon of the fest, I have a post here too :
http://armelle-europe.over-blog.com/article-33525911.html

By: Mikael Anjou

Mikael Anjou — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:52:04 +0000

Nice to meet you there. Thanks for sharing your enthisiasm!
Mikael in Sweden

By: Armelle

Armelle — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:10:21 +0000

ronhale : I don’t think Patti Plinko’s Boy would have survived the heat with a gas mask… Shame the videos you’re talking about have been removed.