One of the many victims of this week’s riots was the UK’s independent record industry. The Sony/PIAS warehouse was burnt to the ground taking with it many labels’ stock. That included Sophie Madeleine’s label Xtra Mile. So if you were considering shelling out for it (and it is well worth it) now would be a good time to do it and show your support. There are many other labels affected. There’s a list here and suggestions of records to buy here and here. I highly recommend Finders Keepers’ world funk records.
Ukulele for Dummies has made it’s way to the other side of the globe and is available in Australia and New Zealand.
The 50/90 Challenge (to write 50 songs in 90 days) is turning out plenty of ukulele songs. Some of which you can hear in Kiwafruit‘s very enjoyable 50/90 podcast.
Lord love-a-duck, the guy out of Train said something about ukuleles I agree with:
“The truth is that everybody has basically warned us, ‘Please don’t put the ukulele on the record,’ but I struggle with that,” Monahan says. “That song is super island-y and I love it, and (ukulele) just feels right for it. So I don’t know what the rules are going to be with the ukulele, but you put on whatever feels right.”
Pictures: Godzilla’s ukulele cruise, ukulele bear (and banjo badger and banjolin armadillo).
UPDATE: Get a free UOGB track on their Facebook.
Banjolin Pangolin would have been much better, they missed a trick there!