I’ve started on the 2014 Ukulele Spotify Playlist. It’s short at the moment so if you want more here’s the 2013 list.
Kickstarting
– Ukes and Music to Pasajquim – a project to provide ukuleles for a remote Mayan community in Guatemala.
Wallet Looseners
– Caravan Gogh’s The 3 Faces of Steve featuring the ukulele stylings of Jim D’Ville
– Sounds from the Empty City by David Megarrity who you may recognise as half of Tyrone and Lesley. But this record is very different. It’s an atmospheric, instrumental album and it’s gorgeous.
– Ukulele Hangers made with parachute chord.
– Ewan Wardrop (he of In Da Club Formby parody is touring the UK with his Formby show
Pictures
– Belgian Groen party’s ukulele campaign – I think the implication is that the ukulele boom is down to climate change (thanks to Herman VDC).
– Ukulele couples
Tabs
Craig Robertson has added more of his songbooks.
Video
– Gary Oldman playing ukulele (Thanks to Ron Hale).
– Ukulele acrobatics.
– Ukulelist and Olympic luger and dancer has been up to mischief in Sochi.
– “Ukulele Orchestra play no thrills theatre show” – I think it’s supposed to be a compliment.
“No thrills” meaning no light shows, dancers, special effects, etc., Al? But, why is this necessarily a good thing?
The ukulele orchestra genre – as exemplified by UOGB – has gotten old and stale. Same old, same old, same old. Yes, it can be fun.
But it also can be spiced up. Considerably. Some newer bands are doing just that.
One thing I like is adding percussion. Sans drums of some sort uke orch. music just sits there. And so do audiences.
Audiences should start demanding more or the Ukes, etal, will be keeping the same act for the next thirty years.
How about a new Uke? TUKUO (yes, I know) changes personnel. Pockets is touring with them right now and vlogging the tour.
Why couldn’t UOGB have added him before now? Or someone else younger than, say, 105?
New blood. Young, fresh blood. New ideas. New members with no connection to the band’s history who would add something to it rather than coast on it.
Ukulelist? Have I been wrong using “uker?” Not about to change, in any case.
Didn’t we hash this out years ago?