New Releases
– Two new albums from the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra: Be Mine Tonight a collection of New Zealand songs from the Maori lullaby Hine e Hine to Lorde’s Team and Collected Hits featuring songs from their EPs.
– Bosko and Honey’s The Universe Will Provide.
– Rock journalist and Leonard Cohen biographer Sylvie Simmons has released her debut album Sylvie.
Videos
– Sneak peak of Street Punk! Banda Aceh a documentary about the ukulele-toting punks who were arrested and ‘re-educated’ by the Indonesian government.
– Phil Harris and Alice Faye’s ukulele lesson from 1949. (Thanks to Ron Hale.)
– Reggie Watts makes music with Garfunkel and Oates (US only) and some sort of cigar-box fiddle/ukulele.
Kickstarting
– The Love Leighs are making a new record Spreading the Love.
Pictures
– Madeira machete.
– Wood burning ukulele.
The UOGB have been commissioned to make a new show for the 100th anniversary of WWI: When This Lousy War is Over.
The Ukes should set some of WWI British poetry to music, Al. At least strum/pick something in the
background while some of the war verse is read.
This is touchy territory, isn’t it? Have to strike
just the right tone.
There must be those who will look askance at a too-lighthearted (in their minds) treatment.
Ukuleles, perhaps, not being seen as the best way to remember those who died on Flanders Fields.
But, I believe – weren’t George and Kitty there entertaining the troops in the trenches?
I think so. Will was a tad too young at the time,
but, I think G&K were there. With their little ukeleles in their hands.
So, no doubt all will go just fine. This is something new, which is what the ukulele should be up to.
It supposedly being a revolutionary instrument in the hands of forward thinkers.
And, not just a portal to Nostalgia Land.
I say it’s time to round up some Brit uke punks – The pUKes, perhaps, or Ouse Valley- and re-educate their anti-establishment bums up to the hilt at a Formby Society convention.
Tough love, sure. But, think of the future fad
for banjo-uke cinema, resulting.
Worth every little stick of Blackpool rock, it be.