Ukuleles for Ukraine is a charity that raises money via ukulele-means to supply children’s homes in Ukraine with clothing, school supplies, medicines, educational technology, and musical instruments. They’ve just released a ten minute documentary of their trip and just launched a YouCaring fund that you can donate to here.
The Hebden Bridge-based organisers of the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival were hit particularly hard with the Boxing Day floods in the UK. But they’re back in business and the festival is going ahead as planned with a great line-up.
New Releases
– Les Poupées Gonflées – Chansons pétillantes à voix frétillantes!.
– Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer – The Chap Trilogy (PWYW).
– Prettiots – Funs Cool.
– Brit Rodriguez – Valentine’s Day and Renditions for Rainy Days.
– Vessna Scheff – Echoes EP.
Jonathan Lewis – Loftus Jones (Tab)
Jonathan Lewis’s Irish Tunes for Campanella Ukulele was my favourite tab book of last year. So I’m delighted that he’s let me put up his tab up on the site.
Like the arrangements in his ebook, this is a challenging campanella of an Irish tune (this time by Turlough O’Carolan).
Links
Irish Tunes for Campanella Ukulele
Jon’s Ukulele Site
More Ukulele Tabs and chords
I’ve been blown away by how well Ukulele for Dummies has done. It’s sold over 100,000 copies now which is way beyond what I ever imagined. It’s also had good review. There are 151 5 star reviews on Amazon UK (with an average of 4.4 stars) and 185 5-star reviews on Amazon US (4.2 average).
I can’t thank you enough for buying, reviewing and most of all recommending it. I know a lot of people who read Uke Hunt are the go-to ukulele person amongst their friends so I’m so massively grateful for people spreading the word.
The publisher must be happy with how it’s gone as well. They asked me to do a second edition of the book which came out at the end of last year. Here are some of the details on it.
What’s New?
There are two brand new chapters:
– Ukuleleing the Holidays: Like the rest of the chapters in Part IV, it applies techniques from earlier in the book to a type of music. In this case, Christmas and New Year tunes.
– Ten Greatest Ukulele Chords: My favourite chords, how to play them and when to use them.
There’s a new section on useful mobile apps for ukulele players.
There’s no CD anymore. But, mercifully, the downloads have been made easier to find and deal with. You can get them all here.
Some (hopefully all) of the typos have been fixed, a few bits have been updated and I’ve clarified and changed a few things thanks to the feedback I’ve had.
Audio and Videos
All the audio and video are easy to get now whether you’ve bought the book or are just curious. You can download the audio and watch the videos here. You can also find all the individual files linked here (useful if you’re on mobile).
Should I Buy the First or Second Edition?
I’d recommend the second edition. As well as the extra chapters I think some of the explanations are clearer.
The only people I’d recommend the first edition to are those who are happier using a CD rather than downloads or have limited connectivity. But for people who would just rip the CD anyway, go with the second edition.
I Have the First, Should I Get the Second?
No, I wouldn’t recommend it. The new stuff isn’t essential in the 2nd Edition that wasn’t in the first.
Excerpts and Extras
You can get a flavour for the book by reading these extracts and extras that are on Dummies.com:
– Suspending and Diminishing Chords on the Ukulele
– Relating Chord Diagrams and Tab to the Ukulele
– Extending Ukulele Chords
– Attempting More Complex Chords on the Ukulele
– Augmenting Chords on the Ukulele
– 10 Famous Ukulele Lovers
– Ukulele For Dummies Cheat Sheet
– Getting to Know Chord Families on the Ukulele
Second Edition Contents
Introduction
Part I: Getting Started with the Ukulele
Chapter 1: Exploring the Ukulele
Chapter 2: Tuning Up to Sound Great
Chapter 3: Discovering How to Handle Your Ukulele
Part II: Starting Out with Chords and Strumming
Chapter 4: Playing Your First Ukulele Chords and Songs
Chapter 5: Drumming Up More Strumming Patterns
Chapter 6: Meeting the Chords and Their Families
Part III: Picking and Single Note Playing
Chapter 7: Getting to Grips with Tabs and Notation
Chapter 8: Discovering Fingerpicking Patterns
Chapter 9: Combining Melodies and Chords When Playing Solo
Chapter 10: Picking Up Some Soloing Techniques
Part IV: Discovering Genres and Styles
Chapter 11: Rocking Out with Your Uke
Chapter 12: Playing the Blues to Lift Your Spirits
Chapter 13: Saying ‘Aloha’ to the Hawaiian Style
Chapter 14: Jazzing Up Your Uke Playing
Chapter 15: Strumming Up the Jawaiian Style
Chapter 16: Getting Classy: Classical Masterpieces for Ukulele
Chapter 17: Ukuleleing the Holidays
Part V: Buying and Looking After Your Ukulele
Chapter 18: Weighing Up Your Options When Buying a Ukulele
Chapter 19: Splashing Out on Essentials and Accessories
Chapter 20: Restringing, Maintaining, and Adjusting Your Uke
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 21: Ten Ukulele Players to Know
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Get Involved in the Ukulele Scene
Chapter 23: Ten (or So) Tips for Improving Your Playing
Chapter 24: Ten Greatest Ukulele Chords
Part VII: Appendixes
Appendix A: Chord Charts
Appendix B: Reading Standard Musical Notation
Appendix C: Audio Tracks
Hoagy Carmichael – I Get Along Without You Very Well (Chords)
What a great song this is. I love the half-hearted pretence of, “Oh, I’m totally fine with being dumped.” And the music reflects that so well. It does its best to avoid minor-key gloominess but can’t raise the tempo above a crawl and is drenched in melancholy, ambiguous chords.
The song has been sung by all the greats including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker and Nina Simone. But I’ve written up Blue Dean Carcione’s excellent banjolele version.
Suggested Strumming
I’d recommend following Dean and just doing simple down strums all the way though.
Twiddly Bits
Here’s the little fingerpicked intro:
Links
Buy the Sinatra version
BlueDeanCarcione on YouTube
More jazz tabs and chords
This year’s Winter NAMM (the big music instrument trade show) had plenty of new ukuleles to gawp at:
– The uke that’s really lubed my wallet-slit this year is the 2016 Kanile’a Platinum. I’m guessing it’s going to be over $3,000 so I’m just going to let my dreams be dreams.
– Kamaka Ukuleles are 100 years old and kicked off their centenary with a show at NAMM packed with ukulele stars. I recommend watching PBS’s Kamaka documentary to catch up with their long history.
– Scooped cutaways seem to be the new hotness this year. As well as Kanile’a, aNueNue has the Super Lani, Kala has a new scalloped series and Rebel have the new Livingston tenor. (Also hot: comfort edges.)
– Blackbird have long been experimenting with materials used in their instruments. The latest is the most unusual yet: the Ekoa ukulele made from linen. You can find out more in this factory tour video.
– At the goofy end of the spectrum are Ayers’ Zodiac ukuleles.
– And this year’s wackiest idea goes to Bugsgear for this thing that has a speaker in the soundhole so you can play along with a backing track.
– Deering have launched a tenor banjolele. Mim tested one out.
I’m making this a dual tribute to Bowie and Mick Ronson. Ronson was Bowie’s guitarist for his greatest string of albums between 1970 and ’74. He was the perfect foil for Bowie providing a hard-hitting rock edge to Bowie’s artsy-fartsyness.
As well as being massively underrated as a guitarist, Ronson doesn’t get his due as an arranger either. He created epic string arrangements for Bowie songs like Life on Mars and Starman but perhaps his most iconic arrangement was for Lou Reed’s Perfect Day (on which he also played piano).
Rebel Rebel
Ziggy Stardust
Mott the Hoople – All the Young Dudes
The Jean Genie
Ashes to Ashes
Lazarus
The Man Who Sold the World
Here’s the preliminary list of 2016 ukulele festivals. If you know a festival that needs adding send me a message or leave a comment on this post with the details.
USA and Canada
Alabama Uke Fest
Location: Riverview Campground, Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Date: September 10, 2016
Performers: Ukulele Band of Alabama
Website: http://alabamaukefest.weebly.com
Albuquerque Ukekopelli Festival
Location: African American Performing Arts Center, 310 San Pedro Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Date: September 23 to 25, 2016
Performers: Gerald Ross, Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ward, Andy Andrews, John Bartlit
Website: http://www.abqukefest.com/
Allegheny Ukulele Soiree
Location: The Laurel Lodge, Altoona, PA
Date: April 15 to 17, 2016
Performers: Gerald Ross, Paul Hemmings, Skye Zentz, Colin Coleman and Mim.
Website: http://soiree.alleghenyukes.com/
Ashokan Uke Fest
Location: Conservation Hall, Ashokan Center
Date: May 27 to 30, 2016
Performers: Victoria Vox, Paul Hemmings, Gerald Ross, Del Rey.
Website: http://ashokan.org/uke-fest/
Berliner Ukulele Festival
Location: ufaFabrik, Bezirk Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Viktoriastraße 10-18, 12105 Berlin, Germany
Date: October 29, 2016
Performers: Ukepack, Samuel der Ukulelenprediger, Bad Mouse Orchestra, Iso Herquist, The Gentle Ukes
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Berliner-Ukulele-Festival-1148927605148174/
Blackwater Ukulele Festival
Location: Cypress Gardens
Date: September 18, 2016
Performers: Nathan Miller, The Charleston Hot Shots, The V-Tones of Charleston
Website: http://festival.charlestonhotshots.com/
Caspar UkeFest
Location: Caspar Community Center, 15051 Caspar Road – box 84. Caspar, California 95420
Date: April 29 & 30, 2016
Performers: Del Rey, The Ukeholics, The Ukeladies
Website: http://mendocinostories.com/UkeFest.html
Denver Ukefest
Location: Swallow Hill Music
Date: May 12 to 14, 2016
Performers: Leftover Cuties, Victor & Penny, Victoria Vox, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Lil’ Rev, Stuart Fuchs.
Website: http://swallowhillmusic.org/events-and-festivals/denver-ukefest/
Dock Street Uke Camp
Location: Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date: September 16 to 18, 2016
Performers: Manitoba Hal, Eve Goldberg, Nigel D’Eon
Website: http://dockstreetukecamp.wix.com/homepage
Funky Frets Uke Fest
Location: Boyertown, PA USA
Date: September 30, October 1 to 2, 2016
Performers: Jim and Liz Beloff, Rachel Manke, Curt Sheller, The Aloha Boys, Ben Carr, Don Peyton, Uncle Zac, Debi Velasco
Website: http://www.funkyfretsukefest.com/
Great Minnesota Uke Gathering
Location: Minneapolis Marriott West, 9960 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55426, United States
Date: November 18 to 19, 2016
Performers: Jim D’Ville, Two Harbors Ukulele Group
Website: http://www.bluegrassfun.com/2016-fall-uke-gathering.html
Lake Anne 7th Annual Ukulele Festival
Location: Lake Anne Plaza, 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston, VA 20190
Date: July 9, 2016
Performers: Hula Monsters, Aloha Boys, Isa Pacifika Dancers, Rachel Manke, The Sweater Set
Website: http://lakeanneplaza.com/event/7th-annual-ukulele-festival/
Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival
Location: Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance, CA 90503, United States
Date: September 2016
Performers: James Hill, Victoria Vox, Andrew Molina, Jim D’Ville, Bartt Warburton, Chee & Maisel
Website: http://www.kalakoa.com/ukulele/index.html
May Day Ukulele Play Day 2016
Location: Church of the Brethren, 2301 Woodland Avenue, Modesto, CA
Date: May 21, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://funstrummers.com/4.html
Menucha Ukulele Band Camp
Location: Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, Oregon
Date: March 28 to April 1, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://menucha.org/programs/music-programs/uke-band-camp
Midwest Uke Fest
Location: TBA
Date: August 20-21, 2016
Performers: Lil’ Rev, Richard Ash, Bing Futch, Wendy Songe
Website: http://www.midwestukefest.com/
Mighty Uke Day 6
Location: Dart Auditorium, 500 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, United States
Date: May 13 to 15, 2016
Performers: James Hill, Lil’ Rev, Gerald Ross, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Stuart Fuchs, and Victoria Vox
Website: http://mightyukeday.com/
Milwaukee Ukulele Festival 2016
Location: The Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Rd. Elm Grove, WI
Date: October 1, 2016
Performers: Lil’ Rev, Spencer & Raines, Seeso, Michael Bootzin, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Matt Lindahl, and more
Website: https://mufest.com/
Mini Uke Day
Location: Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. 6 Mile Road, Livonia, MI
Date: November 5, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://mightyukeday.com/mini-uke-day/
Montreal Uke Fest
Location: 4873 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R5, Canada
Date: August 12 to 13, 2016
Performers: Michael Wagner, Del Rey, UKE, Monika Cefis.
Website: http://montrealukefest.com/
New Jersey Uke Fest 2016
Location: Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey, Whippany, NJ / Morristown, NJ USA
Date: August 26 to 28, 2016
Performers: James Hill, Victor & Penny, Manitoba Hal, Jim Boggia and Cousin Earth
Website: http://folkproject.org/njukefest/
Oakridge Ukulele Festival
Location: Oakridge, Oregon
Date: August 12 to 14, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://oakridgeukulelefestival.com/
Palm Strings Ukulele Festival
Location: Hilton Palm Springs
Date: February 25 to 27, 2016
Performers: Craig Chee, Sarah Maisel, Victor & Penny, Aaron & Nicole Keim, Dani Joy.
Website: http://www.playuke.net/
Port Townsend Ukulele Festival
Location: Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
Date: September 28 to October 2, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-ukulele-festival/
Reno Ukulele Festival
Location: Nugget Resort, Sparks Nevada
Date: April 14 to 17, 2016
Performers: Craig Chee, Sarah Maisel, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., Del Rey
Website: http://www.playuke.net/
Rocky Mountain UkeFest
Location: Durango, Colorado
Date: July 7 to 9, 2016
Performers: The Leftover Cuties
Website: http://rockymountainukefest.com/
Silver Creek Ukulele Carnival
Location: Two Harbors, MN, USA
Date: August 19 to 21, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.twoharborsukulelegroup.com/
South Florida Ukulele Fest
Location: ArtServe, 1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Date: March 18 to 20, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.southfloridaukulelefest.com/
Strathmore’s Uke & Guitar Summit
Location: The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852-3224
Date: August 13 to 17, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.strathmore.org/
Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway
Location: Sirata Hotel, St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: November 4 to 6, 2016
Performers: Daniel Ward, Manitoba Hal, Heidi Swedberg, Mike Hind, Krabbers, Ty Olopai
Website: http://www.tampabayukulele.com/
Tunes in the Dunes
Location: Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NW U.S. 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367
Date: September 16-18, 2016
Performers: Lono, Jim D’Ville, Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel, Aaron & Nicole Keim.
Website: http://tunesinthedunes.com/
3rd Annual Uke-A-Palooza
Location: La Crosse Moose Lodge, 1932 Ward Avenue, La Crosse, WI
Date: May 15, 2016
Performers: Lil’ Rev
Website: http://www.cheezlandukeband.com/uke-a-palooza-2016.html
Uketoberfest 3
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 Highway M-137, Interlochen, MI 49643
Date: October 1, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://mightyukeday.com/uketoberfest/
UkeFest Virginia
Location: Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060, United States
Date: November 5, 2016
Performers: Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, The Aloha Boys, Stu Kindle, Rachael Manke
Website: http://www.ukefestva.com/
Ukulele Festival of Northern California
Location: Chabot College Performing Arts, Center, 25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward, CA
Date: April 24, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalnorcal.org/
Ukulele University
Location: Bend, Oregon
Date: July 15 to 17, 2016
Performers: Ben Bonham, Craig Chee, Sarah Maisel, Jim D’Ville, Cinda Johnson, Aaron and Nicole Keim.
Website: http://ukeu.info/
Utah Ukelele Festival
Location: Willow Park 450w 700s in Logan, Utah
Date: August 6, 2016
Performers: Daniel Ho, Kili Gardner, Hannah Spencer and Merinda Young.
Website: http://utahukefest.com/
West Coast Ukulele Retreat
Location: 800 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, United States
Date: May 4 to 8, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://westcoastukuleleretreat.com/
West Sound Ukulele Festival
Location: Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave, Bremerton, WA 98337, United States?
Date: October 22, 2016
Performers: Brittni Paiva, Del Rey and Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel
Website: http://www.westsoundartandmusic.org/
WASSUP2
Location: Midland Free Methodist Church, 5821 Eastman Ave, Midland, MI 48640
Date: March 11 to 12, 2016
Performers: Todd Baio, SUGAR
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WASSUPukulelefestival/
Hawaii
Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival
Location: Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace, Waikoloa Beach Resort
Date: March 5, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/waikoloa.htm
Uke Ohana
Location: Pu’u O Hoku Ranch & Halawa Valley, Molokai, Hawaii
Date: May 27 to 31, 2016
Performers: Lono
Website: http://ukeohana.com/schedule-events/
Ukulele Festival
Location: Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, Oahu
Date: July 17, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/oahu/index.htm
Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii 2016
Location: Kaka’ako Makai Gateway Park
Date: February 14, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.ukulelepicnicinhawaii.org/en/
Utah Uke Fest
Location: Heritage Park in Highland Utah, 10400 Alpine Hwy, Highland, UT 84003
Date: August 27, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://utahukefest.org/
United Kingdom and Ireland
Cobh Ukulele Festival
Location: Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland
Date: May 27 to 29, 2016
Performers: West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, Nico’o & the Kapiolani Boyz, Gilbert’s Lane
Website: http://cobhukulelefestival.com/www.cobhukulelefestival.com/Cobh_Ukulele_Festi…
Cornwall Ukulele Festival
Location: The Mill, Branwells Mill, Penzance, TR18 2LQ
Date: February 7, 2016
Performers: Phil Doleman, Dancing Flea Orchestra of West Cornwall
Website: http://www.crbo.co.uk/eventDetail.php?evGrp=327&evId=11663
Croydon Ukulele Festival
Location: Green Dragon, 60 High St, Croydon CR0 1NA
Date: March 5 to 6, 2016
Performers: Phil Doleman, Elliot Mason and Jo Stephenson
Website: http://ukulele.magix.net/public/
Great Midland Ukulele Festival
Location: Warwick Racecourse, Hampton St, Warwick CV34 6HN
Date: July 9, 2016
Performers: Peter Moss, Chonkinfeckle, Andrea Cooke
Website: http://spa-strummers.co.uk/index.html
Grand Northern Ukulele Festival 2016
Location: The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen’s Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP
Date: May 27 to 29, 2016
Performers: The Quiet American, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Trinity Vogue, Yan Yalego.
Website: http://northernuke.com/
Great Southern Ukulele Festival – GSUF
Location: The Kings Theatre, Portsmouth, UK
Date: October 15, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/southernukefest/
Hoylake Summer Strum
Location: Hoylake Rugby Club, Carham Rd, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 4FF
Date: July 8 to 10, 2016
Performers: Wirral Ukulele Orchestra
Website: http://www.summerstrum.com/
Isle of Wight Ukulele Festival
Location: Medina Theatre, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2DX
Date: July 22 to 24, 2016
Performers: Sara Spade and the Noisy Boys, Dead Mans Uke, Mersey Belles, Ukulelezaza, EdwardAlice, Andy Eastwood, Krabbers, Chonkinfeckle, Peter Moss
Website: http://wightukefest.co.uk/
Lincoln Ukulele Festival
Location: Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, UK
Date: April 10, 2016
Performers: Mike Krabbers, La Bella Band
Website: http://www.lincolnukuleleband.co.uk/
Rye Ukulele Festival 2016
Location: Cinque Ports Pub, Rye
Date: July 3, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://ryeukuleleexperiment.co.uk/
Uke East 2016
Location: Norwich Arts Centre
Date: September 23 to 25, 2016
Performers: The Mother Ukers, The Bijoux Toots, Opera Lele, Jukebox Jazz and Liam Capper-Starr
Website: http://uke-east.co.uk/
Uke Fest Essex
Location: Barleylands Craft Village, Barleylands Rd, Billericay CM11 2UD
Date: July 23, 2016
Performers: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Phil Doleman, Ben Rouse, Zoe Bestel and Phillipa Leigh
Website: http://ukefest-essex.co.uk/
UNICEF 2016 – Ukulele Festival
Location: Berkhamsted Civic Centre
Date: February 27, 2016
Performers: Phil Doleman, Elof Wamberg from Denmark, Ukolade!, Hamish Currie
Website: http://www.hamishcurrie.me.uk/ukesforunicef/
Ukulele Festival of Great Britain
Location: Cheltenham Town Hall,Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA
Date: June 17 to 19, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: www.ukulelefestival.co.uk/
Ukulele Festival of Scotland
Location: Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries DG1 4TA
Date: 6-8 May 2016
Performers: James Hill, Zoe Bestel, Krabbers, Ukulollo, Manitoba Hal, Zahra Lowzley, Mother Ukers.
Website: http://ukulelefestivalofscotland.co.uk/
Ukulele Festival of Wales
Location: Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill SA3 2EH
Date: June 24 to 26, 2016
Performers: Flea Bitten Boy, Pete Moss, Michael Adcock, The Ukulele Uff & Lonesome Dave Trio
Website: http://ukulelefestivalofwales.co.uk/
Ukulele Hooley
Location: Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
Date: August 20 to 21, 2016
Performers: Belgium’s Winin’ Boys, Ukulele ZaZa, Minnie & The Illywhackers, Del Rey, Andy Eastwood, Peter Moss, Ukulele Uff & Lonesome Dave, Janet Klein, France’s Les Poupees Gonflee, Fred Sokolow, Shine (from Spain), Gus and Finn Trio, Ukulele Red & Li’l Mamie Brown, The East River String Band, Ireland’s West Cork Ukulele Orchestra, Ukeristic Congress and Aisling Goes Walking, UK’s Hot Potato Syncopators and many more
Website: http://ukulelehooley.com/
Winchester Ukulele Festival
Location: Winchester Rugby Football Club, North Walls Park, Hillier Way, Winchester SO23 7SU
Date: June 4, 2016
Performers: Manitoba Hal, Phil Doleman, Les Poupées Gonflées, Zoe Bestel, The Hedge Inspectors, Liam Capper-Starr
Website: http://www.winchesterukefest.co.uk/index.htm
Europe
‘s-Hertogenbosch UkeTown
Location: Vincent van Goghlaan 1, 5246 GA Rosmalen, Netherlands
Date: October 8, 2016
Performers: Professor Peter, Saskia & Michael
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Uketown/
Czech Ukulele Festival
Location: Únetice (Prague-West District), Czech Republic
Date: July 29 to 31, 2016
Performers: Taimane Gardner, Andy Eastwood.
Website: http://www.ukulelefestival.cz/
Festivillage Villeneuve le Comte
Location: Salle des fêtes, 5 Rue Gaucher de Châtillon, 77174 Villeneuve-le-Comte, France
Date: September 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.festiukulele.fr/
Karkkila International Ukulele Festival
Location: Karkkila, Finland
Date: August 6 to 7, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.kukulele.fi/EN/
Paris Ukulele Festival
Location: La Bellevilloise, 21 rue Boyer, Paris, France
Date: May 12 to 14, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Paris-Festival-Ukulele-265733093502912/
Ukulélé Club de Bordeaux
Location: University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Website: http://ukulelebordeaux.com/
Ukulelespelen
Location: Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Lidingövägen, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden
Date: September 3, 2016
Performers: Ukulele Uff
Website: http://en.ukulelespelen.se/
Vienna Ukulele Night
Location: Heiligenstädterstraße 31, 1190 Vienna
Date: August 27, 2016
Performers: Das Erste Wiener Heimukulelenorchester, ChiliFish
Website: http://www.flyingukuleles.com/
Australia and New Zealand
Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival
Location: Carrington Hotel, 15-47 Katoomba Street, Katoomba NSW
Date: February 12 to 14, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.bluemugs.com.au/p/bmuf-2012.html
Folk Redlands Ukulele Convention
Location: Capalaba Indigiscapes Centre, Rynnymede Rd Capalaba QLD
Date: August 20 to 21, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://67.222.30.84/~folkredl/events/folk-redlands-ukulele-convention/
Geraldine Ukefest 2016
Location: Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand
Date: July 8 to 10, 2016
Performers: The Nukes, Big Muffin Serious Band, The Apron Strings
Website: http://ukulelegeraldine.co.nz/
Lauder Ukulele Festival
Location: Lauder Green, Lauder, Omakau (Central Otago, NZ)
Date: February 6 to 8, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.lauderukefest.com/
Melbourne Ukulele Festival
Location: TBA
Date: October 28 to 30, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://muf.org.au/
Newkulele Festival
Location: Newcastle Jockey Club, Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow
Date: October 21 to 23, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.newkulelefestival.com/
New Zealand Ukulele Festival
Location: Trusts Arena, 65-67 Central Park Dr, Henderson, Auckland 0610, New Zealand
Date: December 3, 2016
Performers: TBA
Website: http://www.nzukulelefestival.org.nz/
Sunshine Coast Ukulele Festival
Location: Kenilworth Showgrounds and Township
Date: April 14 to 17, 2016
Performers: Peter Moss, Ukulele Russ, Nico’o, Sarah Carroll, Bosko & Honey, Mike Jackson, Thom Jackson
Website: http://www.sunshinecoastukulelefest.com/
Asia
Pacific Rim Ukulele Festival
Location: National Science and Technology Museum, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Date: April 23, 2016
Performers: Blues Lee, Annier Lee, Vanessa Ding
Website: http://www.prukefest.com/
Sentosa Ukulele Festival
Location: Palawan Green, Sentosa, Singapore
Date: May 1, 2016
Performers: Sungha Jung, Jason Arimoto, Tay Kewei, Daniel Ho, SydneyUKE
Website: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/musicfestival/
David Bowie – Life on Mars (Chords)
Bowie played a huge part in my musical development. Back in my school days, the first band I was ever in was basically a Ziggy-and-before Bowie tribute band. I learnt a whole bunch of fancy chords from Life on Mars. And there are many, many chords in it (just one chord short of the record-holding So Long and Thanks for All the Fish).
The song is a real masterclass in using chords. So many of the chord changes involve changing just one or two notes (something I’ve done my best to preserve for the uke version). That’s particularly true of my favourite section of the tune: the pre-chorus. It creates a huge build up of tension by having rising chromatic notes (on the C-string then the E-string) against a fixed background.
For the chords in the pre-chorus (one other) I’ve suggested chords that only use three strings to make things a bit easier. I do that by bringing my thumb around the neck and use it to mute the g-string (an X above a string on the chord diagram means it’s muted).
