Paris Uke Fest 2010 Off, Ukulele Loki: Friday Links

There won’t be a Paris Uke Fest 2010 (via Armelle).

And speaking of Armelle, she’s interviewed me – using her crafty techniques to drag a few neuroses out of me.

Ukulele Loki is giving away his whole album for free this week only.

Bosko and Honey announce the Safari winner and here it is.

If you’re reading this in the UK before 5:30PM on Friday – you might be able to hear my uke playing on Radio 4. Update: Well, they used my version, but they didn’t give me any credit for it. Here’s the MP3.

U900 release a Christmas album.

Ukulele.fr interview Jake Shimabukuro.

UKDad has been asked to design a new Fluke. See some of his ideas here. If you were designing a Fluke, what would you go for? I think I’d be all zeitgeist and go for a moustache.

Quiz yourself on ukulele chords.

Podcast interview with Rock That Uke director.

Laura Veirs’s Spelunking on Uker Tabs.

Marvin Gaye ukulele in Midsummer Night’s Dream.

MP3s: Circles of Concrete has Christpher Bell’s rather lovely Robert L. Sinclaire. Boston Band Crush has one from The Sound of Growing Up.

Amy Crehore has some new sketches and Tickler 3 is on the way.

Would young Patak have been able to get his hands on a Lisa in those days? Even if he didn’t think it was a guitar. (Thanks to Tom for spotting that).

Photos: At home with the Swainsons Part 1 Part 2 (check out the rest of that guy’s photos as well – like this guy). Model with uke.

Adorable: Cory McAbee and his daughter duet. Go to Behind the Scenes, Rocket Ship, 2min30.

Chipswow interviewed by WAF!. She’s a lot less cutesy-wootsy when she’s speaking French.

In the comments: There was a great deal of discussion about how the hell James Hill was playing Billie Jean so I asked him.

Mini UkeTube

You take one week off and a whole bunch of much anticipated videos show up.

So this isn’t a proper UkeTube, just a few videos from old favourites tackling various social issues including the long-awaited Rocky and Balls reunion, the long-awaited reunion of Agathe and Fine and the long-awaited union of Jen Kwok and every single Asian man in a new video directed by fellow uker Ballard C Boyd (she’s set up a new site just for the video: Date An Asian). Jen and Garfunkel and Oates both use language unbecoming of a lady in their songs. But what did you expect?

Right, now to tackle my inbox. Yikes! [Read more]

The Ventures / U900 – Walk Don’t Run

The Ventures/U900 – Walk Don’t Run (Tab)

Another tab based on the adorable two-some’s version of a Ventures tune.

I say ‘based on’ because I think they’re using low-G ukes. That would certainly make a few bits easier to play. Particularly the D note (C string, 2nd fret) which would be easier to play on the G string, 5th fret on a low-G. But it’s perfectly playable on a re-entrant. You just need to remember to slide your hand down for the A string, 5th fret rather than playing it with your index finger.

Visit them on MySpace
Buy the CD on YesAsia.com
Buy the original.

The Ventures / U900 – Diamond Head

The Ventures/U900 – Diamond Head (Tab)

As well as being seven shades of adorable, U900 have excellent taste in covers. So I’ll be putting up tabs based on their two tunes along with my own arrangement of a Ventures tune.

It’s not often I say this, but you can use a pick on this one. The first part in particular is very tricky without one. Plus it’ll help the solo uke stand out against the chords.

Visit them on MySpace
Buy the CD on YesAsia.com
Buy the original.

HoneyBody & the MoonBees, Argyle Smile: Saturday UkeTube

This week’s videos include Ingrid Michaelson covering Bon Iver, Argyle Smile playing with dominoes, Tinyfolk, a girl called Jose, Watercolor Paintings and some adorable ukulele puppets. But this week I’m particularly taken with Tristen and Emily Ritz’s HoneyBody and the Moonbees.

One video that didn’t make the cut is this clip of Tiny Tim freaking out a room full of kids. “The whole world is drowning A-ho-ho ho-ho.”

Btw, if all the videos don’t show up then refresh the page. They are all there somewhere. [Read more]