Michael from Gold Coast Ukulele’s has suggested this little ditty by Jack Johnson – Better When We’re Together. There’s some tricky sliding action and some quick half bar changes to contend with. Definitely worthy of the smarty pants tag. Here’s a vid to practice with.
The songbook for our March 2012 meet is available for download now. There is a new Smarty Pants Tune – Jack Johnson’s ‘Better Together” (Video coming soon) suggested by Michael from Gold Coast Ukuleles. There is also heaps of easy stuff this month plus a repeat of ‘I Will Survive’ – instructional strumming video coming soon also.
Last night was Uke Mullum’s ‘Valentine’s Over’ edition… we played tunes that were representative of the arc of many relationships; from wanting love, to finding love, to being immersed in love… then… lover getting wierd, love going sour, love going wrong to the point of murdering him / her. Finally after survivng all that, we hopped back on the horse and realised,… ‘love is all we need’ and I (for one) ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. Did we have fun? You betcha!!!
We were so very blessed to have the talents of Rod Coe (double bass) and Jason Caspen (drums) as our rhythm section tonight. What gems!! Gentlemen, we hope you can make it again, the room has never sounded so good.
I’m reticent to thank any one person in particular for tonight as the list of people to thank is getting bigger each month and I couldn’t live with myself If I missed someone out. Everyone who came to tonight was integral to success of the evening, you know who you are and I want you to know WE LOVE YOU. Many many thanks.
I will mention, the lovely, Renee Searles – our own local Ukulele Chantreuse who popped in for an impromtu visit before heading down to perform in the Melbourne Ukulele Festival (M.U.F.). We wish her lot’s of love and hope she is very well received, as she is a very deserving artist who writes and performs beautiful songs.
‘Til next Month.
All our love Stukulele & Miss Amber
If you have yet to subscribe to the mailing list you may not have heard about the new monthly SMARTY PANTS TUNE. The plan is to make the songs easier to play overall, to cater for our new and part time players, so they can dig in and get amongst it on the Uke Mullum nights. For the players who have been at it for a while, we have the SMARTY PANTS TUNE which will be a challenge. Quicker changes lesser known chords. We always try to put something in there for everyone. Even if you’re not playing it’s a great nights entertainment. This month’s SMARTY PANTS TUNE is “Something Stupid”. Note the A minor chord is played with the first finger to make the proceeding chords easier to reach. Hope you enjoy. STUKULELE
Thanks to all who braved the conditions and made it to the Australia Day 2012 Uke Mullum Celebration. In spite of the nasty rain and flooding it was a great turnout. The reports and facebook messages were favorable and made mention that there was a good mix of white and Aboriginal Australia represented in the songs chosen (well done Miss Amber for Secret Country by Karma County).
Special guest Sara Tindley lead memorable renditions of ‘My Island Home’ (the original Warumpi Band Version), Archie Roach’s ‘Took The Children Away’ and ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’. John Fog of Ragga Jump lead us in a reggae versions of ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ and ‘Land Down Under’ as well as playing the part of Jeremy Oxley with a blistering lead solo in ‘Alone With You’.
Other guest vocalists were, new comers: Morgan (‘The Ship Song’, ‘Alone With You’ and ‘To Her Door’) and Mark Virtue on ‘Two Little Boys’. Special Thanks to Chad Sheather for his picking and solo work, Paul Brewer on Bass and of course Luis Christia for sound and projection. Special mention for Pete and Robyn Quinn who were definitely in the spirit with some outstanding Australia Day Attire.
Next Month the theme is ‘When Valentine’s Over’. Stay tuned for more soon.
The charts for ‘Secret Country’ and ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ have been updated. Good news is ‘Secret Country’ is even easier to play now….I guess the trick is too download the songbook in order to practice, though don’t print until the day before the meeting. Trust me you’ll save on toner and paper. Thanks for your patience…
Hello ukers. Please update your version of the songbook for Australia Day. There have been quite a few fix ups and adjustments. Hope you haven’t printed it already. Sorry for any inconvenience. As usual there will be some mighty impressive local talent leading some songs on the evening. Not saying who though… yet. Download the revised songbook here. Hope to see you there from 6:30pm at the Courthouse in Mullumbimby.
Thanks to the 200+ people who came along to the Courthouse Hotel in Mullum for the Christmas Uke-Tacular. After a ‘crooney’ launch with Stukulele, Miss Amber and guest appearance of 7 year old daughter Rosie, the evening escalated into a roof raising soulful crescendo. Kathryn Jones with Clelia Admas and Miss Amber were delightful with their 3 part harmonies. Santa showed up (Stan Ceglinski) and busted out some cool improvised Christmas blues then posed with the kids for some Christmas snaps. If you would like to download a pic, they are available here.
Mae Wilde slinked onto the scene and took it up a notch with her rendition of Santa Baby, followed by the hilarious ‘I Touch My Elf‘ ending the song on the stage floor, feet kicking in the air. Just when it couldn’t get any better along comes Uke Royalty Benhur and Renee Simone (Blackbirds) with some upbeat island spice for the carols. The rendition of the ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas Time’ (Band Aid) was amazing with everyone in the room belting out ‘feed the world…’. By the finale, the stage was chocked with all 9 performers, 3 ukes (Thanks to Chad Sheather for some lovely licks and tremolo lines) with double bass by Paul Brewer on the side.. going off!! One last version of ‘Feliz Navidad’ and it was time for the kids to go home and get ready for the real Santa. Big thank as always to Luis Chistia for sound and projection.
If any one has photos of the night please post them up on the facebook page.
Bring the family down and join in the Christmas fun with MAE WILDE, KATHRYN JONES, our very own Uke Royalty… RENEE & BEN from BLACKBIRDS, MISS AMBER and STUKULELE and of course SANTA (played by STAN CEGLINSKI). Santa will appear between 7:30 & 8:00pm (approx).
The program will go something like this: Christmassy tunes by our hosts and esteemed guest artists followed by some dirty Blues from SANTA. Bring your camera for snaps with SANTA with the kids during the interval. Some more Christmassy tunes tunes followed by some traditional carols. This will be a Christmas to remember. A Christmas Uke -Tacular.
Where: The Courthouse Hotel Mullumbimby (of course) When: Wednesday 21st December from 6:30pm. Entry: $10 or $16 for a family of 2 adults / 2 kids (any more … we’ll do a deal on the door). Music projected on the wall so you can strum along. Dreams will come true.
Download the Christmas song book here
Hi ho, hi ho… it’s off to the courthouse we go. When? – 11:30 am on Saturday 25th. Be there early for the best seats with your uke, voice and happy face to witness the first festival outing of M.U.T. – (The Mullum Uke Troupe). Final song book for the concert is available here – an hours worth of contemporary uke-tastic tunes. M.U.T is your classic hardy bitster, comprising of 12 players and voices of mostly local Mullum folk with the addition of some fine Gold Coast, Murwillumbah and Byron talent + special guest vocalists.
Start your day by making the music – then feel rightfully deserving of the feast of excellent acts put together by festival director, Glenn Wright, who has again out done himself this year… (and he doesn’t even know it). Strap me up and strum me… I’m excited!!!!