Jan 2020 – Back in Mullum

Thanks to all who came along to the first Mullum Uke Night. Clelia Adams had taken out another award in Tamworth. This time for Best Female Vocalist and we could see why as she was in very fine form. As was Erina Leech with Patty Smith’s ‘Because The Night’ and the challenging ‘Highwoman’. Val Hodgson gave us a Memphis Minnie classic and her new original climate aware Christmas Tune – ‘Santa Santa’. Daughter Rosie and Miss Amber were hitting the very high notes with wonderful renditions of ‘Waterloo’ and ‘Xanadu’. It was nice to be back in the auditorium at the Ex-services. Such a great sounding room.

 See more of Lyn McCarthy’s pics here (Big thanks to Lyn from nichepix)

Big Thanks to the debonaire Mr. Rod Coe on bass and Evan Sun on other stringed things and Ash on the door.

It was great to see some new faces and beginners in the audience. We lost a few in the second set. Scared ’em off again. Next March will be more like a mass lesson. Till then. Happy International Ukulele Day! STU

June 2019

With all the extra preparation for Ballina, I didn’t really have the brain space to come up with a theme title for June 2019 UKE NIGHT in Mullum. Clelia Adams was back and in fine form and we had… not 1, not 2, but 3 songs lead by Erina Leech from our Monday night Mullum Uke Club

We had a bunch of songs that were made famous by Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Carole King then a few eclectic bits and pieces. It all hung together really well and though the inclement weather kept people away, we had a great evening of self made music and frivolity. Final songbook attached below.

See the video here: SET 1| SET 2 there’s a few jerky moments though generally a good stream. Thanks to Rod Coe on bass, Jason Caspen on drums and Evan Sun on guitar and mandolin. Big thanks also to Luis on sound and Samb on the live stream.

March 2019 – Back To Basics

What a fun night. It was so great to have the crew from Evans Head along and a contingent from Lennox head. The simple songs, chords and keys attracted a lost of newbies (and kept a few of the regulars away… though they just may have been out of town… who knows.)

Jamie Pattugalin on drums, Roddy Coe on bass with special guests Chris Cook on guitar and fiddle and the wonderful Clelia Adams. A winning combo. Lot’s of fun had by all.

The songbook is available through patreon.
See the live streams here Set 1 | Set 2

Feb 2019 – Love & Heartbreak

What a surprise this UKE NIGHT was. Everyone agreed it was a great selection of songs, although not the easiest to play, many memories were stirred up and there was a great feeling in the room.

The band was relaxed and hardly missed a beat. The Amazing Kate Gittins who played keys, flute, clarinet and accordion was remarkable as was the smiling Jaime Pattugalin with his snappy drumming and the ever solid Rod Coe holding down the bottom end with both electric and acoustic bass.

Miss Amber slayed her tunes and although young Rose (15 YO) had a head cold, she still impressed everyone with her soulful stage presence and confidence.

Erina Leech – Sad Song Erina she calls herself was up next. Erina voice has a unique earthy quality. She touched our hearts when she sang two modern tunes – Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol and I Wasn’t Expecting that by Jamie Lawson.

Clelia Adams is always a powerhouse vocalist. Still recovering from brain surgery in the last 12 months it really takes it out of her to perform… and yet perform she does, winning over the crowd with her singing and her funny jokes. We love Clel who has been a regular at Uke Night since year one back in 2011. In fact she will be back next month for Back to Basics with another favourite, Multi Instrumentalist Chris Cook.

Thanks again to all of you who attended the evening, Club Mullum for hosting the event, Luis and Deb for sound, Ash on the door and Samb Brown for the live stream. Check out the night here:

SET ONE | SET TWO

June 2018 – Fun Beginner Tunes

What a great night we had. Lot’s of new faces including our special guest for the evening Chris Cook who was a huge hit on the night with his roots/ country stylings, vocally and on the fiddle, banjo and guitar. A truley lovely gem of a man and a great performer. He’ll welcome back any time. It was a stripped back simple affair, I made sure every song was going to be OK for the newbies. It’s a balancing act for sure though in the end I think the more advanced regulars weren’t bored and the newbies dug in and really enjoyed themselves. There was many magic moments. Thanks as always to Rod Coe On the Bass, Jason Caspen on the drums. Miss Amber was in fine voice, even with two screws lose… and a nail– from her operation earlier in the week, (don’t think the drugs had worn off by then…. her wit was pretty sharp as I recall). Thanks to Luis on sound, Ash on the door and everyone for coming and creating such a lovely event.

Photos by Niche Pictures – Lyn McCarthy here >

Oct 2017 – Gunfighter & Murder Ballads

This was a really fabulous night… due to the roll up, the superb musicianship from Warren Earl and fantastic vocal performances from Ash Bell, Clelia Adams, Miss Amber (particularly Nancy Sinatra’s Bang Bang) and yours truly didn’t fare to badly neither, channeling Marty Robbins and mostly in key. The flow of the evening was wonderful, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. There was dark and scary moments which made the laughs more heartfelt. Wish you were there. Just a great bunch of tunes with compelling stories. Great sound from Luis, Thanks to Ashara on the door. Great bass and drums from Rod Coe and Jason Caspen (respectively).

Guests up from Adelaide said it would make a great event for the Adelaide Fringe. Sadly unless someone offered a huge budget it would be hard to replicate outside of Mullum. We are so spoiled for talent and the great auditorium we present the night in each month.

See the pics from Lyn McCarthy at Niche Pics and they’ll tell the story.

June 2016 – Novelty Tunes

Novelty Songs

In response to the previous months Jazz Night, this Book was much more playable for the ukers, (though we had a few key changes to deal with)… It was a great night with many highlights and big laughs. We were having so much fun we played half of the 2nd set before we realised it was break time.

Clelia Adams does great versions of these Novelty Tunes, her version of ‘Hello Mudda Hello Fudda’, recieved much applause as did Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie… There were jaws agape when Jimmy Willing took the stage, his peacful stoic demeanour quickly erupted into the prancing show pony he really is. Iggy Pop move over – the shirt was off, hat waving in hand,  nearly hit his head on the ceiling jumping up and down…  he sweat a bucket… this was all in three songs. Jimmy put out so much energy – It was like 3 hours at the Gym.

Other great moments  during the night (I have been told) were ‘Cows With Guns’ and my favourite Miss Amber’s two renditions of Ruth Wallis’s two tunes ‘Boobs’ and ‘The Hawaiian Lei Song’. (Thanks Jan Beer for introducing her to us – we love her). Rex Carter on drums (first ever time singing uo the front) and Rod Coe on Bass were great Mounties in The Lumberjack song and Evan Landers (sun) did a great Lonnie Donegan on ‘My Old Man’s A Dustman’. Everyone left with a smile on their face. The obvious conclusion –  silly, cheeky, double entendre, risque songs are fun…. we will be doing them again soon.

March 2016 – Intimate Requests

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Originally the plan was to have the month off as Stu had an operation on his nose and was advised he’d need time to recover. One week later and Stu was feeling fine and completely bored so ‘Intimate Requests’ was the order of the day.

Since moving to the Ex-Services, comments had been made that UKE NIGHT was not as intimate as it used to be back in the Courthouse Hotel. So the band set up on the floor at the front of the stage and used a smaller vocal PA. The Ukers could hear themselves, like the Tumbulgum Uke Nights of old.

We also put the entire Uke Mullum song list online for the month so people could request their favourite songs, and if they chose, could lead them. Stu also did up 5 new charts for songs that were not in the list of nearly 1000 tunes. Neil McInnes, Graham Richardson, Erina Leech, Bettina and Melissa (The Moyle Sisters), Tone Uke, Almer Asha and Val Hodgson got up and slayed ’em. All very different moods and styles with great performances all round and cheered on by the supportive crowd.

The Band Comprised Mr Rod Coe on Double Bass, Warren Earl on guitar and Steel, Evan Sun on Mandolin and Guitar and percussion. We also had Clelia Adams smashing 5 tunes and a visit from Kathryn Jones plus our UKE NIGHT darling Misty Henderson (with Young Safron) who at the time of writing this is headed to Italy as part of the Mullum high school exchange program.

Thanks to all who came along, Deb on the Door and a special thanks to Luke from the Mullum Ex-Services Club who helped out with the TV monitor. It was a great format and will definitely be happening again.

Christmas Uke-Tacular 2015

Christmas Uke Tacular 2015

Another very smiley and wonderful evening. The set list was the most fun we’ve ever had with a Christmas show with songs like ‘Christmas in Jail’, ‘Trim Your Tree’ and ‘Boogie Woogie Santa Claus’. Daughter Rosie sang her old standard – ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ (wouldn’t be Christmas without it). Right up until the last week I had no idea Clelia Adams and Kathryn Jones were even in town. What a surprise it was to have the Tinsel Tones back together again for their 3 part harmony versions of ‘Christmas Island’ and ‘Mele Kalikimaka’.

We had new comer Lily Loy from the sandwich shop round the corner join us for her first ever time singing on stage. She has an amazing quality to her voice and blew everyone away with her songs.

That Mae Wilde always brings spontaneity, sass and a wicked sense of humour. Her tune – CW Stoneking’s ‘On A Christmas Day’ was magic, followed by a limbo competition (I want to See Santa Do The Mambo) then the seemingly naughty ‘I Know Just What You Want For Christmas’.We love you Mae. Later Ilona Harker joined us on stage as well and boy do we love her.

Highlight of the evening for me was Steve Passfield practically unannounced showed up as Santa handed out chocolates and made my dream come true of launching into a beautiful version of ‘White Christmas’ complete with a very pretty and flawless solo. Rounded up nicely with the punkabilly ‘Sleigh Bell Rock’ which we played twice it was so much fun then Chuck Berry’s ‘Run Rudolph Run’. Big Christmas Thanks to Rod Coe on Bass and Rex Carter on Drums with Deb on the door and Luis Christia on sound.

See Photo Album from Lyn at Niche Pics here

June 2015 – Name Your Poison

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I must have bogarted the joint a little too much last night. I forgot to thank everyone at the end of the 2nd set, which is the best part. Massive thanks to special guests Clelia Adams, Ash Bell and Parissa Bouass who were all fantastic. (Miss Amber and I aspire to be great singers like these guys one day)… Thanks to The Courthouse and the restaurant and thanks to Luis Christia for excellent sound and Deb on the door. Congrats to Donald who took out the raffle (free entry and free meals for two next month + a bottle of wine) and to Erina who won the framed poster (2nd time in a row). Thanks to Lyn from Niche Pics who got to take a few pics before her camera malfunctioned. Rod and Rex the silver haired rhythm section were amazing as usual and special thanks to Rex for charting out the entire drum part for Cheap Wine. (that’s dedication). Although the numbers were down compared to the rest of the year, it was a fun and entertaining evening and we had some new happy faces in the crowd. Mostly, thanks to all of you who made it and joined in the fun. See you next month for our 4th Birthday.