Croydon hosts its first ever ukulele festival on Sat 5 & Sun 6 Mar, with workshops, mass busks and performances from different groups, dotted around various pubs throughout the weekend. There are two main evening concerts: the one on the Sat features Phil Doleman & Sunday’s show is by two comedy ukers, Elliot Mason & Jo Stephenson.
See the Croydon Ukulele Festival main page for more details.
Last April I was in Catford for six weeks awaiting the birth of my grandson, Evan, and helping afterwards. I had been going to a Colchester U3A group and thoroughly enjoyed it, so was missing it.
I googled local ukulele groups and came up with the excellent PLUC. I knew where Lewisham Hospital was and discovered PLUC in one of those now rare places, the hospital social club.
The group were very welcoming and not over worried re my very amateur twangings. I enjoy the songs they do and appreciate the obvious talent there too. For me, it has helped my ukulele ‘alphabet’.
Thanks from Gail, Colchester.
Other PLUC Tales: New Uker! – Sheila; A Tale Of Two Ukuleles – Tina; The First Rule Of Uke Club… – Anthony; Ron’s Progress; Probably The Most Fun Instrument In The World… – Jos; It’s Been A Year – Part 2 – Jeanette; From Classical To PLUC – Andrew; A History Of The Ukulele – And Its Part In My Downfall – James; Santa Rides Again – Alan F; Steph’s Story; Ron’s Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome; Uncle Ron’s Legacy… – Wee Kheng; Dan’s Story; Five Years & Loving It – Simon; My Ukulele Origins… – Rufus; Why Ed Started Playing The Ukulele; Ron’s Song; It’s Been A Year… – Jeanette
Happy New Year to all PLUC members & readers of our blog. This year’s PLUC 2016 Calendar gives a selection of alternative (moveable) chord shapes.
As usual, WordPress have produced stats for 2015 to show our most popular articles & from where we receive our visitors. You can also compare the 2014 & 2013 reports.
If you’ve received a ukulele for Christmas or just bought one, do read our New Uke For Xmas & look round our site as there are plenty of useful beginners’ tips; links to free resources & songbooks. As always, new members are very welcome to attend our group, whatever their level of playing. We’re back at the Lewis Club on Tue 5 Jan 2016.
Jeanette
Xmas 2014 – Colin, Simon & Rufus
PLUC’s Christmas arrangements are as follows:
All present & past PLUC members welcome. We’re sticking with our regular songbook this year, as the majority of us want a break from having to do Xmas numbers!
Steve J, Bob & Maria – Xmas 2014
After much deliberation, we voted for Girl On Fire from Tina’s songs back in October. That joins Kevin’s three songs, as we felt they all had interesting aspects to work up.
Here are Bob’s selections for our final Top Ten. As ever, PLUC members please go & grab the actual versions we’ll be using from our Box (reminder: ask Ed, Steve or me if you don’t understand how to get Box to email you automatically as we post new songs etc in there). If enough people have printed them for this week we’ll play them Tues 8 Dec.& then again in the New Year to pick the one to keep & work on.
Song One – Any Old Time – a country hit for Jimmie Rodgers. Here’s the Sara Watkins Band with Sean Watkins & Chris Thile (making a Nickel Creek reunion). We could add some variety with mandolin or banjolele & even Andrew’s Jew’s Harp:
Song Two – Loves Me Like A Rock – Paul Simon. This has nice call & response harmonies. Cover by Isaiah Mosteller:
Song Three – ELO’s Mr Blue Sky. Anthony Loh & friends produce a fun version (maybe we can dig out more cowbell…):
Here’s a version of Warren Zevon’s Werewolves Of London by 23skidooooooooo & pals (piano riff for uke here). Don’t get grabbed by the ghoulies tonight!
