July Ukin’
June 29, 2010 at 1:48 pm | Posted in Events, Shows | 2 CommentsTags: Bluestone, fest, festival, jamming, Open Mic, posts, uke, ukulele
Although I dont know of any ukulele fests for the midwest in July, it is still going to be a good begining for ukulele playing.
Miss Joni is writing for Nuvo again and has a great post about what is going on at the Bluestone Folk School in the next week or so. A short list is the Meat and Taters Ukulele intensive (July 5-9, 2010), Bi-monthy Bluestone uke meet-up (July 8, 20100), and a Uke only open mic (July 9, 20210). I will be there on the 9th around 7pm.
Here is the link to her article: Independence Week: All ukes, all the time By Miss Joni
I hope to see all of you there!
Ukulele World Congress 2010
June 9, 2010 at 3:51 am | Posted in Events, Shows | 4 CommentsTags: fest, festival, home made, jamming, learning, Martin, Open Mic, Play, posts, uke, ukulele
What do you get when you have a bunch of ukulele players come to an old hippy commune to play a 8 hour open mic, camp, eat and jam all day long?
A FRICK’N GOOD TIME!!
Stage durring the day
I missed last year’s UWC and I was really bummed and I am so happy that I was able to go this year. The atmosphere is like nothing else. The thing is that it is not a festival but more of a large party to celebrate the ukulele and its community. There are no formal classes, but you learn a ton if you want to. There are no headliners waiting backstage to go on and wow the crowd. Trust me there were plenty of people there that could be the headline act at most any ukulele festival (Dominator, Ukulele Zoey and Jodi AKA Gigapus, Flea Bitten Dawgs, Shani Fawni, and Mike from Mainland Ukes to name a few)The great thing about the UWC is that the performers are everyone there. Everyone has a chance to go and play and get a big round of applause no matter how they did. I am a little embarrassed that I screwed up my set on Friday night. I got up there sang a Flaming lips song then tried to do doc of the bay and could not remember it at all and I really wanted to go back on Saturday to redeem myself but by the time I got back to camp the signup sheet was way to full. When I got off the stage I was greeted by Ukulele Zoey and a bunch of others who made me feel like I was not a total screw up and everyone applauded just as loud for me as every other person that went up there. It is a great place to get up and sing for people if you have never done it before.
Dominator and I
Things to know about the UWC, a lessons learned if you will.
1. Come Friday; There are a lot of people there on Friday and the potluck is amazing. Also if you show up Friday you can explore Nashville and all that fun stuff Saturday.
2. Bring some food and plenty to drink, not just beer. At this year’s, like last years, there was a potluck that is made up of food that the locals bring. it was good. Saturday you will more than likely spend away from camp exploring so you can eat in town. So there is no need to bring full meals, just bring snacks and stuff to share with everyone.
3. Be prepared for any weather. If you are camping make sure that you have clothes for Hot, cold, and wet.
4. Sign up for open mic as early as you can. If you wait you will go on at 1am. People are allowed to stay up there as long as they like, most did 3-4 songs.
5. Be prepared to buy a new ukulele. You may tell yourself that you don’t need it. It is hard to not go to Weed Patch or Mainland and fall in love.
6. Be prepared to stay until 4 pm on Sunday. There was a ukulele class from 11 -4. I heard it was pretty cool
7. Get on Ukulele Underground and start participating in it. The UWC is also a place for many people who communicate on the forums to actually meet and have a “family reunion” of sorts. It will help when you get there.
FIRE
I had a great time and hope that it happens again next year. One of my big highlights was going to David Gills house to see his workshop. That story is coming soon.
Please comment below with your experiences or go to the Ukulele Underground forum where people are already posting their favorite moments.
More pics on the facebook group page
Burned Wing
June 1, 2010 at 4:27 pm | Posted in General | 5 CommentsTags: festival, learning, posts, uke, ukulele
So, I am faced with a crappy situation. I have 2nd degree burns to my left hand (Here is the link to a pic if you wan to see the burns). I am right handed so that is the one I make chords with. Long story short I tried to pick up a cast iron skillet after it was in the fire for a few hours, now my index finger and middle finger have large blisters on them, and this makes things kind of hard. My wife being the smartest person I know said to me “Just because you can’t play normally does not mean you can’t still do something ukulele related and you should share that with your people who read your blog.”
So when life gives you lemons……..
Here are the things I am doing related to ukulele while my wing is still healing (hoping to be playing basic stuff in a week)
1. Trying to learn to play left handed.
I could restring one of my ukes, but figured that I would just learn how to do it strung for a right handed person. I sound like I just started playing. It is a struggle to play that way, my brain is not wired like that, but at least I am playing. I have the C down and a D chord is a ton easier.
2. Work on theory
I love, and I mean L-O-V-E the Ukulele Fretboard Roadmaps book by Fred Sokolow and Jim Beloff
I have been working on my right hand strums and picking. I can still make a C so that is what I use for something to strum and pic. I also have been testing myself on scales and what notes make a chord. I can’t play the songs, but it is still a great book to have.
3. Making Ukulele Case Tags
I started a new thing this summer to try and get the word out about my site. I am making luggage tags for people to attach to their cases. Seems weird but at the different uke fests I see people leaving their cases all around, tucked in corners or under seats. I figured I could help make sure that people don’t lose their instruments and also promote the site at the same time. If you see me at any festivals you will see the tags on the registration tables and I will be giving them away free.
For now I know I will be at the Ukulele Congress this weekend in Indiana and I will be at the Milwaukee Ukulele Fest.
UPDATE
WINNER of the Eleuke
May 6, 2010 at 1:51 am | Posted in Eleuke, General, Giveaway, Products | 5 CommentsTags: Electric, Eleuke, fest, festival, Giveaway, posts, uke, ukulele
Meet David from Rochester, MN. He is the winner of the Eleuke!
David rocking out with his spiffy hat and shirt
I must thank all 354 of you that entered, many people commented many times, and that was the real point of this. I really wanted to just get people to my site and get people involved in spreading the ukulele love. I will have more in the future.
I will be at the Ukulele World Congress and Milwaukee Uke fest (and Windy City if it happens) this summer giving others away. Also I will have some on the site.
OH, and if you are ever in need of a pick-me-up, hold a contest to give away a ukulele. People are extra nice and say some of the craziest stuff! Way better than Prozac.
Ukulele Player Magazine #12
April 29, 2010 at 1:03 am | Posted in General | 1 CommentTags: fest, festival, home made, jamming, learning, review, Strap, uke, ukulele
I dont know how long it has been out, but like clockwork there is another awesome issue.
New Ukulele Player Magazine Issue
February 16, 2010 at 9:47 pm | Posted in General | 4 CommentsTags: fest, festival, Full review, jamming, learning, posts, review, uke, ukulele
I read every issue cover to cover. This one looks as awesome as the past issues. On a side note, I wish they had a place to sign-up for an e-mail when they have new issues.
Milwaukee Uke Fest Quick Note
September 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm | Posted in Events | 1 CommentTags: fest, festival, learning, luau, uke, ukulele
This past Saturday I went to the 1st Annual Milwaukee Ukulele Festival. It was really awesome for so many reasons, beside the fact that some of the biggest names in the ukulele world (Victoria Vox, Jim Beloff, Aarom Keim, and Lil Rev just to name a few) where there performing and teaching. What makes it great for me is meeting so many new people and also seeing people I know from past fests and luaus, it’s like going to your favorite bar.
Beside all that, for a first time fest it was really good. the Milwaukee ukulele club that helped Lil Rev did a great job, along with the talent/teachers, gotta love having a class with someone you have cds and books from, and vendors there where worth the $60 to get in. The best class for me was the one where we discussed making ukuleles. What a great idea!!
My only concerns are really small and I learned a few lessons.
1. Parking was a concern; I had to move my car a few times so I would not get a ticket or have it broken into.
2. Stay at the hotel. the real fun to be had is after the fest when you hang out til the wee hours with fellow uke nuts, plus you have a place to park for the fest.
3. There were no shirts or other swag with the fest logo on them. I love my Windy City Ukulele Fest shirt and you see others with their past festival shirts on. It’s a way to say to others that this is not my first rodeo, I know the gig.
4. Make it 2 days. Start at 1pm on Friday and end it at 10pm on Saturday. That would make it possible for things like lunch breaks and give people time to play a little and ask questions the next day. Also 2 nights of party/jam time.
5. Start it with a big assembly where it is kicked off and things explained right up front. An informed fest goer is a happy fest goer.
6. Have a way for people to sign-up and pay in advance through a payment gateway or a PayPal account.
In the end I loved it and I will be there next year.
Events Coming Up
June 24, 2009 at 4:43 am | Posted in Events | 1 CommentTags: fest, festival, jamming, learning, luau, posts, uke, ukulele
These are 3 things I am trying to make it too
1. Ukulele noir in chicago Saturday June 26 @ 8:30 pm – Saw this a while go on ukulalia.com
2. Bushman Ukulele Luau August 27 – 29 in nashville, IN. I went to one and it was a blast. bought my Jenny there also. if you miss it, there will be more. (I think this is the 3rd this summer)
3. Milwaukee Ukulele Festival September 26. Looks like it will be really great learning and jamming experience. This will be the only big one for the midwest in 2009. The windy city comes back in 2010 (I hope, fingers, toes and eyes crossed)
There will be more events posted as I find them. please send me any that you know of and I will be happy to post them.
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