Ukes For Fun!
Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00
The Cumberland Arms, Byker,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Free!
Ukulele Groups, Clubs, Sessions and Classes in the North East and East Cumbria
We started meeting on November 5th 2009 at The Cumberland Arms as a midweek session (Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00) for members of George Welch’s Ukulele Allstars (sessions on Sunday afternoons at The Biscuit Factory Art Gallery in Byker). Both sessions are open to anyone who wants to come along.
Our main challenge is moving from using the Allstars “Guitar-chord names” to the real names for Ukulele chords for the Thursday session. The Allstars started off, well before my time, as a group of people who already played the guitar, so naming chords by the shapes as if they were guitar chords made it easier for them to take up the uke.
Over the years, more people joined the Allstars who, like me, had never played an instrument before or who already played uke or who were attending ukulele classes at The Sage. Some members also attended other clubs, who of course used the real names for the chords. Changing to the real chord names makes it easier for new members to join in if they already play uke and for complete “music virgins” to broaden their experience at other clubs or by attending formal classes. However, it is a struggle for those of us who have only known the Allstars chord names – so please have patience with us!
We are gradually building up a bank of songsheets using the real chord names: some are alternative versions of the Allstars song sheets and some are new songs. If you have not already come across it, I can recommend Songsheet Generator for this – much easier than using a Word Processor if you want to show chord names above the words and generate chord grids: http://tenbyten.com/software/songsgen/
There is a Google Group for members of both Ukes For Fun! and George Welch’s Ukulele Allstars: http://groups.google.com/group/ukes
(The Ukulele Allstars website at http://www.ukuleleallstars.co.uk seems to have disappeared).
Contact email for Ukes For Fun! (which flits through the ether to me) is on the picture below (not included in message to avoid spam-bots!)
The atmosphere is relaxed, there is good real ale and real food on sale, the pub is child and dog-friendly (the children play ukes and the dogs howl in tune!), we certainly have fun and we welcome anyone who wants to either drop in or attend regularly.
PARKING: Free on James Place Street and the field next to the Cumberland – but you might like to be good at reversing to get back out if you park on James Place Street! There is also ample free parking across the main road in the public car park by the Kentucky Fried Chicken, off Shields Road, and even more behind Morrison’s Supermarket.
Maps and Directions on Google Maps
Lizzie
Ukes For Fun email address:
or use the contact form below to send me an email:
hello, im just learning the uke. just after some info really. like is there a group i could practise with or any tutors in my area. im from hartlepool?
Hi Mally,
I don’t know of a group in Hartlepool but there is definitely a group in Darlington and a tutor and “tutorial group” in Durham.
Stockton to Darlington Ukulele Express
Location: Foresters Arms, Darlington
Website: http://ukuleleexpress.blogspot.com/
Durham Uke Group:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Durham-Beginners-Ukulele-Group/165203900187893
Here are some other places to check or make further enquiries:
Uke Group lists:
http://ukulelehunt.com/2010/03/10/ukulele-clubs-and-groups-in-the-uk-and-ireland/
http://www.ukuke.co.uk/clubnews.htm
http://www.boatpaddleukuleles.com/top50/
I will ask around and let you know if I hear of anything closer to you than Darlington.
Best wishes,
Lizzie
Hi Mally – One of the people on the ukes4fun email list has been in touch to say that he travels from Hartlepool sometimes to the Stockton and Darlington Express uke club in Darlington. Also that one of the guys who goes to Darlo also runs a beginners class in Sedgefield once a month on a Friday
Here is the info again:
Stockton to Darlington Ukulele Express
Location: Foresters Arms, Darlington
Website: http://ukuleleexpress.blogspot.com/
Best wishes,
Lizzie
http://ukes4fun.org.uk/2010/06/11/bbq-tynemouth-rowing-club-2010/
Summer BBQ at Tynemouth Rowing Club – Mick needs to know how many to expect so he can organise charcoal, etc. I have already sent more details via the Ukes email list.
If you are on the Ukes email list and have not received my email, maybe it has been gobbled up by your “spam filter”.
You can log in to the Google Group to see the info (date, time, etc.) here:
http://groups.google.com/group/ukes/topics
Best wishes,
Lizzie
ps. If you get stuck, you can use the contact form above to send me a message or use the email address here:
http://ukes4fun.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ukesforfunemailgif1.gif?w=155&h=26
FOOD AT THE CUMBERLAND ARMS
If you are thinking of having a meal or snack at The Cumberland Arms, there is a menu here: http://www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk/food.php and as below.
There are some things that are listed as being served until 6:00 and some until 9:00. If you want something more substantial to eat then it will be something that is only served until 6:00 – and we start our session at 6:00.
I asked the chef and he advised that if you want a proper meal and to have finished it by 6:00 then he would recommend that you order by 5:15. Last orders for the “served until 6:00″ meals is 5:45.
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The Cumberland Menu
Available 12 – 6pm Tues to Sun
** These dishes are available until 9pm and on Mondays from 6pm
Cumberland Sunday Dinner
Available Sundays 12 – 4pm
Sunday Dinner £7, 2 courses £9, 3 courses £11
(with a per person supplement for a cheeseboard)
Starters & Snacks…
Soup of the Day with a wedge of bread £4.00 **
Welsh egg with chutney £4.00 **
Wedges/fries with sweet chilli mayo £3.50 **
Mixed Olives £2.50 **
Chicken Skewers with satay sauce £4.00
Tempura King Prawns or Vegetables with plum & tamarind dip £4.50
Fish finger sandwich with lime mayo & side salad £4.00 **
Toasted Ciabatta with 2 fillings + feta & olive salad £4.25 **
(choice of Cheddar, Mozzarella, Brie, Goats Cheese, Ham, Bacon, Sun-Blushed Tomatoes, Roasted Veg, Salsa, Humous, Pesto, Jalapenos)
Salads…
House Salad £3.50
Olive & Feta £4.50
Bacon & Poached Egg £5.50
Mains…
Pie, chips mushy peas (v.o.a) £6.30
Belly pork, black pudding and mash with cider gravy £7.00
Nachos with sour cream, salsa, guacamole & refried beans£4.00 sml/£5.50 large **
Ploughman’s £5.50
Full English Breakfast (v.o.a) £6.00
Sausage and Mash (v.o.a) £6.30
Sweet Things…
Please check to see what’s available… £3.70
Children’s Meals…
Children’s Portions are available, please ask when ordering
(v.o.a = vegetarian option available)
(Some Little Notes… Please be aware that some of our ingredients may contain nuts. As the food is freshly prepared it can sometimes take a little time to reach you, especially at busy times, so please bare with us… Love The Cumberland Arms x)