Category Archives: Ukes4Fun

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Music Man – Happy Birthday Ukulele Song for George Welch

New members might not know George Welch, or that most of the more experienced players at Ukes4Fun sessions started off playing the ukulele because of George, as members of George Welch’s Ukulele Allstars and/or the original Misspent Uke band. 

George stepped back from running midweek sessions in 2009. However, he provided support, encouragement and practical help in re-establishing a ukulele session, as “Ukes4Fun”, at The Cumberland Arms late that year and has since helped to set up other ukulele sessions in the North East.

One of the most popular pages on this site is George’s clearly written and beautifully illustrated guide for beginners, The Ukulele First Step, that he kindly donated to Ukes4Fun.

Stuck for what to give George for his birthday this year, I decided that I would write him a ukulele song.  The chords are C, F and G and I hope that you enjoy playing along to the video below.  The words and chords are shown on-screen and there is a link to download the songsheet underneath.

Download songsheet pdf: Music Man – George Welch

I am sure you will all join me in wishing George well and hoping that he is in better health soon. He is still doing some gigs locally so drop in and see him if you get the chance and want to hear some wonderful music and song!

Best wishes,
Lizzie

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Songbooks updated and some advice for the uke-obsessed!

Tim Harries ukulele advice cartoonOriginal here:
http://agagaday.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/ukulele-advice.html

Reverse the sexes and that looks uncannily like an evening at my house!

Finally completed all the corrections to Song Books 1 to 6 (strewth!) and they can be downloaded from this page:

http://ukes4fun.org.uk/songsheets/

I have included some info and advice about preparing to introduce new songs to sessions (have to try to remember to follow it myself now, of course) and getting new songs into future Song Books.

Please let me know which of your favourites are missing and I will put them on the list for the next Song Book – there is info on the Song Sheets Page about the format you need to use so that I can submit them to the magic-wrangling of Songsheet Generator!

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Rita Morrison

Rita Morrison

Rita will be sadly missed by all who knew her,
for her kindness and sense of fun as much as her
magnificent musicianship!

Rita’s funeral will be
Thursday 3rd November
1:45
St Vincent’s, Monkchester Road, Walker, NE6 2TX

followed by her burial at
2:30
All Saints Cemetery, Jesmond Road
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1NL

After the burial, Rita’s daughter Lysa and son Lee have arranged
“Rita’s Uke Fest”
for Rita’s friends to celebrate Rita’s life,
rather than sadness about her death.

3:30 – 5:30

Upstairs at The Cumberland Arms,
James Place Street (off Byker Bank), Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1LD
The Cumberland Arms on Google Maps

Rita’s family request:

* No Sad Songs!
* Nothing from The Wizard of Oz!
* Everybody join in with the music and have fun!

Rita’s daughter Lysa is trying to gauge attendance in order to arrange catering for “Rita’s Uke Fest”

If you are on Facebook, please use this link to let Lysa know if you will be attending:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239604056092813

If you are not on Facebook, please email:

Image of email to fool the dratted email spambots!

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So long, and thanks for all the chocolates!

It was fond farewells last Thursday, it being Anil’s last session before he heads back to India and then off to Germany after graduating from Newcastle University.

Anil, Jo and Lizzie and Ukes4Fun

Anil, Jo and Lizzie - not a chocolate in sight!

Anil has promised to let us know how he gets on trying to find uke-sessions on his travels – or if he ends up starting new groups himself.

Anil said to thank everyone for the wonderful time he has had at Ukes4Fun – and we thank him for the chocolates (I should have taken a photo of them but they miraculously disappeared before I had a chance!)

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Biscuit Factory Sunday Ukes Sessions resume 4th Sept | Ukes4Fun as normal on Thursdays at Cumberland Arms

Ukes Sunday Session at the Biscuit Factory Summer Break:

  • there is no session Sunday 23rd July -  tomorrow
  • Sunday Sessions at The Biscuit Factory resume Sunday 4th September
  • Ukes4Fun Thursdays at The Cumberland Arms continue – no peace for the wicked :-)

Found on Twitter – Dot’s Birthday at Ukes4Fun at The Cumberland Arms!

Ukes4Fun Session Cumberland Arms July 2011

Ukes4Fun Session | Cumberland Arms July 2011

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Uke-Kazoo Flashmob Grey’s Monument 10th July – First sightings!

Uke-Kazoo Flashmob Grey's Monument - Pencil Full of Lead by Paulo Nutini - Photo 1

Uke-Kazoo Flashmob Grey's Monument 10 July 2011 - "Pencil Full of Lead" by Paulo Nutini: Photo 1

Thanks to Paparazzi Bob the Sound Man (in so many ways) for this one. There are more photo’s to follow from Selma and a video from Keith.

Not a bad turn-out at all for so little notice and a crowd of happy onlookers sprang up instantly as if by magic! Just add ukes and watch the smiles grow :-)

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UPDATE! Biscuit Factory Session on Sunday July 10th – 2:15 after the Flashmob at Grey’s Monument at 1:45

UPDATE! Biscuit Factory Session going ahead at on Sunday July 10th – 2:15 after the Flashmob at Grey’s Monument at 1:45

Dot has just rung and said that there are enough people around to hold the session at the Biscuit Factory – at 2:15 to follow the Flashmob at Grey’s Monument at 1:45.

Local uke events on Sunday tomorrow:

10:30 – 1:30: “Join in and Play” at The Sage http://bit.ly/ougMqH

1:45 – 2:00:  Uke-kazoo Flashmob at Grey’s Monument to play “Pencil Full of Lead”  http://bit.ly/n4YOEN

2:15 – 4:00: Biscuit Factory Session http://www.thebiscuitfactory.com/contact/

4:00 – 8:00: Open acoustic session at The Cumberland (ukes welcome) http://www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk

7:30 :  Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at The Sage http://bit.ly/pxcNJv

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Uke-Kazoo Flashmob! “Pencil Full of Lead” 1:45 Sun 10th July, Grey’s Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne

Great idea by Charlie from Ukes4Fun! To round off the day after the “Join in and Play Ukulele” Workshops at The Sage Gateshead

Here’s how we play “Pencil Full of Lead” by the uketastical Paolo Nutini:

Paolo Nutini: The Ukulele Incident - The Aftermath!

Paolo Nutini: The Ukulele Incident - The Aftermath!

Misspent Uke and Friends play “Pencil Full of Lead” at Highfield Club, Rowlands Gill(ish)

Pencil Full of Lead: Ukes4Fun Songsheet

Pencil Full of Lead: Ukes4Fun Songsheet - select to fill screen or download pdf below

“Pencil Full of Lead” by Paolo Nutini – download the Ukes4Fun Songheet:

PencilFullOfLead-L-APH.pdf Download this file
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Ukes4Fun Songbooks updated and Book 4 added

2 May 2011: Songbooks 1 to 4 are now available in APHont (for easier reading) Landscape format (to take up less space) – see links on Ukes4Fun Songsheets Page.

Songbook 4: some song-sheets are still in draft form but, what the heck, I will post updates when they are finalised – Songbooks 5 and 6 are waiting in the wings :-)

Ukes4Fun Songsheets – May 1st  2011
SB          Songs from Song Books (SB01 – SB04) – in Alphabetical Order

SB04 – 01    Blue Eyes Cryin’ In the Rain (Willie Nelson)
SB02 – 01    Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis Presley)
SB02 – 02    Born To Be Wild (Steppenwolf)
SB01 – 01    Bring It On Home To Me (Sam Cooke)
SB04 – 02    Bye Bye Love (Everly Brothers)
SB01 – 02    Did I Shave My Legs For This (Deana Carter)
SB04 – 03    Eight Days A Week (Beatles)
SB03 – 01    Everyday (Slade)
SB02 – 03    Feel like making love (Bad Company)
SB03 – 02    Feelin’ Groovy (59th St Bridge Song) (Simon & Garfunkel)
SB04 – 04    Fool’s Paradise (Buddy Holly)
SB04 – 05    Hesitation Blues (one of many versions)
SB01 – 03    Hard Times (Stephen Foster)
SB01 – 04    Hi Ho Silver Lining (Jeff Beck)
SB04 – 06    High Hopes (Paulo Nutini)
SB03 – 03    I Recall A Gypsy Woman (Don Williams)
SB02 – 04    I Saw Her Standing There (Beatles)
SB02 – 05    I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bob Dylan)
SB03 – 04    In My Life (John Lennon)
SB02 – 06    It’s All Over Now (The Rolling Stones)
SB04 – 07    Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life (June Carter)
SB02 – 07    Last Thing On My Mind (Tom Paxton)
SB02 – 08    Last Time, The (Rolling Stones)
SB01 – 05    Little Ole Wine Drinker Me  (Josh Ritter)
SB04 – 08    Mack The Knife (Kurt Weill)
SB02 – 09    Peaceful Easy Feeling (The Eagles)
SB03 – 05    Quark Strangeness And Charm (Hawkwind)
SB03 – 06    Rock Around The Clock (Bill Haley and His Comets)
SB01 – 06    Sailor (Petula Clark)
SB03 – 07    San Francisco Bay Blues (Eric Clapton)
SB03 – 08    See You Later Alligator (Bill Haley and The Comets)
SB03 – 09    Singing In The Rain (Gene Kelly)
SB01 – 07    Singin’ The Blues (Marty Robbins)
SB03 – 10    Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness (Nanci Griffith)
SB01 – 08    Take These Chains (Hank Williams)
SB04 – 09    These Boots Are Made For Walking (Nancy Sinatra)
SB02 – 10    Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
SB04 – 10    To Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan/Adele)
SB01 – 09    Under the Boardwalk (The Drifters)
SB01 – 10    Wild Side Of Life (Honky Tonk Angel) (Hank Williams)
Best wishes,
Lizzie