Last of The Steam Powered Trains – The Kinks

The Kinks marked the mothballing of the last steam loco with a very English homage to “Smoke Stack Lightning”

Downloads:

Song sheet with ukulele chord grids – pdf file:   Last Of The Steam Powered Trains

Extracts from a book about The Kinks – pdf file:Last Of The Steam Powered Trains-p62-69


Last steam loco in the spotlight

Oliver Cromwell steam engine

The Oliver Cromwell took four years to restore

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7418180.stm

The locomotive which hauled the last British Rail passenger steam train is taking its place in an exhibition to mark 40 years since the end of steam.

The Oliver Cromwell made its historic journey, from Liverpool to Carlisle, in August 1968.

It has been restored in a four-year project at the Great Central Railway workshops in Loughborough.

The 1968 And All That event at York’s National Railway Museum also recalls the social changes of the 1960s.

‘Pivotal year’

The Oliver Cromwell will be welcomed to the museum by members of Colonel Edward Montagu’s Regiment of Foot, a roundhead regiment of the English Civil War Society.

The Britannia-class Pacific No 70013 originally ran on the Norwich to London line, and made its final trip on 11 August 1968.

Event organiser Matt Thompson said: “With this celebration we are trying to demonstrate that 1968 was a pivotal year in a great period of change that affected not only the railways but the wider world as well.

“The end of steam was an important date in history – so there should be a real sense of occasion at this event, with the return of Oliver Cromwell from restoration and the opportunity for railway workers from the time to pass on their memories of the end of an era to new generations.

Songbook updates Sept 3rd – Songbooks 1 & 3

Songbook updates Sept 3rd

Songbook 1: http://bit.ly/bIEpNx“Did I Shave My Legs For This” – words updated to Dot’s version

“Wild Side of Life (Honky Tonk Angel)’ – Missing Chorus added after verse 3

Songbook 3: http://bit.ly/aL8DoK

“See You Later Alligator” – Key changed to C and intro updated.

“Singing In The Rain” – verses 3 and 4 removed.

Best wishes,

Lizzie

Ukulele Classes at The Sage – info found on Ukulele Cosmos Forum

Ukulele Classes at The Sage – info found on Ukulele Cosmos Forum:

What: Beginners Ukulele
When: Wednesdays during term time 6.30-7.30pm
Where: The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead, NE8 1RT
Price: £5 per week (paid termly i.e. £60 for 12 week term). Half price concession for people over 60, under 19’s, students and those in receipt of benefits.
To book: Contact The Sage Gateshead’s ticket office on 0191 443 4661
For more info: Contact us at adultprogramme@thesagegateshead.org or phone 0191 443 4627
Website: www.thesagegateshead.org
(or link to adult learning page http://www.thesagegateshead.org/l_and_p/joinin/adultprogramme.aspx )

Info: Everyone has to start somewhere and for those wanting to play ukulele, this is it! In just half a term, everyone will learn the basic chords and techniques enabling the group to play the ukulele with pride. Sessions are relaxed, fun and supportive, preparing those who wish to join our more advanced Uke Troupe.

What: Uke Troupe
When: Wednesdays during term time 7.30-9pm
Where: The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead, NE8 1RT
Price: £5 per week (paid termly i.e. £60 for 12 week term). Half price concession for people over 60, under 19’s, students and those in receipt of benefits.
To book: Contact The Sage Gateshead’s ticket office on 0191 443 4661
For more info: Contact us at adultprogramme@thesagegateshead.org or phone 0191 443 4627
Website: www.thesagegateshead.org
(or link to adult learning page http://www.thesagegateshead.org/l_and_p/joinin/adultprogramme.aspx )

Info: A fun, informal and supportive group, which explores a wide and exciting variety of repertoire. In addition, the group has the opportunity to develop skills, technique and musicianship. There will be many opportunities to perform ‘ both at The Sage Gateshead and across the wider community.

Regards

Sally Kat
Head of L&P Business Development
The Sage Gateshead

Direct: 0191 443 4623
Switchboard: 0191 443 4666
Box Office: 0191 443 4661
www.thesagegateshead.org
The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR
“The Sage Gateshead has quickly become the most exciting music venue in Britain” – The Times, 1st September 2006
North Music Trust is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, number 4044936 and as a charity, number 1087445.

Beginner Ukulele Lessons | Ukulele Hunt

You’ve just got your hands on a ukulele (or are just thinking of buying one). Here are a few things to read and songs to play that’ll get you up to speed quickly.

Step One: Learn the basics

So You’ve Just Got Your First Ukulele – a free PDF I put together for beginners including essential links, first chords, tips and links to suggestions for the first songs to learn.
10 Things I Wish I’d Known About Ukuleles (Before I Bought One) – Don’t make the same mistakes I did.
10 Tips for Ukulele Beginners
10 things I wish I’d known about ukuleles before I bought one.
How to read chord charts.

Extra Credit: Ukulele 101 – My ebook covering all the info a beginner needs that is left out of most beginner books.

Step 2: Get Your Strum On

Ukulele Strumming for Dummies
Strumming notation

Extra Credit: – How to Play Ukulele Strums – An ebook I wrote covering all the strumming and rhythm essentials for beginners.

Step 3: Play Some Songs

Check out the Songs with Chords You Know Post

Some popular ones:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow
I Wanna Be Like You
Hallelujah
5 Years Time
Sentimental Heart

Extra Credit: Joan Jett – Bad Reputation – Easy chords but you’ll need to have your chord changes down and a strong strumming-hand to play it up to speed.

Step 4: Spend Some Money

A ukulele tuner
– Some good strings like Aquila.

Extra Credit: Keep your ukulele upright with a stand. Get a capo to make playing in other keys easier.

Congratulations! You’re no longer a noob. You can now advance to the improver section.

If you think there’s a post that deserves a link here or have a topic you’d like me to cover in this section, leave a comment.

 

Essential reading for all new ukers!

This is one of the best (THE best?) uke sites and blogs you could hope to find.

Cheeky name too, careful how you say it, or stick to “Ukulele Hunt”.

Spiffing interview with Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer on “Ukulele Porn”

Brilliant showmanship from the inestimable Mr B! Do hope he makes it to Newcastle again soon. It’s enough to make one consider taking up the banjolele, and that’s saying something!

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t28COxEp2k

“The first installment of Chap-Hop superstar Mr.B the Gentleman Rhymer’s ‘Histories’ series. The history of hip-hop. In five minutes. On the banjolele. Chap-Hop hoorah!”

Amplify’d from www.ukuleleporn.com
June 30th, 2010

An interview with Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer

Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer - interview with ukulele porn
I had the rather fortunate pleasure  of interviewing Chap-Hop pioneer Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer.  For those of you not familiar, he’s a B-Boy banjolele playing gentleman who has a taste for the finer things in life.
Tell me about Chap-Hop.

With Chap-Hop I am reconnecting Hip-Hop to the queen’s English and manners.

Why did you choose the banjolele?

The banjolele has a more abrasive, more amusing sound than the uke, more suitable for funky licks and what-not.

What tips do you have for all the wannabe Ladies and Gentleman reading this?

Just take a look at yourself in the miror for a second or two longer than you usually would and ask yourself ‘should I really be wearing this sweatshirt?’. Then buy a pipe and a ukulele. The only advice I have for the ladies is come and see my next show!

Any favourite ukulele/banjolele songs?

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop was written by David Bowie on a ukulele. That turned out ok.

Read more at www.ukuleleporn.com

Win a Lanikai Banjolele – sign up for Bigfoot and Tiki Newsletter before end of August!

Even if the humour in “Bigfoot and Tiki” is not to your taste, it is worth signing up for the Newsletter if you want to have a shot at winning a rather snazzy banjolele.

Amplify’d from www.bigfootandtiki.com
16: UkeYeti
Join The Newsletter!

See more at www.bigfootandtiki.com

Choreographer needed urgently!

Hi Ho Silver Lining!" Tynemouth Rowing Club BBQ
Hi Ho Silver Lining!" Tynemouth Rowing Club BBQ

The Sage Ukulele Classes – now on Wednesdays!

Great news – The Sage has moved the adult ukulele classes from Thursday to Wednesday, in order that people can attend both The Sage classes and Ukes4Fun!

Dates and times for the Sage classes starting in September are in the clips below, with links to further details. (The “Absolute Beginners Uke” classes on 25 and 26 Sept are sold out already, I am afraid.)

I could not find a page with details of the “Silver Ukuleles” dates and times but it says on The Sage website:
“Silver Ukuleles – there are different groups and workshops available for the varying standards of Ukulele players. Any enquiries or questions please phone (0191) 443 5034 or contact silver@thesagegateshead.org

The “Silver Programme” classes and events are for the “over-50’s” and the adult classes are for all ages.

Sally Kat, Head of Learning and Participation Business Development at The Sage Gateshead, has just taken over managing our Adult learning programme. She has been in touch to say that she’d, “love to find a way of us working together, so that people can play the uke in as many different ways and places as possible. With regard to the focus of our classes, they are very much geared towards “teaching” the uke i.e learning chords (with the proper names) and technique as well as building confidence and repertoire. I think this might be quite different in feel to the sessions you offer and hopefully would complement your sessions rather than competing – which is what I am trying to achieve!”

Sally and Ian McKone, Ukulele Tutor, hope to be able to come along to one of our sessions soon, to meet us and have some uketastic-fun!

Some of you might also know Ian in his capacity as wizard-fiddler and ace-acoustic-guitarist and all-round good chap. Though he has nicked my Uke-Chords Crib-Card, so I think he might find that he owes me a pint of Rapper.

Amplify’d from www.thesagegateshead.org
Beginner Ukulele

Beginner Ukulele

Wednesday 22 September 6:30 pm
Venue: Music Education Centre

Uke Troupe

Uke Troupe

Wednesday 22 September 7:30 pm
Venue: Music Education Centre

Read more at www.thesagegateshead.org

Silver Ukuleles – there are different groups and workshops available for the varying standards of Ukulele players
Any enquiries or questions please phone (0191) 443 5034 or contact silver@thesagegateshead.orgRead more at www.thesagegateshead.org

Ukes4Fun FaceBook Page

Link to Ukes4Fun on FaceBook
Image via Wikipedia

I have felt rather guilty flooding the FaceBook Newsfeed with updates about the Ukes4Fun sessions.

So, for anyone who want to receive these, there is now a FB page and a FB RSS/Blog feed you can subscribe to if you want to get updates via FB:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ukes4Fun/142021775836912

Ukes4Fun Flier – A5 x 2

Please feel free to download and hand these out.