I have added a link on the home page to a map and directions on walkit.com
These take you from Morrisons via the pedestrian crossing on the Shields Road Bypass to The Cumberland Arms, avoiding steps if you follow the route as shown here:
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.
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!
The Old Ship Car Park on the road at the back of the pubThe Old Ship from the front, overlooking the prom
Wild Ukes ‘o Wanny aka The Old Ship Ukulele Night
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
Every other Wednesday starting between 7:30 and 8:00pm, lasting up till just after 9:30 or when people have had enough !!
The Old Ship
63 Front Street
Newbiggin by the Sea
Northumberland
NE64 6NJ
Back room in the Old Ship pub on the main street in Newbiggin – entry at the front, overlooking the prom, or via door at side
Car parking both on-street and in public car parks off Front Street and at Maritime Centre
Adults – if not young then young at heart
Attendees (usually between 7 and 14) regularly travel from the local area and from further afield (including Tyneside, Chester-le-Street and even Thropton!)
Song sheets available via email
One resident soprano uke available for loan
We meet in a pub (two real ales always on tap) and younger teenagers should be accompanied by an adult.
May 2015: A well-established group welcoming new members!
Charlie Lally has moved south of the Tyne and is setting up a new uke club in Sunderland, “Steamin’ Ukes“.
The Wild Ukes is still going strong and members are sorting out new roles. Mick Bell has kindly offered to be the new first-point-of-contact (see spreadsheet link above).
More updates to be added as and when they come in!
Mick says:
“The group is currently rehearsing along with Morpeth’s “Uke in Style” and Wooler’s “Angel Delights” for a “Northumberlele Trio” concert to be held in Rothbury in June – we are all delighted to welcome Charlie back to take the helm and lead us again for this event.”
Mick Bell
News Archive:
Oct 2011: A growing group welcoming new members!
Targetted at mainly local people (Newbiggin/Ashington/Bedlington/Morpeth) – usually has between 3 and 8 attending depending on other commitments – mainly beginners so far.
Songsheets via email to attending ukers.
The pub has access to some Mahalo ukes for complete beginners without an instrument to use on the night.
All players welcome, from beginners to super-ukers!
18 and over.
Free Sessions
Contact: Dick Dodds
Phone: 01670516148
Email (encoded for spam protection – click link to open): Uke in Style
It’s Saturday night, I am not out whooping it up or perhaps having even more fun practicing my latest favourite ukulele songs (sigh!). No, I am starting to get very bored with making new songsheets for our sessions . . . and then I found TUSC Songbook 7!
TUSC Songbook 7 cover - featuring wonderful "Borat" artwork by Steve Power
I can’t stop laughing . . . first at
then at
“The People’s Songbook – for make glorious music ukulele benefit the whole world and Taunton.”
and then I found the Ukephallus Man!
Ukephallus Man from TUSC Songbook
Resisted the temptation to despoil the Angel of The North and went for nicking the TUSC Songbook byline for our Songsheets Index:
Ukes4Fun Songbooks 1 to 6 Index
I will add this as an alternative index page for download as a pdf file on the Ukes4Fun Songsheets Page along with pretty versions of the index pages for each songbook.
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!
I get regular emails via the website asking for advice about the “best first uke to buy”, advice for beginner lessons, etc. There are lots of websites with this sort of advice so I have started listing them here as and when I find them:
Original here:
Ukes4Fun 