It was a dark and stormy night . . . and the ukulele players were gathered around a blazing hearth in The Cumberland Arms, Byker . . . outside, fireworks lit up the sky . . . it was November 5th 2009 . . . and ukuleles had come back to the music room at The Cumby!
The ukulele players said, “Dot! What key is it in?!”
Dot said . . .
Keith said, “Interval !!”
Over the last ten years . . .
. . . we have seen friends come and go. We remember those who have moved away or passed on with fondness and have been delighted to welcome new friends joining us every year.
“Misspent Uke“, our musical backbone, have gone from strength to strength and members of The Attic Band add that extra pizzazz to sessions!
So many people to thank!
Many thanks to Dot Kirton and Dennis Bostock for leading sessions, to Dot and Chris Bostock for organising our wonderful weekends away, to star ukulele player Keith Perry, to Fiona Buckley and Karl Barlow for keeping us in time on the bass, to those who bring other instruments with their ukuleles to enliven sessions: Andy Seagroatt on fiddle, Fiona on Mandolin, Lucy Falkenau on banjo and tin whistle, John on Saxophone, our occasional harmonica and swanee whistle players and, last but by no means least, Dot and Megs Johnson on kazoo trumpets!
To all our singers who bring and lead songs, a huge thank you for making the sessions so varied – and for making it impossible to answer the question, “What sort of music do you play?”
To EVERYONE who comes along on Thursdays and Sundays, plays along and makes the sessions so friendly and enjoyable, Happy 10th Birthday and THANK YOU!
Lizzie
ps. Our next Thursday Session is 7th November – bring some nibbles for a little birthday party in the Break!
pps. On Tuesday November 5th The Cumberland Arms has a free Bonfire Night Event!
I will be adding this info the the post about what to expect at Sessions:
Message from Dot
Hello Everyone,
I hope you have all enjoyed the Summer Break and are looking forward, as l am, to resuming our sessions at the Cumberland and the Millstone.
The Cumberland has become part of a campaign called “Shout Up”. This was set up initially to protect women from harassment in bars throughout Newcastle.
This is a “heads up” to anyone who attends our sessions.
We play in the Cumberland so we need to be aware of and sensitive to what they consider to be appropriate behaviour.
Look forward to seeing you all soon,
Dot
What to do if there are any problems
Staff at the Cumberland Arms have been trained to deal with sexual harassment as part of this Campaign.
If you experience or witness sexual harassment, the purpose of this Campaign is to encourage you to alert Bar Staff so that they can deal with the problem promptly and effectively. You do not have to literally “shout” – the point is immediacy of action, not volume :-)
Here we apply our new pentatonic skills to a bunch of different songs and genres (pop, folk, blues).
What does it feel like?
How does that new skill feel in the context of that song?
What feels best?
Even better, can you steal some ideas from other songs and riffs you dredged up from the deeper recesses of your memory.
Pre-requisites for both Workshops:
Know the string names
Know these chords from the key of C: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am
Bring a ukulele tuned GCEA!
Who will benefit from attending?
Group members
Group leaders
Group music arrangers
9:10 – 9:40/10:00 ~ Concert: Mark Jackson & Jane Jelbart (Doors 9:00)
“We like to explore the emotional canvas with the uke, vocal harmony and other instruments, be they happy, sad, insightful or funny.
Over the last seven years we have grown to love and learn Americana tunes and the reserved way in which these are delivered. We also enjoy introducing our own songs, making a pleasing mix of the familiar and the new.”
9:45/10:00 ~ Raffle
Prizes donated by Mark and Jane
Baritone Ukulele Hard Foam Case/Gig Bag
Ukulele art works
Ukulele accessories
Merchandise Stalls
There will be time to browse and shop during the Breaks and after the Raffle.
Riptide Baritone Ukulele Lightweight Hard Foam Cases: £25
Limited number available
To buy a case to collect on the night, pre-order and pay when purchasing your ticket
Or if there are any left, you can pay on the night
“Jack’n’Jel” are a dynamic, collaborative, flexible, fun and funny workshop and performance duo from Newcastle, Australia.
Workshops, Leadership and Publications
At home, Mark and Jane run 11 weekly ukestra/choir sessions, gaining an international reputation for their ukestra workshops: helping community ukulele groups to develop their musicianship and joy beyond hum n strum.
They were the first Australians to undertake the three years training (in Vancouver) in the James Hill Ukulele Initiative
They are catalysts, organising professional development opportunities for uke leaders and teachers across Australia.
In concert, “Jack’n’Jel” have been variously described as ‘mesmerising’, ‘funny’, and ‘a little brave’. They are a rare commodity:
performers who can teach
teachers who can perform
They have recently released their debut album, littered with the musical debris of their lives – uke, trumpet, guitar, piano, banjo, fine harmonies and the occasional contribution from a virtuosic friend or two.
Every 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday at The Cumberland Arms 6:00 – 8:00
1st Thursdays – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
2nd Thursdays – Ukes4Fun New/Old Songs with Denis
3rd Thursdays – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
4th & 5th Thursdays – NO SESSION
New/old songs for 2nd Thursday Sessions with Denis:
Many thanks for bringing new songs and reviving some old songs that have lain dormant in the Songbooks for a long time! We now have a stash of these to re-visit in Denis’s sessions on 2nd Thursdays.
Please hold on bringing new songs/reviving old songs to Thursday sessions until we have got these ones under our belts. For the next few Thursday sessions, we would like to rock steady with some familiar tunes plus the new/old ones you have already brought along to Denis’s sessions.
Reminders for everyone for all Thursday sessions, including me!
Leading songs: If you are going to lead a song, make sure that you have practiced playing and singing it before you get to the session
Song arrangements: The simpler the song arrangement, the more likely it is “work” as a “session song”. We have some very good players who are capable of adding all sorts of finesse and flourishes to a song. We love hearing these played but they work better as an occasional “solo spot”. If you are playing at this level then you can probably work out a simpler arrangement so that most people can play along with you. There are some good tips here: http://ukuleleinthedark.com/ud52-trimming-away-how-to-simplify-song-sheets/
Play it again, Sam! Dot has a good ear for the sort of songs that are likely to become popular in sessions. If you get the nod from Dot that it is a “good song”, take the hint and give it a run at another session asap!
Practice makes perfect: It might take a few sessions before everyone is familiar enough with a new song for it to settle in and “work”. This applies just as much to well-known songs (when everyone might have a different version playing in their heads) as to less well known songs (when perhaps only the the song leader “knows how it goes”).
Give us a clue! You can use the email list to send links to YouTube videos, audio files on SoundCloud, etc. to help familiarise everyone with a new song that you are going to introduce (it helps even more if the recording is in the same key that you are going to use but that is not always possible)
Song sheets: You can also use the email list to send song sheets to everyone – but please still bring at least 10 copies on paper when you are introducing a song for the first time.
If the song is already in our Song Books – and is in the same key – then everyone should have access to it already: https://ukes4fun.org.uk/songsheets/
See the the tips on that page about creating new song sheets
For the latest information on dates, times and venues for Thursday and Sunday Sessions, please check the Calendar: https://ukes4fun.org.uk/calendar/
“Shout-Up” Campaign at The Cumberland Arms
Update: 31 August 2018
Message from Dot
Hello Everyone,
The Cumberland has become part of a campaign called “Shout Up”. This was set up initially to protect women from harassment in bars throughout Newcastle.
This is a “heads up” to anyone who attends our sessions.
We play in the Cumberland so we need to be aware of and sensitive to what they consider to be appropriate behaviour.
Dot
What to do if there are any problems
Staff at the Cumberland Arms have been trained to deal with sexual harassment as part of this Campaign.
If you experience or witness sexual harassment, the purpose of this Campaign is to encourage you to alert Bar Staff so that they can deal with the problem promptly and effectively. You do not have to literally “shout” – the point is immediacy of action, not volume :-)
Every 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday at The Cumberland Arms 6:00 – 8:00
JULY THURSDAY SESSIONS:
Thursday 6 July – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
Thursday 13 July – Ukes4Fun New/Old Songs with Denis
Thursday 20 July – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke +Dot’s Birthday!
Thursday 27 July – NO SESSION
SUMMER BREAK: NO SESSIONS IN AUGUST
The usual monthly pattern resumes on 7th Sept
1st Thursday – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
2nd Thursday – Ukes4Fun New/Old Songs with Denis
3rd Thursday – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
4th & 5th Thursdays – NO SESSION
New/old songs for 2nd Thursday Sessions with Denis:
Many thanks for bringing new songs and reviving some old songs that have lain dormant in the Songbooks for a long time! We now have a stash of these to re-visit in Denis’s sessions on 2nd Thursdays.
Please hold on bringing new songs/reviving old songs to Thursday sessions until we have got these ones under our belts. For the next few Thursday sessions, we would like to rock steady with some familiar tunes plus the new/old ones you have already brought along to Denis’s sessions.
Reminders for everyone for all Thursday sessions, including me!
Leading songs: If you are going to lead a song, make sure that you have practiced playing and singing it before you get to the session
Song arrangements: The simpler the song arrangement, the more likely it is “work” as a “session song”. We have some very good players who are capable of adding all sorts of finesse and flourishes to a song. We love hearing these played but they work better as an occasional “solo spot”. If you are playing at this level then you can probably work out a simpler arrangement so that most people can play along with you. There are some good tips here: http://ukuleleinthedark.com/ud52-trimming-away-how-to-simplify-song-sheets/
Play it again, Sam! Dot has a good ear for the sort of songs that are likely to become popular in sessions. If you get the nod from Dot that it is a “good song”, take the hint and give it a run at another session asap!
Practice makes perfect: It might take a few sessions before everyone is familiar enough with a new song for it to settle in and “work”. This applies just as much to well-known songs (when everyone might have a different version playing in their heads) as to less well known songs (when perhaps only the the song leader “knows how it goes”).
Give us a clue! You can use the email list to send links to YouTube videos, audio files on SoundCloud, etc. to help familiarise everyone with a new song that you are going to introduce (it helps even more if the recording is in the same key that you are going to use but that is not always possible)
Song sheets: You can also use the email list to send song sheets to everyone – but please still bring at least 10 copies on paper when you are introducing a song for the first time.
If the song is already in our Song Books – and is in the same key – then everyone should have access to it already: https://ukes4fun.org.uk/songsheets/
See the the tips on that page about creating new song sheets
The Fabulous Del Rey returns to Newcastle on her 2017 UK Tour!
“Whilst known for her amazing instrumental skills … it should not be overlooked that Del Rey always provides a very entertaining show, full of variety, drama and humour.”
Blues In Britain
“Del Rey is one of the greatest modern players of the metal-bodied resonator guitar.”
Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“Del Rey is one of the most sublime modern guitarists.“
La Hora del Blues Barcelona
This time with the Amazing Adam Franklin!
“Britain’s best kept secret!”
Steve James, USA
“Like a cross between Robert Johnson and Joe Strummer!”
Two Rivers Folk Festival, Wales.
“Franklin’s exemplary resonator picking and slide playing demonstrates a dedication to the instrument that would be the envy of some of the legends he emulates”
Record Collector Magazine
“Adam knows enough about old-style blues to be worth listening to and is irreverent enough to be exciting. He’s got the beat, you won’t be bored.”
Del Rey, USA
Hot Jazz and Blues at The Cumberland Arms
James Place Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 1LD
1. Ukulele Workshop: Hot Jazz Rhythm Picking
Adam Franklin is a fantastic tutor, as anyone who has attended his Workshop on “Hot Jazz Rhythm Picking for Ukulele” will testify!
In this workshop you will learn some easily remembered picking patterns and how to use them to provide a solid rhythmic foundation to ANY song in ANY style – not just “hot jazz”!
Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced player, you will find this technique a very useful tool to add that “extra something” to sing-alongs and jams!
Chord charts and Finger-Picking Tabs for “Dr Jazz” will be provided – leave a comment on this post if you have booked a place and would like copies in advance!
2. Guitar Workshop: Moving Bass Lines
After Del Rey’s last performance, guitarists in the audience asked her if she could come back to run a Guitar Workshop. So that is what Del is going to do for us this time, focussing on “Moving Bass Lines”!
Want to play like a pianist? Walking and boogie-woogie bass lines for fingerstyle guitar! Learn the positions where you can find both chords and moving bass.
You will need to be comfortable holding partial chords while moving a bass line, and with switching fingers to maintain a position.
No barre chords involved.
Who will benefit from this Workshop:
Any guitarist with these skills who would like to expand their sound in blues and jazz will learn useful vocabulary and ways of using chords they already know.
Fingerpickers and players with good fret-hand strength will get the most benefit.
3. Hot Jazz and Blues Concert
Del Rey and Adam Franklin Resonate! Jazz and Blues Duets, swapping instruments and vocals!
Hot Jazz and Blues Evening
Del and Adam often run workshops and perform together in the South of England when Del is in the UK. We are so pleased to bring them up to the North East to run Guitar and Ukulele Workshops and perform for us in concert!
The Cumberland Arms
James Place Street
Byker/Ouseburn Valley
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 1LD
Access:
The Workshops and Concert are in the upstairs Function Room.
There is a wheelchair-accessible ramp.
The toilets are on the Ground Floor and are not officially wheelchair accessible.
The Public Bar is on the Ground Floor.
Notes:
There are separate admission times for each event.
If you are attending the Ukulele Workshop and then the Concert, you will be able to relax in the Music Room or Saloon Bar downstairs while the Guitar Workshop is running upstairs.
Refreshments are not included in the Ticket Price.
TicketSource referral link (if you sell tickets and use this link to sign up to Ticket Source then we get a “referral reward” from Ticket Source): www.ticketsource.co.uk/signup/8262
Every 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday at The Cumberland Arms 6:00 – 8:00
1st Thursdays – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
2nd Thursdays – Ukes4Fun New/Old Songs with Denis
3rd Thursdays – Ukes4Fun with Dot and Misspent Uke
4th & 5th Thursdays – NO SESSION
New/old songs for 2nd Thursday Sessions with Denis:
Many thanks for bringing new songs and reviving some old songs that have lain dormant in the Songbooks for a long time! We now have a stash of these to re-visit in Denis’s sessions on 2nd Thursdays.
Please hold on bringing new songs/reviving old songs to Thursday sessions until we have got these ones under our belts. For the next few Thursday sessions, we would like to rock steady with some familiar tunes plus the new/old ones you have already brought along to Denis’s sessions.
Reminders for everyone for all Thursday sessions, including me!
Leading songs: If you are going to lead a song, make sure that you have practiced playing and singing it before you get to the session
Song arrangements: The simpler the song arrangement, the more likely it is “work” as a “session song”. We have some very good players who are capable of adding all sorts of finesse and flourishes to a song. We love hearing these played but they work better as an occasional “solo spot”. If you are playing at this level then you can probably work out a simpler arrangement so that most people can play along with you. There are some good tips here: http://ukuleleinthedark.com/ud52-trimming-away-how-to-simplify-song-sheets/
Play it again, Sam! Dot has a good ear for the sort of songs that are likely to become popular in sessions. If you get the nod from Dot that it is a “good song”, take the hint and give it a run at another session asap!
Practice makes perfect: It might take a few sessions before everyone is familiar enough with a new song for it to settle in and “work”. This applies just as much to well-known songs (when everyone might have a different version playing in their heads) as to less well known songs (when perhaps only the the song leader “knows how it goes”).
Give us a clue! You can use the email list to send links to YouTube videos, audio files on SoundCloud, etc. to help familiarise everyone with a new song that you are going to introduce (it helps even more if the recording is in the same key that you are going to use but that is not always possible)
Song sheets: You can also use the email list to send song sheets to everyone – but please still bring at least 10 copies on paper when you are introducing a song for the first time.
If the song is already in our Song Books – and is in the same key – then everyone should have access to it already: https://ukes4fun.org.uk/songsheets/
See the the tips on that page about creating new song sheets
