C o n t e n t s
- Jack n Jel n Mac n Wal at Lizotte's
- Improvisation Two Course starts in a few days
- Watch the Ukastle Ukestra perform at the Lake Macquarie Fair on Saturday 1st May at 2.30pm
- Choir is back! in the Adamstown Uniting Church Hall
- Beginners Ukulele Workshops
- Small and Special Ukestras
- Sweet wee John's radio interview, gleaned from history
- Dooralong Uke Concert & Jam
- The Ukulele Death Squad are in town!
D I A R Y
Wednesday 14 April -
Jack n Jel n Mac n Wal, live at Lizotte's with Ohana, and Original Cyn
Friday 16th April Ukestral Voices resumes
Saturday 17 April - Dooralong Uke Jam
Sunday 18 April - Beginners Ukulele Workshop
Saturday 1 May Ukastle Ukestra perform at Speers Point Park - Lake Macquarie Autumn Fair
Saturday 8 May - Ukulele Death Squad
Tuesday 18 May - SS Ukestras launch
Wednesday 26 May -
Beginners Ukulele Workshop
1. Jack n Jel n Mac n Wal - not loud. This Wednesday @ Lizotte's of New Lambton
This is your opportunity to grab a rare performance of us four together in a cheap as chips option. Ten bucks for us, plus two other top quality acts (
Ohana and
Original Cyn & Co) in Newcastle's most beautiful venue. Our last house concert in late February sold out, and was exquisite. Just ask us!
(or anyone else who went along).
2. Improvisation Two - starts next Tuesday / Wednesday
We are back into it! We just finished another
Improvisation One course and are now offering two sets of
Improv 2 courses starting next week.
You can choose either
Tuesday nights 7pm (13, 20, 27 April & 4th May) or
Wednesday afternoons at 4pm (14, 21, 28 April and 5 May).
This course is live on Zoom which we've found to be one of the most effective ways to teach improvisation and basic music theory on the uke. The 4 week program is your key to breaking out of strummeti-strum and starting the wonderful journey of 'fiddling around' at ukestras. You can build your skills in the privacy of your online world
and improve your enjoyment in person at a ukestra.
Register now to secure a place or just email Jane (jane@ukestra.com). The cost is $120 for the four weeks and each class is recorded to allow you to go back and review it at your leisure.
We also just finished our first
Building the Bass Feels course, so you can expect to see a greater variety of bass players at your ukestras, although we still rely heavily on making our ukestras rhythmically solid with our regular bassists, especially Bec and Gail.
3. Ukastle Ukestra performs at the LakeMac Autumn Fair
We have another ukestra gig lined up for Saturday May 1st - 2.30-3pm in Speers Point Park (in the Rotunda). We are so excited to get this opportunity, especially after the rained out cancellation of the Fringe Festival. We were just so ready and we will finally get to offer our crack Fringe Repertoire. Get a sneak preview at our rehearsal on Thursday 22nd April at the Carrington BC from 5.30-6.45pm.
Bring a picnic and be an audience at Speers Point on 1 May!
4. Choir is back in Adamstown starting Friday 16th April
Our beautiful summer evenings singing in the park are o'er; we had a wee break over Easter; and now we return to our beloved church hall in Adamstown. It all sounds just so...just so.., just so Vicar of Dibley. We clasp our hands and start back on Friday 16th April and Wednesday 21st April. Email Jane (
jane@ukestra.com) if you would like to develop your singing potential.
A taster can be had by clicking the photo.
5. Beginners Ukulele Workshop
Our Beginners Workshop is VERY effective. You learn the rudiments, and you can get connected with some lovely folk. (Please send this email onto prospective ukers!).
Sunday 18 April at 12:30pm at the Carrington Bowling Club (or wait a month until Wednesday 26 May. ... or actually think about it, keep vacillating, but never really follow through).
6. Small and Special Ukestras ... bass players needed!
This is our latest idea to keep you improving in your music making together. Small dedicated ensembles where you choose your mates, or we'll choose 'em for you. And we'll whip and arrange you like a boss.
Click the photo of the good ship SS Ukestra for more info and to join, or give Jane an email (jane@ukestra.com). About 18 people have contacted us already but we would like to have more, particularly bass players please!
7. But wait! There is more! An interview with an 11 year old John
We discovered a lovely radio interview with John and others this week, lost at the back of our dusty archives from late 2012 maybe? It features John before his voice broke... so cute! Click the photos to reveal the audio.
8. Uke Jam at Dooralong on Saturday 17th April
This Uke Jam and Concert is being held in the Dooralong Hall on Saturday 17th April between 11am - 4pm. It will be another wonderful day to share your love of music. Featured artists include Sue Robinson and Clyde Street Band. They are outstanding. Bring your uke. There will be opportunities to play along and I have two program spots available for individuals or groups. We are asking for a gold coin donation to cover hall hire. BYO picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful setting. To help with Covid planning and to get more information, email me ASAP. lloydbatten@gmail.com
9. Ukulele Death Squad - 8 May - A Hayshed in Largs
Intimate, authentic, communal and heart-warming, this little musical event is set in a hayshed on a farm in stunning Largs. (You'll be emailed the address when you buy your ticket).
This is what music festivals used to be all about, and we're not talking pre-covid ... we're talking pre-music festivals.
Come and join in on this mini folk festival which sees the Ukulele Death Squad re-unite after a 15-month covid-induced hiatus. They'll be joined by international South American folk act, Deio as well as other surprise acts along the way.
