Aloha everyone! Thank you to everyone who came and joined the fun on Australia Day – and welcome to new faces who were given ukes for Christmas, or made a New Year’s resolution to learn to play (or both). There are photos here.
Our New Year’s resolutions are to give members more notice about songs we’ll practice, some more skills, and something fun for the kids. I think we’ve got most of that here, and if you enjoy it, we can keep it up. Please let us know if you like this, and anything else we ought do/sing/include/learn/practise.
You can find lyrics, chords and chord charts for all these songs on Richard G’s songbook. And all sessions are at 7pm at the Gov unless otherwise stated!
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like more info – or if you spot any ukulele shows in the Fringe or Festival that we should all know about.
2 Feb Beginners and novices with Richard Tonkin 9 Feb Regular session of old songs and new.
Group songs include Honolulu Rock-a Roll-a and Under the Boardwalk
Beginners – Sloop John B and Jamaica Farewell (both in C, same four chords)
Flowers on the Wall (for anyone who’s never done it or wants to practice it)
Ramones songs with Andrew B. Sunday 14 Feb *new* Family Uke Session 1-3pm at the Gov. Bring the kids and their ukes. There’ll be a sausage sizzle in the courtyard. If it’s a lot of fun, we might make it a monthly session for families with under 16s, on the second Sunday of the month. Please invite anyone you know who’ll enjoy it! And let us know if you need a loan uke.
16 Feb *new* Richard Tonkin on strumming and picking and being a better player (more uke, less singing) Sat 20Feb Nina and Jeff Cross cordially invite players to their southside home to celebrate all things uke – videos of what overseas groups do, talk about strings and tuning, and playing too. Contact Nina on 8270 7581 or email zeeton2000@gmail.com for more details. 23 Feb Regular session of old songs and new Group songs include Walking after Midnight and Eight Days a Week Rosalie on vocal harmony – she’ll take a song we already know and work with us to make or improve harmonies
Beginners – Ring of Fire and Bad Moon Rising (both in G, three chords)
These Boots are Made for Walking (for anyone who’s never done it or wants to practice that run)
Is this the way to Amarillo? (for anyone who’s never done it or wants to practice it) 26 February Front Bar gig at 8pm 2 March Beginners and novices with Richard Tonkin 9 March Regular session of old songs and new
Saturday 13 March at 7pm Bosko and Honey’s Ukulele Safari Yes, it’s true: they are coming to Adelaide to visit AUAS. Phil Harmonic has kindly offered his big backyard (close to the city) for this special event (and sausage sizzle) – we’ll take RSVPs and let you know the address. More details soon about the evening – check their site for great video, info about special guests and the Safari ’round Australia. Sunday 14 March *new* Family Uke Session at the Gov 1pm-3pm 16 March*new* Richard Tonkin on strumming and picking and being a better player (more uke, less singing) 23 March Regular session of old songs and new
Rosalie on vocal harmony – she’ll take a song we already know and work with us to make or improve harmonies 26 March Front Bar gig at 8pm
Tuesday 26 January
We’re taking over the front bar for the evening from 7pm, and playing Australian songs (and probably a few others) because it’s Australia Day. The Gov have kindly invited us all to join their Australian Day barbecue from 4pm. Richard Tonkin will probably make us a bit of a song book for the night, but also have a look at these classics (remember, there are Youtube links on the song sheet if you want to hear the song): Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport – see attached song sheet – feel free to write extra verses Way Out West Gypsy Queen Come Back Again Real Thing Most People I Know – don’t panic about the chords – have a look at the chord chart at the bottom – they are quite easy and the verse is repetitive. Much easier than I first thought. I’ll Be Gone – again, don’t panic about the fancy chords – they are quite easy and the verse is repetitive. Sound fantastic with massed ukes and Phil on harmonica. Sweet About Me – could this be a Bugden family number? Ukulele Baby Land Down Under Hangin Five Ginger Man Arkansas Grass
We’ll also have some very easy songs as well – and you can suggest anything via email or on the night.
Free car parking at the Entertainment Centre
Now here’s an idea: the fourth Tuesday of January 2010 falls on Australia Day – 26 January. The plan is that we use the front bar all night (instead of just at the end) and play all our favourite Australian songs. Even the ones that look American, like Arkansas Grass. And as it’s also the weekend of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, we can squeak in some classics from that genre too – especially if it’s Patsy Cline. And it will be a great night to invite friends and family to come along – the set up will be like our Tuesday nights, rather than the Friday gigs. Though dressing up is to be encouraged.
See you 7pm at the Gov – free parking at the Entertainment Centre.
Diary
12 January – second Tuesday – practice and learn some Australian songs
22 January – fourth Friday of the month – open mic night in Front Bar
26 January – fourth Tuesday - Australia Day Night in the Front Bar
2 February – a session for beginners, novices and people who want to be better players 9 February – regular second Tuesday session
23 February – regular fourth Tuesday session 26 February - fourth Friday of the month – open mic night in Front Bar 2 March – a session for beginners, novices and people who want to be better players 9 March – regular second Tuesday session
13 March – a special afternoon/evening event!!!
23 March – regular fourth Tuesday session 26 March- fourth Friday of the month – open mic night in Front Bar
2 April – Good Friday – no session
This photo is used with permission of the State Library of Victoria. It shows Australian troops in Borneo 1945. Nothing to do with Christmas at all really, but a great picture that suggests that this uke and its owner survived some hard times. The description says that this is Dvr RT Wilson (Vic) who took his ukulele for the Seventh Division landing at Balik Papan.
Always look on the bright side of life; Honolulu rock-a-roll-a; Love me do; All I want for Christmas; Pay me my money down; Happy Christmas (war is over)
Not only is it the first Tuesday of the month – it’s the first day of summer! Well officially, if not meteorologically.
What is indisputable is that Richard T is leading a session for beginners, novices and people who want to be better players at The Gov at about 7pm, 1 December.
You can ask Santa for the hammock and plastic palm tree later – right now, you should dust off the uke and learn some new chords and songs for summer.
A change of plan for our December Friday night Christmas session – now 18 December from 8pm. It has still got eggnog, still got carols, still got frivolity and festive conviviality and still got room for all of us and our friends and families: just changed to bring it to the Friday before Christmas!
Well, it’s been in our diary for a long time and at last we have a performance time. Thank you Richard Gibson for your persistence. We’re on the Buskers’ Stage from 12.15pm to 1pm.
It’s quite a big fair this year, on Sunday 29 November from 11am-5pm, with several stages, a Christmas market, food stalls, lots of open shops and community events. The main stretch of Semaphore Road has been rebuilt and re-landscaped, and this event marks the completion, much to the relief of residents. Find out more here and here.
Please send an email if you can be part of this so we can send out details of parking, meeting, final song lists etc to participants.
Here’s the draft song list – feedback and suggestions welcome – all these are up on Richard G’s songbook
Is this the way to Amarillo?
Ring of fire
Bye bye love
Flowers on the wall
Under the boardwalk
I’m Yours (in C)
Jingle Bell Rock
Silver Bells
Mele Kalikimaka
Santa Baby
Ukulele baby
Eight days a week
And maybe a couple of other Christmas ones to be decided and learned on 24 November!
Check out Richard G's Ukulele Songbook, one of the most comprehensive ukulele songbooks around, compiled by AUAS' own Richard G. People all around the world are using it!
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