July 2 Ukulele Jam, with Manitoba Hal Workshop

Greetings!

It's now summer! And for our first jam of the summer, we are excited to have a special guest doing the workshop portion of the jam, Hal Brolund, also known as Manitoba Hal. He has already left his home in Nova Scotia for his tour of Ontario, and will join us on Wednesday July 2.

For those who have already paid for the workshop, thank you! Some have promised to pay me before the jam. If you can't pay me before tomorrow (Friday June 27), then please bring your $25 to the jam. If you haven't already sent me an e-mail expressing your intent to come to the workshop, we can still add a few more people. But please let me know as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

As mentioned before, the workshop starts at 7:30pm. Please be prompt. Better to arrive early, say 7:00pm, so you can order a beverage from the bar before the workshop, and tune your ukulele.

For those coming from out of town, exit highway 401 at Division Street. Drive south about 4km, and turn left on Princess Street. The Royal Tavern in on the right just past Barrie Street, a block and a half from Division. Note that on-street parking is free in the evening. (If there's no parking on Princess Street, drive around to the back: Turn right on Clergy Street, then right on Brock Street. Just past the fire hall is a narrow parking lot, also free in the evening. Enter the door with the "Royal Tap Room" sign.) Here's a map showing the location.

Following the workshop, we'll have our usual open jam. You'll have the opportunity to solo a song or two, or lead the group. Or you can just sit back and strum along. Since this portion of the jam will be shorter than usual, and with a bigger group than usual, we'll play songs from our favorites list, downloadable here. I'll bring a few more songs, songs that I think should be added to our favorites, in addition to some other popular 3-chord songs from the past year or so.

As usual, we meet in the front room in the Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is normally available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. Be sure to show your appreciation to the Royal by visiting the bar and purchasing a beverage or two. Don't forget that they also offer soft drinks, in addition to their assortment of beers and other alcoholic drinks.

Cheers! Hans

Ukulele Workshop with Manitoba Hal

Come join us on Wednesday, July 2, for a ukulele workshop led by the accomplished blues musician Hal Brolund, also known as Manitoba Hal. Hal will introduce you to playing blues on ukulele, using some 3-chord songs, examining variations in structure and style. This is suitable for beginners, however, more intermediate players will also learn from the workshop. I've been to a couple of his workshops, and I recommend them highly.

The workshop will take place July 2 at 7:30pm at the historic Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street, in Kingston. The cost is $25 per person. Please pay in advance. You may pay either via PayPal, or e-mail me at hans@boldts.net to make other arrangements to pay. To pay via PayPal, click on the following link:

Update: We now have a full house. No more registrations will be accepted. Your seat is guaranteed if you've already paid, or you've e-mailed me with your promise to pay on Wednesday. I'll send out a reminder a few days before the workshop.

Be sure to arrive early. Note that there's usually free parking available on Princess Street. Or park for free in the lot at the back off Brock Street, just past Clergy Street. Park in the lot on the right immediately past the fire station. Click here for a map. For those coming from out of town, exit Highway 401 at Division Street, drive south, and turn left on Princess Street. The Royal is a block and a half from Division, on the right, just past Barrie Street.

Following the workshop, you may stay for the usual ukulele jam hosted by the Kingston Ukulele Society, which meets twice a month at the Royal Tavern. Then, you can practice your newly learned skills with the others.

Cheers! Hans

June 18 Ukulele Jam, at the Historic Royal Tavern

Greetings, ukulele fans!

The election is over, and we can all breathe again! Now that that's over, we can think about our next ukulele jam, on Wednesday, June 18, at the Royal Tavern, in a historic building once owned by Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. We'll start at 7:00pm with a beginners' workshop, followed by the usual open jam at 8:00pm. (I'll update you on the July 2 workshop later.)

For the open jam, you will have the opportunity to solo a song or two, or lead the group in a song, or just sit back and strum along with everyone else. Feel free to bring copies of your favorite songs. Here are some that I've arranged. For your convenience, you can download them as one PDF.

• At The Hop, Danny & the Juniors, 1957 (video)
• Come Together, the Beatles, 1969 (play along video)
• Coming Into Los Angeles, Arlo Guthrie, 1969 (play along video)
• I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash, 1972 (play along video)
• If Not For You, Bob Dylan, as recorded by George Harrison, 1971 (play along video)
• Safe European Home, the Clash, 1978. (video)

As usual, we jam in the Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is normally available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. Be sure to show your appreciation to the Royal by visiting the bar and purchasing a beverage or two. Don't forget that they also offer soft drinks, in addition to their assortment of beers and other alcoholic drinks.

Cheers! Hans