May 8 - Ukulele Jam at the Royal

Greetings!

Well, it looks like summer has arrived in Kingston. Summer is, of course, the perfect season for playing ukulele. It's also time to start thinking of special summer ukulele activities. In the past few years, we had some additional ukulele jams in City Park. We should consider doing that again. If you have any ideas, please share, either here on the mailing list or at the jam.

But the matter at hand now is next week's ukulele jam at the Royal Tavern, 7:30pm, Wednesday May 8. I've arranged a few songs. If you have your own favorites, please bring them along. Be sure to make a dozen copies.

• Karma Chameleon Culture Club, 1983.
• Losing My Religion R.E.M, 1991.
• The MTA The Kingston Trio, 1959,
• You've Got To Hide Your Love Away The Beatles, 1965.

As usual, we jam in the back room of the historic 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. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans

April 10 Ukulele Jam

Greetings!

The April ukulele jam is coming up soon, next Wednesday, April 10. So far, I just have a couple of songs prepared, but hopefully I'll prepare a few more before next week. The first is a take-off on a classic English song. The other songs are by the Canadian band the Odds. You might recognize them as the the group that does the closing theme of Corner Gas. 

• Bored of the Dance by the Kipper Family
• My Happy Place by the Odds
• Somone Who's Cool by the Odds

Of course, if you have your own songs to share, please make a dozen copies and bring them along.

Finally, we jam in the back room of the historic Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is usually available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans

March 13 Ukulele Jam

Greetings!

The next jam is coming up quickly, on Wednesday March 13. I hope all of you can come, even though it's March break. I just have a few songs prepared, including a Stompin' Tom Connors song:

• Bad Romance Lady Gaga (play along video)
• Garden Song David Mallett (play along video)
• Tillsonburg Stompin' Tom Connors (play along video)
• Witch Doctor David Seville (video)

Of course, if you have your own songs to share, please make a dozen copies and bring them along.

Finally, we jam in the back room of the historic Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is usually available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans

February 13 Jam

Greetings!

It's been a long time since our last jam in January. Five weeks between jams is way too long! But our next jam is coming up on February 13, a good antidote to the Winter "Blahs".

Here are some songs I've arranged, with no particular theme in mind:

• Lay, Lady, Lay Bob Dylab, 1969 (video, Angelique Kidjo)
• Saturday Night Bay City Rollers, 1975 (play along video)
• Sundown Gordon Lightfoot, 1973 (video)
• Throwing My Baby Out With The Bathwater Tenpole Tudor, 1981 (pay along video)
• You Never Know Wilco, 2009 (video)
• You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go Bob Dylan, 1974 (video, Miley Cyrus)

As usual, if you have your own songs you'd like to share, please bring them along. Be sure to make about a dozen copies for others. 

You can now buy products with David Newland's "Ukulele Benediction". Check out The Ukulele Benediction Shop. All profits go to Artscan Circle, a charitable organization that helps out at risk youth in remote indigenous communities using music. For example, one time, they brought 30 ukuleles to Pickle Lake. The graphic was designed by Amy Singer, a regular at the Corktown Jam in Toronto, and who is managing the project.

Finally, we jam in the back room of the historic Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is usually available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans

January 9 Ukulele Jam

Greetings!

We're now into a new year. I'm sure most of you have as a New Year's resolution to play ukulele more often. I certainly plan to! And now our first opportunity of the year to jam approaches on Wednesday, January 9. Here are some songs I've arranged for the jam. If you have your own favorites, please make a few copies and bring them along.

• Circle Harry Chapin (1972) (play along video)
• The Consumer Stompin' Tom Connors (1973) (video)
• A Summer Song Chad and Jeremy (1964) (video)
• Tune Into My Wave k.d. lang (1987) (video)

In other ukulele news, Manitoba Hal is putting together his Spring tour schedule, and there's the possibility that he can be in Kingston in April to do a concert and workshop. If you're interested in attending his workshop, let me know at the jam. I've attended both his workshop and concert, and certainly recommend both.

Finally, we jam in the back room of the historic Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is usually available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans

December 12 Jam at the Royal

Greetings, ukulele fans!

First, I'd like to thank everyone for making our official inaugural at the Royal Tavern last month such a success. It looks like we made the right decision in moving. When be started playing, we already had a great turnout. And yet more people came, giving us our second highest attendance.

And now, our next jam is coming up soon, on Wednesday, December 12. I know December is an awkward month for most people. It's a busy month, and many people quickly get their fill of Christmas songs. But let's keep up the momentum. Bring your favorite Christmas songs, and let's have some fun with them.

On the Kingston Ukulele Society web site, I've added a page for Christmas songs. As I write this memo, there are just a half-dozen songs. But I'll probably add some more over the next few days. But there are also other sites offering good Christmas song arrangements for ukulele:

• Dr. Ukes Holiday Songs Dr Uke always has good arrangements. I'll bring a few copies of his Christmas Medley #1 and Christmas Medley #2. I'd appreciate if others would also make a few copies, for themselves and others, to make sure everyone has copies.
• Vancouver Ukulele Circle Winter Holiday Songbook.
• German Christmas Songs This is a wonderful set of tabbed arrangements.
• There are a number of arrangements of Vince Guaraldi's Christmas Time Is Here. This is my favorite.

Once we get our fill of Christmas songs, we'll do other favorites. If you're new to the jam, be sure to print off a copy of our favorites.

Don't forget: Our new location is the Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is usually available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans

November 14 Ukulele Jam at the Royal

Greetings, ukulele fans!

I'm really excited about jamming in our new venue, the Royal Tavern. The next jam is coming up, on Wednesday, November 14. Yes, we are back to Wednesdays!

Here are a few songs I've prepared. As usual, if you have your own favorites, bring them along.

• I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag Country Joe McDonald, 1967. (video).
• Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat Bob Dylan, 1966. (play along video)
• Pub With No Beer Parsons and Sheahan, 1957. (video)
• They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around traditional. (video)
• Where Did You Get That Hat Joseph J. Sullivan, 1888. (play along video)

A few things to note: First, the Royal has no music stands. So if you have a music stand, please bring it along. Second, look for ukulele players in the back room. That is, in the space to the left of the bar.

Don't forget: Our new location is the Royal Tavern, 344 Princess Street. Parking is usually available on Princess Street. Or park in the lot at the back of the Royal, off Brock Street, just past the fire hall. The jam starts at 7:30PM. But plan to arrive around 7PM for socializing and a beverage.

Cheers! Hans