July 24 Ukulele Jam in City Park

Greetings! 

Last week we had a great jam at the royal. As summer rolls on, our summertime schedule brings us to our next City Park jam, Wednesday July 24, 6:30'ish. As before, we'll meet at a picnic table south of the splash pad. If you're the first one there, please grab a picnic table. Last month, I just had to follow the sound of ukuleles to find the place.

Currently, the long term forecast for next Wednesday shows a 40% chance of rain. But the forecast shows nice weather for the next day. If we get rained out on Wednesday, I propose Thursday as the alternate rain date.

Bring your songs, snacks, and refreshments! And if you have kids, bring them along so they can play in the splash pad. 

Cheers! Hans

July 10 Ukulele Jam

Aloha, Ukulele Fans in Kingston!

I was hoping to get this notice out earlier, but things have been rather hectic for us lately. But now it's time for the July Ukulele jam, Wednesday July 10, 7:30pm at the Royal Tavern! Here's what I've arranged for this jam:

• House Of The Rising Sun, a traditional song recorded by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and lots of others.
• Sunshine Superman by Dovovan
• White Sandy Beach, recorded by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Two weeks ago we had our first City Park jam. The weather forecast was iffy, but the weather cooperated and we had fun jamming in the park. Don't forget about the other summer-time jams: July 24 and August 28, 6:30-ish, south of the splash pad in City Park.

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

June 12 Ukulele Jam at the Royal Tavern

Greetings!

It's time for the June Ukulele jam, June 12, 7:30pm at the Royal Tavern! I've arranged a few songs:

• Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie
• Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins
• I Saw Her Standing There by the Beatles
• Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore by John Prine

Songs by The Beatles and John Prine are always popular at the jam. "Echo Beach" is a perfect song for summer. And "Ashes to Ashes" is a great song by David Bowie. But if there are other songs you want to do, please feel free to bring them along to the jam.

Since Summer is fast approaching, it's time to think about some additional Summer-time events. I've tentatively scheduled June 26, July 24, and August 28 for evening jams in City Park. If you have kids, bring them along and let them play in the splash pad.

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

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