This fab resource for school uke groups now includes a take home BOOK \ C.D. for $20 per unit. Real progress is achieved by having home access to ukes and resources. The book starts with easy two chord songs and increases in challenge as you work through a set list of 22 uniquely kiwi tracks. They have been tested and performed at the N.Z. ukulele festivals and workshops throughout N.Z. The songs include :
KIWI UKULELE , THAT’S AOTEAROA , UKULELE WORLD , DANCING IN THE STARLIGHT , ROCK THAT UKE , YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT , UKULELE HEAVEN , WORKING FOR A SONG, MY LITTLE HULA GIRL , MR UKULELE, PASIFIKA and BORN IN THE WORDS OF LOVE.
You may even wish to join the groups filming a track for next years D.V.D.
Cheers Kevin Fogarty
fogartymusic@gmail.com
Ukulele World – Special schools offer 2011
New Zealand Ukulele Festival 2011
The provisional date for the 2011 New Zealand Ukulele Festival is 26 November 2011. It is scheduled to be at the Trust Stadium in Henderson West Auckland again.
If the organisers do as great a job as they have in previous years, it wil again be a great event for families, kids of all ages and especially those school kids who participate in the massed “Kiwileles”
More info will be posted here as it comes to hand.
For info and reviews of the 2010 festival see http://www.culturevulture.co.nz/blog/ukulele/ukesinschools/nz-ukulele-festival-auckland-2010-review/
and
Crown Julz and the 24 Carats review
Tonight I watched them (for a while). What an indulgent junk sound – maybe someone likes their music (if it can be called that) but I am not sure who! Not me for sure! Talented musicians I think, but what a waste of their talent! Billed as “electrickle blu tropico funkstep band” – guess a description like that can cover a whole lot of evils!
Kevin Fogarty Ukulele World Book CD DVD
Kevin Fogarty, otherwise often known as Mr Ukulele because of his great involvement in promoting all things Uke in NZ, has released a book with CD and DVD.
Ukulele World, the exiting new resource, has 22 original songs for ukulele groups and schools. It includes chords and lyrics with helpful tips. A free D.V.D. of the songs is to be recorded – would you like to be part of this exciting project ? Contact Kevin Fogarty now.
Whirimako Black & Nigel Gavin Coromandel Concert Review
Whirimako Black & Nigel Gavin’s concert at Coromandel town on 25 Nov 2010 was a real treat. Both exceptionally talented musicians, they captivated the audience throughout with everything from jazz standards to originals in both English and Maori. Whirimako’s originals, some written by family members, were so heartfelt that they were still strongly meaningful to those of us who do not understand the Maori language.
Nigel’s sensational guitar skills complemented Whirimako’s great vocals wonderfully. The small Church venue and Whirimako’s wonderful ability to engage and connect with an audience made for a great intimate performance.
To quote Motueka Online’s recent review of the same concert held there:
“Such was the high quality of Whirimako’s rich, honeyed voice and emotional presentation and of Nigel’s at times almost unbelievable guitar playing, that it would be presumptuous of any minor-talented music reviewer to criticise anything.
Whirimako has a wonderfully true voice that holds its richness and apparent ease of production and transition over a large vocal range. Many songs were jazz/blues classics, such as “Autumn Leaves”, but a substantial minority of her repertoire was sung either fully or partly in te reo. Even those who do not understand spoken (in this case sung) Maori had little problem in understanding the emotions they expressed – specially as Whirimako’s introductions spoke intimately of the background of several – and would have left the evening with a better appreciation of the beauty of te reo and how well it can fit with English tongue.
Nigel’s guitar work flowed with a consummate ease which belied the complexity of what he can achieve with just 10 fingers, six strings, a few bits of wood, and an electronic system which allowed him to record live his own background chord patterns over which he could play instrumental breaks. “
We agree entirely, except that in Coromandel, Nigel was actually playing a seven string guitar – with an extra bass string added for more depth and versatility – further showcasing his extraordinary skills!
Well done to the Coromandel Music society for organising this great night.
NZ Ukulele Festival Auckland 2010 review
Another great day organised by the NZ Ukulele Trust with a primary aim of encouraging Ukulele playing amongst school children. Over 200 children from about 100 schools came and played. Schools from Auckland, Northland and the Waikato attended as well as some from as far away as Dunedin and Palmerston North.
Held in perfect weather at Waitakere Stadium in Henderson, Auckland on 27th November 2010, a great day was had by the thousands who attended. All for free too!
The Kiwileles massed schools playalong and also a “Kiwi Ukealong” where everyone could play together created a great atmosphere and stimulation for many.
Songwriting contests and a Ukequest to find the best Youth ukulele act added interest. Main stage performers like Azo Bell & Ukelele Bart from USA filled out the day of performances, workshops, open mic sessions and fun.
Well done to the organisers.
Final words from some who attended:
It was cool for my granddaughter who played in it
Absolutely brilliant. They get better every year.
absolutely loved it – totally magical – the sun was shining and it took me away from the TV for a few hours – it gave me hope
A really fun day for all ages!
I thought the Uke Fest was fantastic, i came down from Mangawhai on my own and stayed for hours, you did a gr8 job! Thank you.
It was a beautiful day and my daughter and school friends enjoyed the Uke Fest alot. Thank you.
Great Britain Ukulele Orchestra Concert Review
You need a good sense of humour to play an instrument as big as your kneecap. And the eight-piece “bonsai guitar” orchestra made sure that between their rock-funk-folk-classical yodelling and foot stomping singalongs, they had their audience in hysterics.
Part of the comedy was the hilarious use of opposites. As if Saturday night and ukulele orchestra are not a funny-enough pairing, how about a six-foot baritone scrunched around a tenor ukulele or leader George Hinchliffe’s plucking a delicate melody from an instrument so tiny it was barely visible behind his “sausage fingers”?
Not only does the humble ukulele find safety in numbers in this orchestra but it shows off its diverse sonic palette.
Sitting in a row between Dave Suich on tiny soprano ukulele and Jonty Bankes on the bass ukulele the musicians plucked and strummed detailed melodies and managed to fill the Town Hall with everything from Beethoven to charming versions of classic British rock songs.
There was everything from a strangely beautiful version of Teenage Dirtbag sung by Hester Goodman to the ukulele-as-a-bongo version of Chic’s disco classic Le Freak to a breathtaking version of a Camille Saint Saens composition.
At points, their choice of covers were reminiscent of the film Young At Heart, with Smells Like a Teen Spirit and Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Despite the dapper suits and bowties, they also recreated a campfire singalong atmosphere, encouraging the audience to sing along to Anarchy in the UK.
It was the kind of show that gave you itchy fingers, and a few members of the audience whipped out their own ukuleles and plucked along to Ode to Joy.
Wrapping up with a clever remix of everything from Elvis to The Beatles to Robbie Williams and giving a Kiwi salute with Now Is The Hour, they packed up their instruments to head down country.
Concert date 20 November 2010, Auckland Town Hall
Review by Jacqueline Smith NZ Herald
NZ Ukulele Festival Strum Raiser review
The Ukefest Strum Raiser was a great night with an amazing variety of music.
Everything from originals of Kevin Fogarty, The Nukes and the Flying Bisons to classic Uke numbers like 5 foot 2 by Jennifer Ward Leyland, to covers of Eurythmics (Sweet Dreams performed by Marmaduke), Talking Heads and country rock.
From solo artists like Silke Hartung to the The Teachukes with about 30 members (and great arrangements). Flying Bison, the winners of last years Ukefest songwriting contest especially impressed, as did Marmaduke and of course the Nukes for their talented perfomances and arrangements.
Well organised and a great sign that the upcoming NZ Ukulele Festival at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on 27th November 2010 will also be a great event.
Katikati Ukulele Festival 2011
The Katikati Ukulele Group was formed in January 2010. It has been meeting once a week in private homes with 3 to 14 players each Thursday. Our aims are to play music, sing together and have fun.
There is a huge amount of interest in the ukulele in the Bay of Plenty and NZ wide. The Play it Strange, Taurus trusts and Auckland ukulele festival organisers are working hard to put ukuleles in all NZ intermediate schools. See www.nzukulelefestival.org.nz
We are planning the BOP’s first ukulele festival for April 2, 2011 in KK War Memorial Hall and we are looking for support from the community to make this a free event for all the family, with just a gold coin donation for the afternoon and maybe a small charge for the concert, depending on fund raising success.
Saturday afternoon will feature the Big Muffin Serious Band from Te Pahu, one of NZ’s top ukulele bands. They will be giving workshops for all ages and performing in an early evening concert. We also plan to have a play and sing along to start the afternoon, with an open mike session, giving everyone a chance to get up and give it a go.
A local preschool group will take charge of the catering as a fund raiser and the Waihi music shop has been invited to set up a sales table. We want to involve as many local groups and businesses in the festival as possible, with Katch Katikati’s support.
A children’s art competition to decorate ukuleles and other family oriented activities are planned. These depend on local support and willing volunteers. We want to make it a weekend long festival, to encourage people to come to town and stay overnight. There will be a music jam at the RSA on the Friday night and we plan to arrange a tour and morning tea at a local historic home with some ukulele entertainment on the Sunday morning.
Many people who have never played music before, but have always wanted to, find they are able to pick up a ukulele and be playing songs in a very short time. Cost and age are no barrier. Local pre-schools are introducing ukeleles and one of my beginners is in his eighties.
I learned to play ukulele in 2007 with a group of friends in Coromandel, who are now professional performers, Ukumania.
Ukes a Plenty have performed at several charity concerts over the past year. At the Lions Club Barrow day for the Waikato cancer house appeal, for the Anglican Women’s Fellowship, at the Business and Professional Women’s fund raising dinner, at a Savage Club concert, also at charity concerts at KK folk club raising funds for Aongatete Forest Trust and St John.
We are appealing for financial support and also items for lucky number prizes and raffles. We are collecting any old abandoned, pre-loved ukes for art works, or to be refurbished to give away.
We also welcome man or woman power to help, closer to the time and/or on the day.
Please contact Christine Donehue phone, 0274 809 261, (07) 5495827 or camellia@pcconnect.co.nz if you would like to help, or for more information.
New Zealand Ukulele Festival – Band line up
Here is a list of the main stage acts scheduled for the 2010 New Zealand Ukulele Festival at Waitakere Stadium, Henderson, Auckland on 27th November.
- Ukulele Bartt
- Azo Bell
- Trio of Tangaroa
- Tribute to the late Sione Aleki
- 2POUZ FYNIST
- The Nukes
- The Kiwileles
- The Teachukes
- Junior Comp Winners
- APRA Uke-Can-Do-It winners
- The Winner of UKEQUEST 2010
Plus an open mic session, Uke Quest, UkeArt contest, songwriting contest and much more.
See http://www.nzukulelefestival.org.nz/nzukulelefestival/NZ_Ukulele_Festival.html for more info.