Got A Ukulele Gets Around

I was delighted to see this picture appear on Facebook the other day for a whole heap of reasons, and not just because there is a Got A Ukulele T Shirt in the picture!

Credit - Liam Capper-Starr

First of all - that fine fellow in the photograph is Paul Redfern - ukulele player and performer in one of my favourite outifts that I have featured on this site many times - The pUKEs!

Second of all, the photograph was part of a series of wonderful shots taken by another ukulele player, the supremely talented Liam Capper-Starr - performer in his own right and organiser of the much lauded Uke-East Festival. Incidentally - Liam has a new full album out now which you can find on that first link!

The third reason is a sadder one - it was taken at GNUF and I wasn't able to go. Still - nice when things from friends come together like this!

Thanks both!

http://gotaukulele.spreadshirt.co.uk

http://gotaukulele.spreadshirt.com



© Barry Maz

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The pUKEs - Exmas - Charity Christmas Single!

Always puts a smile on my face when there is a new pUKEs release and what better than a ukulele band with a Charity Chrismas Single?

The pUKEs - credit Mark Richards

Another self penned track from the band with a superbly produced video (see below). What  I love about the pUKES is that whilst they are ukulele driven band, when you listen to them they sound like a 'band', and a good one at that. They use the ukuleles as what they are meant for - to make music. The music THEY like, with not a Hawaiian twee derivative thing in sight!

Great tune, great driving rhythm, great vocals.

The single is available for pre-order on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/exmas-single/id1055100584 and the money raised is going to the Rock N Roll Rescue charity in Camden.  Rock N Roll Rescue is a volunteer run music shop that directs it's money to a range of local charities including local food banks, homeless, kids and the like. It was set up by Knox of punk band The Vibrators and has been supported by the pUKEs for some time.

Have a pre listen and watch the video - not least as you get to see old mate and pUKE Paul Redfern dressed up as an old lady..



The single gets a launch party too - 6th December at the Dublin Castle pub in Camden.

And in other pUKEs news - they have a mini tour this December supporting none other than Bad Manners!

12 December NORWICH Epic (with Bad Manners)
13 December LONDON Under The Bridge (with Bad Manners)
18 December LONDON Under The Bridge (with Bad Manners)
 20 December BRIGHTON Concorde 2 (with Bad Manners)

Be sure to grab the single - its a cracker and all for a great cause.

http://thepukes.co.uk


© Barry Maz

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The pUKEs - Turn It Off

Always a good day at Got A Ukulele towers when a new pUKEs video comes my way.  Here's another!

It's another track from their Too Drunk To Pluck album, written by The pUKEs own Cil Wong - and in typical pUKEs fashion - a lot of fun.  And while I am here - doesn't Paul Redfern scrub up well?
;-)

Video by Stuart Sterling.



( DIRECT LINK )

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The pUKEs - Too Drunk To Pluck - CD Review

Regular readers of this blog will know I have a lot of time for ukulele punk outfit The pUKEs, so was thrilled to get my hands on their new full album 'Too Drunk To Pluck'.

The pUKEs are a pretty massive gaggle / collective of punk fans who also have their soft spots for the ukulele. Founded by Clara Wiseman (who herself had a previous music career with acts like the UK Subs) there is real punk heritage across the board too and the album itself was recorded and produced by Patrick Collier of the Vibrators.

They are an outfit I've kept an eye on for several years now and have watched them get increasingly impressive gig bookings (including touring with Bad Manners), get Arts Council funding for their excellent ukulele punk workshops across the UK, and also writing their own stuff, complete with always brilliant videos.  Can they translate that success into a full album?

The first thing that pleased me was to see that this was not just a covers album. Its actually a pretty even mix of covers and pUKEs originals. Performed with lead vocals from Clara and Debs, each track comes with great gang vocals from the rest of the band in true collective style that works really well.

It kicks off how it means to go on with a cover of the Ramones 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker' at full tilt before moving straight into the pUKEs original 'Fight Song', which I recently shared the video for on this blog. In fact the video for that shows you exactly what the pUKEs are about!



We race through Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys, through to Banned From The Pubs by Peter and The Test Tube Babies before we come back to one of the first professional videos I saw by the pUKEs - another original written by Clara Wiseman 'Will I Learn'. I still adore this song.



Dismedley by Discharge gives over to another original written by Cil Wong called '453' which is another high point on the album for me.

By this point you should have the real feel of the album and that is one of classic punk, with a ukulele flavour (well, naturally eh?). But this is anything but a 'ukulele album'. Sure the ukes are there, clearly, but the album is very well put together and full force in sound with great driving drums and bass throughout. Hey - its punk - what do you expect? George Formby?? (no, please don't tell me you were expecting Formby....)

12XU by Wire is covered, then another Wong original called Turn It Off, before we come to another song that the pUKEs put out on video to a great response - Because You're Young by East London punk outfit Cock Sparrer.



And after all that.. we calm down a touch for the close and a great cover of Baby Baby by the Vibrators.  I thought this one was really nicely delivered and makes for a calm closer and shows they are not a one trick pony. Minimal punk strumming here,  but more picking and great harmonies on the voices.  Throughout the album, they sound like they are having an absolute ball, as the videos show. There is clever songwriting on display here (yes, in a punk band...) with a nice balance of humour and angst, but a band who have clearly put the work in to get their sound tight and biting is also clearly evident.

And with that, the exquisite punk styled CD packaging and a typical punk running time of just under 30 minutes it ticks all the boxes for current or lapsed (like me) punk fans out there. But I take my hat of to them all for another important reason. At the present time, the ukulele world is becoming quite polarised between the 'traditional', the 'You Can't Do That' brigade' (aka 'The Ukulele Police') and those who are trying to push out in different directions. The pUKEs sit firmly in the latter camp. And if the album sends a big middle finger to those that think the ukulele can only be for one style and one style only - well.... if that isn't punk I don't know what is. Good on them I say.

Recommended.

( Too Drunk To Pluck is released on 4 August and can be obtained from pUKEs central at http://thepukes.co.uk/drunk-pluck/ on both CD and limited green vinyl. It will also release on iTunes on the same day)


TRACK LISTING

1. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
2. Fight Song
3. Holiday In Cambodia
4. The Ballad Of Mickey Fitz
5. Banned From The Pubs
6. Will I Learn
7. Dismedley
8. 453
9. 12XU
10. Turn It Off
11. Because You're Young
12. Baby Baby

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The pUKEs - Fight Song

Regular readers of Got A Ukulele will know I love this lot. Here is their latest video and track from their new album - Fight Song.

Ukulele traditionalists look away now!



Check out the pUKEs here - http://thepukes.co.uk

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pUKEs at anti racism benefit gig

I am always pleased to share some promotion for friends in UK punk uke band The pUKEs, and especially so when they are giving their services to a very good cause. Clara from the pUKEs got in touch to share this.

The Pukes are proud to announce that we are taking part in an anti-racism event which includes uke workshops and a punk gig in London on 2nd November.

The day starts at T Chances, Tottenham with a family-friendly Halloween party in the afternoon. Entertainment includes Cake For Breakfast kids’ band, face painting, disco, fancy dress – and ukulele workshops by The Pukes. Entry is £3. 

Later in the evening there’s a gig with London punk bands Left For Dead, The Pukes, Dread Messiah and Bottlejob. Entry is £6. The Pukes are on stage 10.15pm. 

All proceeds from the day go to Green and Black Cross who who give practical and legal support for protesters. The grassroots project has supported thousands of people from many backgrounds in their rebellions and protests, including the 286 anti-racist protesters who were arrested while trying to prevent the English Defence League march through Tower Hamlets last month. With the police cracking down on protests on a massive scale they are busy and need dosh! Come down and show your solidarity! 

T Chances Saturday 2 November 2013 
399 High Road, Tottenham N17 6QN

Halloween party 3.30pm-6pm 
Beginners Uke Workshop 4pm 
Intermediate Uke Workshop 5.30pm 
Door: £3 

To guarantee a place on the uke workshops please paypal £3 to thepukes77@gmail.com
 
Gig 7.30pm-midnight
LEFT FOR DEAD, DREAD MESSIAH, THE PUKES, BOTTLEJOB 
Door: £6

For more info visit http://thepukes.co.uk/ukes-racism/

Good luck and have fun guys and raise loads of cash!

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Ukulele Festival Of Great Britain 2013, Diary - Day1

Ohhhh my head.... Well, that is day one over at the ukulele festival of Great Britain, and it was late and merry night!

We arrived in Cheltenham mid afternoon to avoid a rush - very nice central hotel, then out for some afternoon drinks with some of The N'Ukes before heading off to the Exmouth Arms for the official festival opener / jam / get together.

The organisers did a grand job, with a large marquee area for fear of rain (thankfully, that rain did not come) which by 7pm was soon filling up and later was absolutely heaving. Such a number of uke fans, clubs, solo players and several well known names too. It was jam central - with groups playing their thing, but also joining in with others when a song started. I particularly liked the blues jam we started in the sunshine which saw loads of players stand up and join in as we worked through a medley of Eric Bibb, Jerry Lee-Lewis, Carl Perkins and Fleetwood Mac.

Had a very nice chat with festival performer Sarah Maisel who had only just arrived in the UK from the USA, tired, jet lagged, but utterly charming and ready to get into the spirit of the festival. She had with her one stunning ukukele made for her by Mike Da Silva.

Simon Grove (Bridgnorth and Halesowen), Sarah Maisel and N'Ukes Steve

And always good to meet other new faces who I've only thus far spoken to online together with the great James Hill with whom we had a very nice chat. Always good to see friend of Got A Ukulele and The N'Ukes Ken Middleton too.

Paul Mac and Clarice Wokes of Bradford Ukes with banjolele maestro Andy Eastwood

James Hill and friend of The N'Ukes, Ken Middleton

So we had sunshine and we had beer, and on this the longest day, the darkness fell, the alcohol levels increased and the jamming continued into the early hours.

I got to finally meet uke performers who I have written about on this blog many times such as Paul Redfern of The pUKEs and Phil Doleman and Ian Emmerson

pUKEs Paul Redfern and N'Ukes Amanda

Ian Emmerson with an 8 string

Phil Doleman (with his delightful Beltona Reso) and Sarah Maisel

Also had a great chat with the lovely Mary Agnes Krell about the upcoming Grand Northern Ukulele Festival, together with chewing the fat with Tim Smithies (Anything Goes Uke Orchestra and Dead Man's Uke) and his delightfully dapper son Jake (Bass and vocals in the same bands).

Tim Smithies (Anything Goes Uke Orchestra / Dead Mans Uke), Mary Agnes Krell and a  drunken fool.

And there was no stopping the playing as the night wore on (although in our case the playing certainly got rougher and rougher round the edges!)

Strumming into the night

But most of all it was an evening of big smiles - everywhere you looked were people laughing, grinning and just genuinely having a good time of it.

Sarah Maisel and James Hill

My sore head tells me everything I need to know, but just relaxing now for the morning before the festival proper kicks of at lunchtime. Couldn't photograph everyone, and I have probably forgotten to mention some. Thanks so much to Richard Gent and Jamie Wright for the kind words about the blog! Great also to meet the likes of Lesley Fowkes, John Caudrey etc for the first time and to catch up with Simon Grove, Paul Mac and Clarice Wokes again.

Off to the town hall soon to see the acts perform, and I'll be back on again tomorrow with an update on Day 2 of the fest.

Pass me the aspirin....

(CHECK OUT THE OTHER DIARY POSTINGS FOR THIS FESTIVAL HERE! )

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The pUKEs Fanzine - REVIEW

This was a pretty cool thing to drop through my letterbox recently - them wonderful pUKEs have followed with punk tradition and launched their own fanzine!

Written and designed by the band members, this 24 page mini mag comes in full retro punk style of the likes of Sniffin' Glue and Sideburns (it even opens with the words 'Here's 3 Chords, now form a band!). It's billed as 'The Official Zine of the Ukulele Anti-Society For Punks'

Inside we have features from band members, other uke and punk players, a chord chart and (brilliantly) the chords and lyrics to The pUKEs Will I Learn and Because You're Young. Elsewhere, pUKE Danielle Greenwood interviews Gus and Fin, and they have re-printed some of their brilliantly written (and darkly funny) mini ukulele reviews.

It's brilliantly put together, and knowing how this band are going places, I'd suggest you grab one - might become a collectors item!

You can grab your copy via the pUKEs Merch page. Recommended!

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The pUKEs - Because You're Young

Always good when a new pUKEs song gets an airing - great video too.

The pUKEs - Because You're Young




( DIRECT LINK )

These guys are getting really big now, and this is a track from their forthcoming EP - you can pre-order that HERE.

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