Uke Ireland & Ukuhooley Blog

This short film introduces Paul Moore and the wonderful project he started in Israel to bring Arab and Jewish children together.
The project is called UKULELES FOR PEACE and its a really inspirational little film showing how one man has managed to inspire these children through his passion for the ukulele and with the simple idea that children who play music together may one day grow up to be the peacemakers in Israel.

(There is another film on the Forum of Paul Moore at Vincenza Ukulele Festival last year where he tells the story of the incident in Israel that inspired him to start Ukuleles For Peace. Paul is also a very good entertainer and storyteller (not to mention dynamite uke player!)

Its always a pleasure to see a new ukulele band but this one is a particular joy as its comprised of friends from UkuHooley!

This is the first “official” public appearance of UKERISTIC CONGRESS at Annesley House in Dublin last Friday. They did a fantastic set of about twenty minutes and went down a bomb with the audience (as you can hear).

UKERISTIC CONGRESS are Shay Bagnall, Barry Whiteside,the “lovely” Nora Artola, James Quah, Andrew Robinson (on the “big” uke), Sonny Park, Michael Kenny and finally the “lovely” Helena Legaza.

UKERISTIC CONGRESS will be appearing on a Benefit For Haiti concert (headlined by Donal Lunney) at McSorley’s in Ranelagh on Monday night next 22nd of February

Was sent this link to a really nice original ukulele song, written, sung and played by Carol Anne McGowan from Donegal by “Catriona” (a new subcriber to ukuhooley-thanks Catriona). So in furthering our policy of promoting new Irish uke talent here it is- Enjoy!

PS: Unless I am mistaken, Garret Baker, an excellent uke player who has played at a number of the Shebeen Chic Mondays (and posts on the forum) did a double show with Carol Ann just before Christmas. I was sorry to miss it!

Vagabondage are a great sounding folk band (with ukulele) from the Bay Area of San Francisco (think the pogues meet beiruit)

Great name for a band like this…Vagabondage

(Nice to see Al “Ukehunt” Woodshed is back on the ether after his long break!)

Tommy “Formby” Sheridan in action!

At last Saturday’s Ukuhooley, Tommy Sheridan stepped in at the last moment and gave one of the most entertaining lessons and great days we’ve had since we started our uke get togethers (and thats saying a lot!)

Now we all knew Tommy was not going to miss the chance of bringing “Georgy Boy” into the equation, but he surpassed himself and even the least fervent Formby admirers had a fantastic day.

Shay Bagnall gave another of his totally infectious “Rock & Roll” medley lessons and the whole evening rounded off with a fun session in the local “The Eagles”.

Ukuleles are seriously the answer to the January “Blues”!

For a number of years all the world ukulele manufacturers get together in Anaheim, in Southern California to show off their latest ukuleles to the world at the annual NAMM Music Industry Exhibition.

Its like an enormous toy store for ukulele lovers and Mike Aratani (Musicguymic) the largest uke seller in the world, is both the most enthusiastic visitor and exhibitor.

Every year Mike does a number of YouTube reports on new ukes and they are always a treat (I love them anyway!) so I am going to post them here and on the forum as he makes them available.

I just love the look of this one – it’s a COLLINGS ARCH TOP TENOR made by COLLINGS GUITARS (they make high end professional instruments) and it looks and sounds like a stunner!

Here its introduced by the genial Mike and Bill Collings himself.

The Uke Ireland Christmas Party in Doheny & Nesbitts on Saturday night was a great bit of fun and nonsense! Thanks to everyone who made it happen by coming along and joining in (especially Shay Bagnall who was responsible for putting this “epic” together. We are definitely going to make it an annual event.
Happy Christmas One and All!

Original song by Peter Fritz Hermann, shared by ukulele players round the world in their own way.

“Who Can Draw A Line?”

(G)” Who can draw a line between right and wrong?
(A) Who can draw a line between right and wrong?
(B7) Who can draw a (Em) line between (B7) right and (C) wrong?
Can you (G) do it? Go and (C) do it if you (G) can. (D7)

Who can draw a line between young and old?
… north and south …
… east and west …
… weak and strong …
… false and true …
… near and far …
… good and bad …”

Go on…..You can do it!

This kid is cute, but he puts my ukulele skills to shame, and he is only two years old! :

You gotta love this ukulele lesson of “Tonight You Belong To Me”
from the delightful Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys for the visuals alone!