N'Ukes Charity Gig for Macmillan - Gig Report

I am a little slow reporting this one, but was waiting to take a pick of the videos that were taken before reporting.

Our uke group - The Nantwich N'Ukes recently played a charity gig in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support at the Bentley Motors - Legends Club.

I will be honest, we didn't know quite what to expect - there didn't seem to be a lot of promotion for the event, so you can imagine our individual faces as we arrived to a packed room with well over 100 committee members and guests all seated and waiting for the entertainment. An observation on that, and please, I don't say this wishing to be flamed, but the guest list was, shall we say, rather more senior than we had expected. Perhaps that is unfair, it was actually quite mixed, but on the more senior side! A few looks of concern outside from the N'ukes before we took to the floor, but not enough to put us off having a group photo pre show.

Nantwich N'Ukes (photo credit Maile Belanger)

So a couple of swift sharpeners each and we got going. We had been booked to do a 45 minute slot for a very generous fee (which we of course donated straight into the Macmillan fundraising pot) and hit our set list. And you know what, though I say so myself, we seemed to be on reasonable form. The applause after each track was certainly welcomed and throughout there was a good amount of toe-tapping and some singalong.

Sample video here (sorry about the sound quality - noisy room, and we were not allowed to plug in..)



Anyway, what was supposed to be a 45 minute set saw us getting through only half of it in the first 45 minutes on account of some having fun and instrumental noodling (most ably supplied by N'Uke Corinne on electric uke and Pete on saxophone). Time for a break and some hog roast!

During the break we were approached by an audience member who had attended with her young disabled son with a request for us to play something for him - do we know 'The Wheels On The Bus'?.... Quick team meeting outside and all eyes on N'Uke Amanda, the member with the youngest child / best grasp on the words, so we agreed.

Out for part two of the set, led by Wheels On The Bus!

Conscious of time, we had to cut the second part in half, but still ended up doing more than twice what we expected play, and throughly enjoyed it. Thanks so much to the committee for the invite and the kind thanks following the show. Would love to do it again.

One or two more videos below!







SET LIST

Bad Moon Rising
Folsom Prison Blues
Honky Tonk Women
Orange Blossom Special
LA Woman
Mustang Sally
Valerie
Wheels On The Bus
Your Cheatin' Heart
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Minnie The Moocher
Hey Good Lookin'
King Of The Road
I Wanna Be Like You
Stripes
Teenage Kicks