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 Mother Ukers - Love Cats for Margaret Green Animal Rescue

It's nice when a much loved ukulele outfit go that extra mile for a very worthy cause, and that's what we have here with The Mother Ukers and their association with the Margaret Green Animal Rescue charity.

UK ukulele fans can't have failed to have missed the Mother Ukers rise on the circuit, with many of us seeing their cracking set at the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival in 2014 (and looking forward to another of the same this year - in a couple of weeks in fact!).

Anyway, for some time now, The Mother Ukers have been doing work in association with Margaret Green Animal Rescue, donating a percentage of their merch revenue, doing busking events for them and the like.  Every year Margaret Green Animal Rescue cares for over 1,200 animals, many of which have been abandoned, unwanted and ill-treated, and rehome them to loving owners. With centres in Devon and Dorset they always have a large variety of animals that are looking for new, loving homes.

So not just a cracking band, but a caring one too! And what an ace video eh?

Take a look below at their promotion for the charity and be sure to visit the links below the video too. Nice work guys!

(The Mother Ukers are.... Barnaby Wild, Jonty Jonson and Luap Rekcut and bill themselves as 'Pioneers of Ukular Fusion'!)



http://www.motherukers.com

http://www.margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk

© Barry Maz

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A Very Ooty Christmas

Yesterday was a lot of fun! Most of The N'Ukes grabbed their ukuleles and headed up to Chester at the invitation of Ooty And The Cloud - a great three piece band who we like. Ooty had organised a Christmas uke get together at The Compass Inn, to celebrate Christmas and to raise money for charity.

And boy, did people come - the place was packed! Ooty kicked things off with an hour long set of their own penned songs and a few covers, delivered in their unique style - ukes, bouzouki, melodica, whistles, percussion, cow bell (MORE COW BELL!!) and delightful harmonies. Oh, and a smattering of Christmas songs to get the crowd singing along. Loved it, as did the audience, made up of ukulele fans from Chester and beyond.

In attendance was Rachel Walker, the Lady Mayoress of Chester no less, who took to the stage after the Ooty set to explain a little more about the charity the day was in aid of. Adoption Matters Northwest is a voluntary charity agency with a history of finding loving families for children who, for a variety of reasons, cannot live with their birth families. A very worthy cause I am sure you will agree.

The N'Ukes then took to the stage (minus our drummer - which meant we played at turbo speed!) to play through a few of our rockier numbers. Was great fun and seeing the Lady Mayoress of Chester singing along to Highway To Hell was extremely cool.

Then on to the singalong section of the afternoon - ably led by Stephen from Ooty, they had song sheets and words up on the large TV in the room and the whole place singing along. The massed ranks singing Tom Jones' 'Delilah' were enough to drown out any instrument!

Sadly we had to then depart, but I know there was then much more playing and further performances on stage, a raffle and lots more fun to be had. I think the band were not sure what to expect from the day, but the numbers in attendance should tell them all they needed to know. Lot's of fun. Same time next year?

Ooty And The Cloud

Adoption Matters Northwest

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N'Ukefest 2013 - The Thank You Post!

Well the buzz surrounding our ukulele get together in Cheshire on 20-21 July is really building, proving this to be the place to be for ukulele players in North West UK (and beyond!) this summer!

Our events page is  at https://www.facebook.com/events/459833000751642/ where you can keep up to date with arrangements, but the point of this post is to say thank you. It's free to attend and located at the very pretty Shady Oak Pub in Tiverton, nr Chester.

Recently, friend of The N'Ukes Mary Agnes Krell agreed to help us host a raffle in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. And what a job she has done. The prizes are absolutely superb and the generosity of those donating has really taken us aback.

First up is a marvellous handmade Brazillian Mahongany ukulele by Rob Collins of Tinguitar.com . This is an incredible prize and the N'Ukes don't mind admitting being jealous of not being able to enter!!

Here is the uke in question!

Next up, something else which will generate a LOT of interest. Doc Kazoo of the Great Aswego Kazoo Factory has given us one of his premium UkeZoo kazoos as a prize, all the way from Florida USA. You may recall I reviewed one of his Kazoo's very highly on this site. I love that kazoo, and this one below looks even better!

You will see it comes with all accessories, a velvet carry bag and it's even ukulele shaped! You can read more about his instruments HERE 

And there's more. Courtesy of the good guys at http://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk, we are giving away an SUS branded concert ukulele - in fact one I reviewed on this blog a while ago. Here is the uke!

We also have goodie bags courtesy of Ohana Ukuleles, Living Water Strings from Ken Middleton handmade ukulele accessory by the very lovely Danielle at  Ivy Arch, and CD's and a bottle of something tasty from the good guys that are Chonkinfeckle. All that plus some N'Ukes shirts, stickers, badges etc.

Thank you SO SO much to all who are involved.

What's not to like! Raffle tickets will be sold through Saturday and Sunday and the draw takes place Sunday afternoon. Come along and help us make a good total for Macmillan!

See you there!

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Ukulele Christmas with The N'Ukes

Really pleased to announce that our group - The Nantwich N'Ukes have been asked to lead a night of Christmas sing songs and fun all in aid of the St Luke's Hospice Charity.

We are playing on 19 December from 7.00pm by kind invitation of the Leopard Pub, London Road, Nantwich CW5 6LJ, and the whole night is in aid of the very worthy St Luke's Hospice in Cheshire - an Adult Hospice offering support and care for those suffering with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. The pub also has a facebook page which is great for updates too.

The N'Ukes hope to be joined by ukulele players from other local groups - the more the merrier - and even if you just want a sing song, why not come along. The Pub are putting on festive treats in aid of the charity and we will also be running a raffle in which you can win a ukulele of your own - donated very kindly by the good people at Merben Music of Hightown, Crewe.

It promises to be a lot of fun and hope those within easy reach can pop along to say hello. We will be putting together a songbook that you can download to know what to expect very soon - details to follow.

The events page for up to date info on the night can be found HERE so keep an eye on it!


Thanks again to The Leopard for hosting this and inviting us!

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Ukes For Unicef

I think there is something about the ukulele that works brilliantly with a fundraiser - its such a happy instrument and it also intrigues people. I was therefore delighted to be contacted by the Berkhamsted Ukulele Random Players club (BURP!) in the UK to let me know about their charity bash.

On Saturday 3 March 2012, BURP are hosing the Ukes For Unicef event at the Berkhamsted Civic Centre. Ukes For Unicef is a uke festival in aid of this very very worthwhile charity and will feature performances, workshops, open-mic sessions and jamming.  Entry is by donation to Unicef, and they are proud to have some headline performers including the brilliant Ken Middleton, Krabbers Keef and Hamish Currie.  After the acts there will be an evening "thrash" at the Three Horseshoes pub where the BURP gang hold their club sessions every third Thursday in each month.

Alongside the music there will also be stalls to buy uke merchandise and a raffle.

It runs from 11.30 to 17.30, and you can find more details on the official page HERE.  If you can't make it but want to show your support, they have a Just Giving page too!

Best of luck guys - hope it goes well!

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