First ever Norwich Ukulele Festival! 18 September

Had an email this morning from one of the co-founders of the Norwich Ukulele Society, who advise me of their forthcoming, and first ever, Norwich Ukulele Festival

Looks like it will be a great do, and I am pleased to help promote it here.

getonthesoapbox is proud to present the first ever…

NORWICH UKULELE FESTIVAL
(in association with the Norwich Sound & Vision convention)
Saturday 18th SeptemberThe Ten Bells
1pm – 1am

FREE ENTRY

1pm – 8pm = ALL AGES
8pm – 1am = 18+

It’s hard to miss that these lovely four stringed instruments are currently having their biggest resurgence since the 1920’s. They have been described as the ultimate punk instrument, cheap to buy and easy to get something out of. They work well for introducing children to the joy of music and similarly for those of us whose small hands tried the guitar, but couldn’t quite reach those interesting chords (like me).

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain have been putting a unique spin on contemporary tunes, inspiring ukulele-ists to take on more inventive material, covering everything from Punk to Hip Hop. The creation of the Norwich Ukulele Society in February 2010 seems to have come at just the right time, with our fortnightly meetings attracting up to 40 people. The society is led by local ukulele teacher Gemma Cullingford who has now built up rather an impressive repertoire and skill level amongst our members.

So is born this mini-festival, a celebration of all that is fun, accessible and entertaining about grabbing these unassuming instruments and taking to the streets. The local area is rich in musical talent across the board but rather often, tucked away amongst these musicians’ tools, is a ukulele or two.

We are chuffed to pieces to be hosting a rare solo set from Noel Dashwood (of Dumbfoundus). Aside from getting to the final of a nationwide music competition with his band and having just played the O2, he recently shot to stardom when a video of him busking on the streets of Norwich ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ was featured on a Polish TV show, sending his youtube views through the roof!

NORWICH UKULELE FESTIVAL looks like this…

Performances from:
The Two Ukes / Norwich Ukulele Society / Daniel Buckland / Noel Dashwood / Jim The Legend / The Accidental Harmonies / Norfolk Ukulele Society / You!

Open Mic sessions:Throughout the day and night. Solo or groups with ukes only please, in the spirit of the festival. Email in advance to express your interest or just turn up on the day: getonthesoapbox@hotmail.co.uk

Lessons from: Gemma Cullingford. Two sessions at 3pm and 5pm, £5 per person. Book in advance to avoid disappointment: gemma@ukulele-lessons.co.uk

Prizes for:
Best dressed – think Hawaiian chic, flowers in your hair and grass skirts.

Games:
The Big Uke Quiz at 7pm, with ‘guess the tune’ section played live on the ukulele.

Art:
We will be making it look pretty but we want your help! There will be massive rolls of paper around with tons of pens and pencils, help us transform The Ten Bells into a ukulele-ist heaven.

Wanna get involved?
If you have an idea or skill that you would like to bring to this event please email me and lets get it on!

Special guests, performances, discounts and demos to be announced so tell your mates and watch this space as we bring the first EVER Norwich Ukuele festival to your doorstep.

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Nice story - ukes in Norwich!

Ukulele is taking off in Norwich
SARAH BREALEY
Last updated: 21/04/2010 10:28:00

Clara Gauntlett and family, daughters Evie Wiseman 11, Betsy Gauntlett 3 and stepdad Malcolm Cockell, who play the ukelele
It was made famous by George Formby and George Harrison, but the ukulele is having something of a boom in Norwich.

More people are taking up the instrument, and a Norwich Ukulele Society has been set up to allow its fans to get together.

Community Music East (CME), on Music House Lane, is running courses for beginners and improvers starting this week, after receiving many calls from people keen to learn the instrument.

Singer and entertainer George Formby made the ukulele famous in the 1930s and 1940s, though his instrument was actually a banjo ukulele, or banjulele.

Clara Gauntlett, marketing co-ordinator at CME, has been learning the instrument for six months, and her children Evie, 11, and Betsy, who is just three, are trying it out too. The instrument seems to run in the family, as her stepfather Malcolm Cockell is a keen player.

She said: “I played bass guitar, so it was nice to stick to four strings. I have always wanted to play guitar, but it seemed a bit difficult.

“I like that the ukulele is easy to play. You can pick it up really fast, it is like instant gratification. I like playing punk songs on it, and it is fun translating songs which you wouldn't expect on the ukulele.”

She added: “Because it is a small instrument it is good for children to play. Betsy is the most keen. She has learned C and A minor already and when people come round I show them what she can do.”

Gemma Cullingford, 30, a music teacher from the Golden Triangle, set up the Norwich Ukulele Society in February, and it has around 40 members. The meetings are held fortnightly at the Ten Bells on St Benedict's, and the society will be holding its first concert there on Friday May 7 as part of the Norwich Fringe Festival.

She said: “Definitely in the last year it has just gone crazy. Virtually everyone you meet has a ukulele now.”

Mark Howe, service delivery manager at CME, has been playing ukulele for the past 20 years. He said the increase in popularity was partly fulled by the internet, with video sharing sites such as Youtube allowing people to post videos and tips. “Technology has made all sorts of things more popular because people can share them. The ukulele is a beneficiary of that. You get videos which go into quite a lot of detail about different techniques.”

Tristan Burfield, from the Music Room shop on St Benedict's, said: “The uke has become progressively more popular, possibly because of the success of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, which has played some high profile dates, including Norwich.

“There is more choice of instruments available and the quality has improved since the boom in popularity.”

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain also played at last year's King's Lynn Festival, and is returning to King's Lynn Corn Exchange as part of this year's festival on July 28.

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