Category: Uncategorized (Page 2 of 4)

As you know, the past few years have been challenging for many music circles as they rebuild, including the Queen City Ukes. Our group has been bumping around a little, in need of a new home since the fine folks at Sawchyn Guitars, our former home sweet home, retired.

We would like to extend a big thank you to the Uplands Community Association in Regina for offering us a space where we can meet to play and sing monthly! Please see our About Page for location details, our songbook and a few things to know.

Everyone of all ages and musical abilities is welcome to join us. It’s a safe and inclusive place whether you’re a complete beginner, someone comfortable with 5 chords, or an expert player.

We meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month, 2 – 4 pm.

We still aren’t able to meet in person, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get together virtually. Our friends at the Bytown Ukulele Group in Ottawa are hosting a Canada-wide Canada Day party on Zoom and we’re invited!

Ukulele club leaders from every province are each going to lead a song and I’ve been asked to represent Saskatchewan and the Queen City Ukes!

The event will take place on Zoom and there should be some free spots for members of other clubs. All the details and the list of songs are on their Facebook page and website.

Thank you, Sue and Mark, for pulling this all together!

Due to COVID-19 and the need to minimize contact with others, the circle scheduled for April 7 at Sawchyn Guitars is cancelled.

I’ll miss meeting up with all of you, but your health has to be our top priority.

Stay safe and stay healthy!

Kendra and I have created a short survey to find out how many people know about our circle and what we can do to improve it.

If you have a few minutes, I’d appreciate it if you could fill it out.

All results are anonymous.

• 2020 Queen City Ukes Survey

Here’s the second round of gibberish songs; great for those of us who struggle to remember the words.

• Do Wah Diddy Diddy — Manfred Mann (1964)
• Skinnamarink — Feist & Piantadosi (1910), Sharon, Lois & Bram (1978)
• Mah Nà Mah Nà (Mahna Mahna) — Piero Umiliani (1968), The Muppet Show (1969), Cake (2002)
• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious — Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke (1964)

Nathan sent in a bonus song!

• Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) — Barry Mann (1961)

And I found a few more from our song book.

• * Big Yellow Taxi — Joni Mitchell (1970)
• The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em) — The Greg Kihn Band (1981)
• * Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison (1967)
• Dance Me To The End Of Love — Leonard Cohen (1984)
• Don’t Worry, Be Happy — Bobby McFerrin (1988)
• From Me To You — The Beatles (1963)
• * Ghost Riders in the Sky — Stan Jones (1948), Burl Ives (1949), Bing Crosby (1949), Gene Autry (1949), Johnny Cash (1979)

So may great song suggestions! We may have to do “Say what? Part 2” to fit them all in. These are the five new songs for October:

• Witch Doctor — David Seville (1958)
• Tutti Frutti — Little Richard (1955)
• Ja-Da — Bob Carleton (1919), Ukulele Mike (2013)
• Rockin’ Robin — Bobby Day (1958), Michael Jackson (1972)
• Hooked on a Feeling — B.J. Thomas (1968), The Twinkle Brothers (1971), Blue Swede (1974)

(Hooked on a Feeling is actually by B.J. Thomas, but we’ll do the “Ooga-Chaka” version popularized by Blue Swede.)

We also have these songs in our repertoire:

• Whiskey In The Jar — Irish traditional, The Dubliners (1968), Irish Rovers, Thin Lizzy (1973), Metallica (1999)
• Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da — The Beatles (1968)
• Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (from Disney’s Song of the South) — Allie Wrubel & Ray Gilbert (1946)
• Da Doo Ron Ron — The Crystals (1963)
• The Lion Sleeps Tonight — The Tokens (1961)

A special thank you to Rick, Barbara, Linda, Angie, Keith and Kristy for the suggestions!

Welcome to all those who attended the Regina Public Library’s Introduction to the Ukulele workshop.

There are many fantastic ukulele websites out there. Here are some to get you started:

• ukulelego.com
• ukulelehunt.com
• ukuleletricks.com
• ukutabs.com

Also, check out the music on our site. The songs marked with an asterisk (*) are great for beginners.

Is your child Interested in learning how to play the ukulele?

Why not sign them up for beginner group lessons for ages 7 to 15?

• Dates: Monday evenings, May 29 to June 26
• Time:
  • 6:30–7:30 for ages 7–10
  • 7:45–8:45 for ages 11–15
• Where: Sawchyn Guitars, 2132 Dewdney Avenue

Call 306-522-6348 for details.

Space is limited so act fast!