The Joe Brown signature Kala ukes have hit the US. I didn’t realise he was famous over there. Is he?

Mainland are selling off a few factory seconds.

Photos: Ukulele girl & boy & meddling kids, musicians with shotguns (like the Krazy Kat Klub one of those gangs I wish I could hang out with).

Ben Lew discusses redesigning Uke Hunt – leave him a comment telling him he’s ace.

A very interesting article in the latest edition of Ukulele Yes! asking if using the D tuning is ghettoizing Canadian ukulelists (I tend to agree with the article that it is). Also in the edition is a free ukulele big band arrangement.

Christoph Waltz humpink a ukulele on Jimmy Kimmel (and here’s the clip that inspired it thanks to @Ukiegirl)

Ukulele crossword (via Ukulele Perspective.

In the comments: If you enjoyed You-Go by Keston Cobblers’ Club, Matt from the band has left us the chords and lyrics. PotofBasil asks who you think the most overrated ukulele players are.

Joe Brown discuss the ukulele.

Controversial golfer, John Daly learns the uke at his girlfriend’s behest.

MP3s: Download a new tune from Jacob Borshard (and see the accompanying comic) on his website, Daytrotter session from Peggy Sue, Melophobe have a track from The Loom.

Evelyn Evelyn ukuleles as part of a bundle.

Finally, a good reason to vote Lib Dem.

Pictures: Brian May dressed as a pear-drop with his famous ukulele, Travis Dubreuil

Did you know Metallica have started suing fans they suspect of playing Metallica songs in their head? True fact.

Demo

More guitar riffs for ukulele

Ukulele Groups in the USA and Canada
Ukulele Groups in the UK and Ireland
Ukulele Groups in Australia and New Zealand

View Ukulele Clubs and Groups in a larger map

She’s also put together a map of the ukulele festivals together with details of local travel links, hotels etc. Check it out on the festivals list.

If you’ve got any to add to this list – particularly groups in Europe – then be sure to let me know.

If you don’t have one near you, set one up.

Australia

Adelaide Ukulele Appreciation Society (AUAS)
Location: Contact AUAS for more details
Website: auas.wordpress.com

Balmain Ukulele Klub (BUK)
Location: Gladstone Park Bowling Club, Darvall St, Balmain, Sydney, NSW
Website: http://www.balmainukuleleclub.com.au/

Brisbane Ukulele Musicians Society (BUMS)
Location: BUMS meeting space – 10/49 Butterfield Street, Herston
Website: http://brisbaneukulele.com/

Cairns Ukulele Club
Location: Queensland, Australia
Website: http://www.myspace.com/cairnsukuleleclub

Darwin Ukulele Kollective (DUKes)
Location: Nightcliff area
Website: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=12827762755

Gold Coast Ukulele Players (G-CUP)
Location: Treetops Tavern, 7 Executive Drive, Burleigh Waters, Gold Coast, Qld
Website: http://gcup.hinternet.com.au/

Hill Folk Club
Location: Falls Farm, Cagney Way, Lesmurdie
Website: http://wafolk.iinet.net.au/clubs.html

Hobart Ukulele Group (HUG)
Location: The Green Room, Republic Bar & Cafe, cnr Burnett & Elizabeth Streets, North Hobart
Website: google.com.au/group/h-u-g

North Coast Ukulele Collective
Location: The Shed, Yaegers Lane, Skinners Shoot, Byron Bay
Website: http://www.ukulelecollective.com/

Sunshine Coast Ukulele Masters
Location: Kawana Surf Club, 99 Pacific Blvd, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Qld
Website: http://www.scum.org.au/

The Illawarra Ukulele Club
Location: Thirroul Bowling Club, 2b Station St Thirroul
Website: http://ukuleleillawarra.org/

Ukuleles Canberra – Canberra’s Ukulele Meetup Group
Location: Main Hall, St James Church Centre, 157 Carruthers St CURTIN ACT (carpark via Allan/Gillies Sts)
Website: http://www.meetup.com/UkulelesCanberra/

New Zealand

Dunedin Ukulele Club
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Website: http://www.dunedinukuleleclub.blogspot.com

For full information on ukulele events in London check out mightyukulele.co.uk.

United Kingdom

Balham Ukulele Society
Location: London and South East, United Kingdom
Website: www.myspace.com/balhamukulelesociety

Bar Kick Uke Jam
Location: London
Website: email – lukeguilford@hotmail.com

Barnstaple Ukulele Strummers (BUS)
Location: New Inn, Goodleigh, Barnstaple
Website: http://www.inclusifolk.com/ukulele-stuff-/

Bishops Stortford Ukulele Society
Location: Half Moon pub, North Street, Bishops Stortford
Website: http://www.bsus.co.uk/

Brockley Ukulele Group
Location: Broca Food Market, Mantle Road, Brockley, London
Website: http://brockleyukegroup.blogspot.com/

Cambridge Ukulele Club
Location: Admiral Vernon, Over, Cambridge
Website: http://www.movingtone.com/events/cambridge-ukulele-club-2

Derby Uke Club
Location: Engineers Club, Osmaston Road, Derby
Website: ukes@uk2.net

Glastonbury Ukulele Club
Location: Mountain Laurel, 1177 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury
Website: http://www.doctoruke.com/gluc.html

Grinners and Strummers Club
Location: Swinton Labour Club, Swinton, Manchester
Website: http://uk.myspace.com/raymondouk

Hammersmith Ukulele Group
Location: The Stonemason’s Arms, 54 Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith
Website: email – mpurves@me.com

Herts of Uke
Location: The Doctor’s Tonic, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6PR
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/hertsofuke/home

Hull Ukulele Group
Location: The Lamp, Norfolk Street, Hull
Website: HullUkuleleGroup.co.uk

I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Uke
Location: The Green Man, 36 Riding House Street, W1W 7ES
Website: email – laasoc@me.com

Leicester Ukulele Club
Location: Babalas Bar, Queens Road, Leicester
Website: email – dave.davies1@virgin.net and mark@littleredtruck.co.uk

Liverpool Ukulele Orchestra
Location: Huyton Park Club, Huyton, Liverpool L36 5SW
Website: email – fordphil@blueyonder.co.uk

Luton
Location: Greenbank Music Village Luton
Website: email – adcoaker@hotmail.com

London Branch of George Formby Society
Location: 399 High Road Tottenham N17 6QN
Website: http://www.georgeformby.co.uk/

Marmite Ukulele Club
Location: The Early Bird Pub, Grove Green, Maidstone
Website: http://www.myspace.com/marmiteukuleleclub

Monday Ukearist
Location: Mackenzie School of English, 6 John’s Place, Leith, Edinburgh
Website: http://ukearist.wordpress.com/

Newton Abbot Ukulele Club
Location: Abbrook Park Sports & Social Club, Strap Lane, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, Devon. TQ12 3PS
Website: http://beehive.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=15857

Porthcawl Ukulele Band
Location: Farmers Arms, Nottage, Porthcawl
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Porthcawl-Ukulele-Band/279132437655?ref=search&sid=548493639.1980450277..1

Portsmouth Ukulele Group
Location: Florence Arms, Southsea
Website: http://portsmouthukulelegroup.webs.com/

PLUC
Location: Lewisham
Website: http://unitedcoloursofukulele.tumblr.com/

Preston Ukulele Strummers Society (PUSS)
Location: The New Continental pub, Avenham Park
Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=313912304362

Second City Ukulele Players Association
Location: New Billesley, Brook Lane, Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands B13 0AB
Website: http://www.ukulelesundays.co.uk/

S.O.U.P. Ukulele Club
Location: Enfield, London and South East, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.myspace.com/ukulelesoup

Southampton Ukulele Jam
Location: Talking Heads in Portswood Southampton
Website: http://www.suj.btik.com/p_Home.ikml

Stockton to Darlington Ukulele Express
Location: Foresters Arms, Darlington
Website: http://ukuleleexpress.blogspot.com/

Surrey Ukulele Banjo Society
Location: Nutfield, Surrey
Website: http://www.freewebs.com/surreyukulelebanjosociety/

Swindon Ukulele Club
Location: Bandstand,Town Gardens, Swindon
Website: http://ukeboxjury.co.uk/ubjwebsite/swindonukeclub.htm

Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club
Location: Taunton
Website: http://www.tusc.co.uk/

The Dulwich Ukulele Club
Location: London, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thedulwichukuleleclub

The Ukulele AllStars
Location: Biscuit Factory, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon tyne
Website: http://www.ukuleleallstars.co.uk/

The Ukulele Society of Great Britain
Location: Digswell Village Hall, Digswell, Hertfordshire
Website: http://www.usgb.co.uk/

Tune Army Ukulele Club
Location: Bay Horse, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne
Website: http://tunearmy.blogspot.com/

Uke Glos Ukulele Club
Location: The Exmouth Arms, Bath Road, Cheltenham
Website: www.ukeglos.co.uk

Ukes for Fun
Location: The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Website: http://groups.google.com/group/ukes

Ukulele and Song Bash
Location: Upstairs at the Boarhound, 37 Brook St. SK11 7AD, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Website: email – maccukulele@live.co.uk

Ukulele Club of Hebden Bridge
Location: Cross Inn, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge
Website: http://www.tinguitar.com/ukuleleclub

Ukulele Club of Weymouth
Location: Weymouth
Website: email – Tip tippett [ukulelecow@hotmail.co.uk]

Ukulele Jam Croydon
Location: Green Dragon, Croydon High Street
Website: http://www.myspace.com/neil_latic

Ukulele Nights
Location: The Albion, Glebe Street, Penarth
Website: http://ukenights.blogspot.com/

Ukulele Orchestra of Spalding
Location: Spalding
Website: http://ukuleleorchestraofspalding.co.uk/

Ukulele Philharmonic Orchestra of Sudbury (UPHoS)
Location: Sudbury
Website: email – allibee@gmail.com

Ukulele Pub Jam Session
Location: Orange Tree, Chelmsford
Website: http://www.davidwarren202.demon.co.uk/ukulele.htm

Ukulele Wednesdays
Location: The Royal George, Goslett Yard, off Charing Cross Rd
Website: http://www.myspace.com/ukegottobekidding

Wigan Ukulele Club
Location: The Keepers Inn, Wigan
Website: http://wiganukuleleclub.co.uk/

Wukulele (Worthing Uke Jam)
Location: Upstairs at Worthing Rowing Club, Marine Parade, Worthing BN11 3PN
Website: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125828990259&ref=ts

Ireland

Ukuhooley
Location: Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
Website: UkeIreland.com

United States of America

Bellingham Ukulele Group
Location: Bellingham Unitarian Church, 1708 I St., Bellingham
Website: http://bhamuke.blogspot.com/

Berkeley Ukulele Club
Location: DaSilva Ukulele Co.
Website: http://www.ukemaker.com/ukeclub/

Cal-Mum Ukulele Club
Location: Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School, 99 North St., Caledonia, NY 14423
Website: http://www.gstboces.org/toolbox/template.cfm?ID=2990

Catskills Ukulele Group
Location: West Shokan, NY
Website: http://www.meetup.com/Catskills-Ukulele/

Cleveland Ukulele Fraternity
Location: Cleveland
Website: Contact “Eve” on 01642 490517

Durham Ukulele Group
Location: High Strung Guitars, 1116 Broad Street Durham, NC
Website: http://durhamukulelegroup.blogspot.com/

Florida Ukulele Network in Hollywood
Location: Hollywood, FL
Website: http://www.meetup.com/Florida-Ukulele-Network/

High Desert Ukulele Club
Location: Antelope Valley, ID
Website: email – HighDesertUkes@yahoogroups.com

Kolohe Ukulele Club
Location: California
Website: http://www.koloheukuleleclub.org/

Madison Ukulele Club
Location: Wisconsin
Website: email – madisonukeclub@yahoo.com

Monterey’s Ukulele Club
Location: Gianni’s Pizza, 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA
Website: Call Steve Brooks at (831) 624-7022

Moonlight Beach Uke Strummers
Location: Encinitas, North of San Diego
Website: http://www.ukespot.com/clubs.html

Oak Park Ukulele Meetup Group
Location: Eastgate Cafe’, 102 Harrison Street (corner of Harrison & Lyman), Oak Park IL 60304
Website: http://www.meetup.com/Oak-Park-Ukulele-Meetup-Group-Harrison-St-Ukulele-Players/

Palm Desert Ukulele Strummers
Location: 44-600 Monterey Ave. Palm Desert,Ca 92260
Website: Call Mike @ 760-835-6891

Petaluma Ukulele Club
Location: Petaluma Hill Rd., Penngrove, CA
Website: http://thingstodo.msn.com/penngrove-ca/events/show/96107765-petaluma-ukulele-club

Pineapple Jam Ukulele Club
Location: Scherer Community Center, 12202 First Street (at B Ave) Yucaipa Ca 92399
Website: Call 909 797-1177 or 760-326-9230

Portland Ukulele Association
Location: St. David’s Episcopal Church Community Hall, 2800 SE Harrison St., Portland
Website: http://home.teleport.com/~pua/

Tampa Bay Ukulele Society (TBUS)
Location: Tarpon Springs, FL
Website: http://www.meetup.com/tampabayukes/

The Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Ukulele Group
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Website: http://ukulele.meetup.com/85/

The Corona Del Mar Ukulele club
Location: 233 Pacific View Dr, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
Website: Call (949) 644-0463

The Hemet Ukulele Club
Location: The Simpson Center, 305 E. Devonshire Ave., Hemet, CA
Website: http://www.ukespot.com/clubs.html

The Jumpin Flea Circus Players Players Of Los Angeles
Location: Church of the Chimes, 14115 Magnolia Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Website: http://www.jumpingflea.tumblr.com

The Lansing Area Ukulele Group
Location: Lansing, MI
Website: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=256534770353

The Loma Linda Ukulele Strummers
Location: Loma Linda Senior Center, 25571 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA 92354
Website: Call 909 796-8934

The Nashville Ukulele Society
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Website: http://nashukes.blogspot.com/

The Orange Blossom Ukulele Players
Location: Joslyn Senior Center, 21 Grant Street, Redlands CA
Website: Call Cathy Ekaitis – (909) 875-1054

The Rio-Altas Ukulele Club
Location: Rialto Senior Center,1411 S. Riverside Ave.,Rialto, CA
Website: Call Cathy Ekaitis – (909) 875-1054

The SLO Strummers of the Ukulele Society of the Central Coast
Location: Art Center in San Luis Obispo, 1010 Broad St. (creekside door)
Website: Call Carol at (805)473-3457

The Ukulele Club of Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Website: http://www.horowitzbrothers.com/ukulelecluboflasvegas.html

The Vermont Ukulele Society
Location: Howden Hall in on Main Street in Bristol
Website: http://vtukes.webs.com/

The WINDanSEA Ukulele Strummers
Location: Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall at 853 Torquiise Street
Website: http://www.ukespot.com/clubs.html

Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz
Location: Bocci’s Cellar, Santa Cruz
Website: http://www.ukuleleclub.com/

Ukulele Society of America (USA)
Location: 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, west of the I-5 Carlsbad Village Drive exit, at the intersection with Pacific Coast Highway
Website: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ukulele_Society_of_America/

Ukulele Society of Connecticut
Location: Darien, Connecticut
Website: http://ukuleles.org/

Ukulele Union of Harvard
Location: Harvard, Massachusetts
Website: http://www.meetup.com/HarvardUke/

Canada

Corktown Ukulele Jam
Location: Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen East (2nd light west of the DVP at Sumach)
Website: http://www.torontoukes.com/

Halifax Ukulele Gang (H.U.G.)
Location: Celtic Corner pub on Alderney Drive in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Website: http://halifaxukulelegang.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/christmas-music-for-the-uke/

Ottawa Ukulele Group
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Website: http://groups.google.com/group/ottawa-ukulele-group

SMUG (Saturday Morning Ukulele Group)
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Website: http://smugpei.blogspot.com/

Ukulele Club of Winnipeg
Location: Winnipeg
Website: Facebook group

Vancouver Ukulele Circle
Location: 245 E. Broadway (north side between Main and Kingsway), Vancouver, BC, V5T 1W4
Website: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/vanukes/index.html

A very tricky one to get right. It’s in 6/8 time (I think). The best way to count the bar is 1,2,3,2,2,3 (I think). And it’s best to play this one with a pick (that one I’m pretty sure on).

Here’s me definitely getting it wrong:

MP3

More guitar riffs for ukulele.

The Mural and the Mint – Virgin Mouth (MP3)
The Mural and the Mint – I’m on Fire (MP3) via their website.

The Mural and the Mint are named after, their hometown, Philadelpia’s association with public art and the production of money. There’s an interesting comment

Philadelphia does have more public art than any other American city as a result of our (first in the nation) Percent for Art Program that requires developers to spend 1% of their project budget on public art. This can be spent on sculptures that sit in the lobby or outside the building or on special architectural details for the building itself. We also have a RDA Percent for Art program that requires that 1% be spent on art on any project that is located in an area overseen by the Redevelopment Authority.

It’s an interesting idea – particularly since it encourages businesses to get rid of the money and not care about the outcome. I hope the business men just grab a kid off the street, give them a pile of money and say, “Go do art.” That’s bound to have much more interesting results than carefully selected works.

When I’m made Grand High Commander of Earth, I’m going to institute a law that 1% of all advertising budgets must be used to create jingles. The jingle is a moribund art-form. I can’t remember one since IKEA’s shlomp. It’s all licensed pop songs or arty background music. Where’s the fun in that?

The Mural and the Mint are dedicated to their own public arts project by releasing all their recordings free because they, “believe that this is the only way for them to be heard as music, and not as products in Today’s culture.”

Download their stuff free on their website. If you like it you can donate here.

For my version I’ve kept it in the original key of F#. Molly plays it in G so if you want to play along with that version move everything up a fret.

There are two parts to the riff. Part 1:

And Part 2:

And here’s my stab at playing it.

MP3

Part of the Riffs for ukulele series