Tag Archives: Uke Night

Jan 2020 – Back in Mullum

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Thanks to all who came along to the first Mullum Uke Night. Clelia Adams had taken out another award in Tamworth. This time for Best Female Vocalist and we could see why as she was in very fine form. As was Erina Leech with Patty Smith’s ‘Because The Night’ and the challenging ‘Highwoman’. Val Hodgson gave us a Memphis Minnie classic and her new original climate aware Christmas Tune – ‘Santa Santa’. Daughter Rosie and Miss Amber were hitting the very high notes with wonderful renditions of ‘Waterloo’ and ‘Xanadu’. It was nice to be back in the auditorium at the Ex-services. Such a great sounding room.

 See more of Lyn McCarthy’s pics here (Big thanks to Lyn from nichepix)

Big Thanks to the debonaire Mr. Rod Coe on bass and Evan Sun on other stringed things and Ash on the door.

It was great to see some new faces and beginners in the audience. We lost a few in the second set. Scared ’em off again. Next March will be more like a mass lesson. Till then. Happy International Ukulele Day! STU

June 2019

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With all the extra preparation for Ballina, I didn’t really have the brain space to come up with a theme title for June 2019 UKE NIGHT in Mullum. Clelia Adams was back and in fine form and we had… not 1, not 2, but 3 songs lead by Erina Leech from our Monday night Mullum Uke Club

We had a bunch of songs that were made famous by Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Carole King then a few eclectic bits and pieces. It all hung together really well and though the inclement weather kept people away, we had a great evening of self made music and frivolity. Final songbook attached below.

See the video here: SET 1| SET 2 there’s a few jerky moments though generally a good stream. Thanks to Rod Coe on bass, Jason Caspen on drums and Evan Sun on guitar and mandolin. Big thanks also to Luis on sound and Samb on the live stream.

Feb 2019 – Love & Heartbreak

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What a surprise this UKE NIGHT was. Everyone agreed it was a great selection of songs, although not the easiest to play, many memories were stirred up and there was a great feeling in the room.

The band was relaxed and hardly missed a beat. The Amazing Kate Gittins who played keys, flute, clarinet and accordion was remarkable as was the smiling Jaime Pattugalin with his snappy drumming and the ever solid Rod Coe holding down the bottom end with both electric and acoustic bass.

Miss Amber slayed her tunes and although young Rose (15 YO) had a head cold, she still impressed everyone with her soulful stage presence and confidence.

Erina Leech – Sad Song Erina she calls herself was up next. Erina voice has a unique earthy quality. She touched our hearts when she sang two modern tunes – Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol and I Wasn’t Expecting that by Jamie Lawson.

Clelia Adams is always a powerhouse vocalist. Still recovering from brain surgery in the last 12 months it really takes it out of her to perform… and yet perform she does, winning over the crowd with her singing and her funny jokes. We love Clel who has been a regular at Uke Night since year one back in 2011. In fact she will be back next month for Back to Basics with another favourite, Multi Instrumentalist Chris Cook.

Thanks again to all of you who attended the evening, Club Mullum for hosting the event, Luis and Deb for sound, Ash on the door and Samb Brown for the live stream. Check out the night here:

SET ONE | SET TWO

Nov 2018 – Best Of 2018

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This was the final official UKE NIGHT of 2018 and a good chance to choose our favourite songs from the year. Miss Gittins on wind and Roddy Coe on bass were on board along with Evan Sun on other stringed things and we were thrilled to have Jaime Pattagalin back on drums.

The setlist was largely chosen by the Uke Mullum Community and was a very well rounded selection of quality tunes with a varying degree of difficulty. It was a lovely way to wrap up the year.

Photos by Lyn McCarthy available here

The Live Stream of the sets are available here: Check em out: SET 1 |  SET 2


August 2018 – 80’s

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Thanks to everyone whom came to 80’s UKE NIGHT. There were a lot of regulars away, though many new faces and even some welcome little people. It was a great night. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself: SET 1 | SET 2

June 2018 – Fun Beginner Tunes

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What a great night we had. Lot’s of new faces including our special guest for the evening Chris Cook who was a huge hit on the night with his roots/ country stylings, vocally and on the fiddle, banjo and guitar. A truley lovely gem of a man and a great performer. He’ll welcome back any time. It was a stripped back simple affair, I made sure every song was going to be OK for the newbies. It’s a balancing act for sure though in the end I think the more advanced regulars weren’t bored and the newbies dug in and really enjoyed themselves. There was many magic moments. Thanks as always to Rod Coe On the Bass, Jason Caspen on the drums. Miss Amber was in fine voice, even with two screws lose… and a nail– from her operation earlier in the week, (don’t think the drugs had worn off by then…. her wit was pretty sharp as I recall). Thanks to Luis on sound, Ash on the door and everyone for coming and creating such a lovely event.

Photos by Niche Pictures – Lyn McCarthy here >

March 2018 – BLUES

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Some people in general can be a little uninspired by blues as a theme. I have to admit, it wasn’t until I started making blues songbooks and learning the songs that I really fell in love with the form. Once learned, anyone can easily join in with a blues Jam. The choice of songs in this book was more about finding actual songs that had been recorded back in the day on Ukulele. I discovered Hokum Blues was a good source of material. Here’s the Spotify Playlist if you’d like to listen to the tracks we performed.

Mullum Uke Club members worked on a little riff that was designed to unleash the power of the Hammer on, Pull off and slide. Here’s the video with charts and practice tracks for download. There is also the Cm pentatonic scale, otherwise know as the Blues scale as a pdf for you to practice.

It was so great to have another night with Kate Gittins on wind instruments and Dan Brown on Keys. Playing with amazing musicians and lovely people is what it is all about. Dan impressed us even further when he whipped out his pocket trumpet for ‘St. James Infirmary’. It was great to have Rex Carter back on drums and is always a joy to have Rod Coe on bass, keeping everything buoyant.

Each UKE NIGHT is a precious memory for me and lately more so that ever. Miss Amber sang beautifully and seemingly, no one cringed on the songs I lead, though the stand out memory for me will be when our guest Shelly Brown took the mic.

She began with Eva Cassidy’s version of ‘Wayfairing Stranger’. It was as though the roof had been ripped off and the stars where shining down upon us. Shelly belted that tune into the stratosphere. Shelly embodies the songs she sings and you are transported with her to somewhere else entirely. She stayed on stage with us for her next two songs then joined Miss Amber for some backing vocals. So great to have a humble, genuine, sweet – mind blowing singer at UKE NIGHT. We are blessed with talent in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

The numbers were down on last months gathering due to some pretty heavy rain and some folk being away, though those who made it had a great time. The book on the whole was very playable and an encore was beckoned at the end of the evening which is always a good sign.

This will be the last book that I offer to everyone through the mailing list. From now on in order to receive the songbooks you will need to be a Patron on my Patreon page. In this way I can continue to put as in as much time and love into the UKE NIGHTS as I have for the last 7 years. Please do sign up and enjoy the benefits of the higher tiers of Patronage.

Feb 2018 – Crooners

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This was one of most enjoyable nights I have ever done… I loved the set and the genre and I loved having Dan Brown on Keys and Kate Gittins on wind instruments and accordion. Kate is the answer to my dreams. I have been searching for a clarinet player for ever and a day. She also plays Sax, flute and she debuted her accordion skills on the night. Everyone loved her and she really enjoyed being in a combo that she can hear herself. To be honest I could play the evenings set for the rest of my life. Really enjoyable music.

Apart from Terry Flatley who did a fine version of Mona Lisa there were no special guests. Although we performed 23 songs and then repeated one at the end we finished the evening at 9 on the dot. Jan won the poster and I’m very happy for her as I know she loved the theme. Commiserations to Jan’s good friend Lizzy who was sitting right next to her and missed out even though she won the 3 free raffle tickets in the Name the Dancers Comp.

Miss Amber sang beautifully. Highlights for me were The Carpenters ‘Close To You’ and Amy Winehouse’s ‘Love Is A Losing Game’ I love singing ‘Far Away Places’ and ‘I Get Ideas’. The other notable difference out the evening was we set up on the floor and the sound was beautiful thanks to Luis Christia. Everyone in the room could hear themselves and the band blend together. Great work from Jason Caspen and Rod Coe on drums and Bass respectively. Thanks to Ashara on the door and the club for hosting us. Jolly good.

Photos by Lyn McCarthy from Niche Pics

Nov 2017 – PUNK

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This was one the most fun nights I can remember. My theory is that the music you listen to when you are around 13 years old becomes ingrained in your psyche so much that nearly 40 years later you can recall what it felt like when you were their the first time. I had a ball playing these songs. Special guests Vesudha Harte loved singing the Ramones I Wanna Be Sedated and of course fooled everyone that she is French with Ca Plane Pour Mois. Jono Hillman cut the image a dirty punk very well with his renditions of the Saints’ Stranded and Know Your Product and and even went bare top for his Iggy Pop number.

John Campbell from Brisbane dropped in to play Harmonica on ‘Another Girl Another Planet’, Erina Leach sang Patty Smith’s Because The Night and nailed Frenzal Rhomb’s Never Had So Much Fun. Most agree though that Val Hodgson’s Oh Bondage Up Yours was the highlight of the night. For me the the best fun was seeing all the old punks come out of the wood works and… was I surprised to see Monday night regulars Jan and Lizzy in there above and beyond punk outfits. Great work from Sam Sanders on Guitar who only had a few days to get his parts down. Thanks to Al Brooker on bass and Jason Caspen on drums who kept the energy up. Luis on Sound and Ashara on the door. Thanks To Lyn McCarthy from nichpix for these great pics of the night. OI!