Finally made it! Grand Northern Ukulele Festival 2018

One of the things on my bucket list when we moved to Skipton was to attend Huddersfield's very own Grand Northern Ukulele Festival - GNUF. Then my busy diary got in the way... This year, I decided what the heck, I was going to go anyway, busy diary or no. Glad I did!

Receiving the Queen's Award

The full lineup information for GNUF2018 is still on the website. For 2018 there were events Thursday through to Sunday. I made it for Saturday and Sunday daytime. Contrary to my norm, I had not planned on which stage/any workshops etc.

Saturday started well when I bumped into another ukulele acquaintance on the train at Leeds. Good start! After collecting my wristband and a programme I chilled over lunchtime, catching the vibe on Mim's stage in the LBT courtyard. Including the presentation of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service!!

Early afternoon I attended a talk by Rob Collins of Tinguitar about sustainability in ukulele design. Lots of interesting information and examples of different woods along with some really lovely sample ukuleles (London plane).

After soaking up the atmosphere and thoroughly browsing the merch (if I ever get a winning lottery ticket I want a Ziegenspeck Harp Ukulele - tried this and it's amazing) I went to the Unplugthewood stage. I caught the end of Fake Plastic Tigers' set followed by fingerpicking by Oli Mansell - so assured and he's still a teenager. I absolutely LOVED Belfast Ukulele Jam. Their set was super, bouncy, infectious fun and really good stagecraft. Queen, Prince - a right royal selection!

The downside to this amazingness was that I missed the Main Stage performance by Andy Eastwood with his premiere of new composition, SpaceScape. There are videos on the GNUF Facebook page which are worth a listen.

Breakfast Jam on Sunday

Sunday I arrived at the LBT in time for the end of the Breakfast Jam. After a brief pause in Queenie's chatting to Cool Cat Ukes aka Simon, I spent the next hour and a half jamming in the bar, mainly with Maldon Ukulele Group but really it was a bar full of ukers! Exhausted the GNUF 2018 songbook in time for the Main Stage shows, including highlights Amelia Coburn and Robin Evans Esq - folk and blues (world record blues, no less!). Hawaiian treats from Peter Luongo and ensemble, then time for the train home and a sleep. The weekend was by no means over...

Angela Hewitt Week, 14th-20th May 2012

I just received information from a friend about Angela Hewitt Week in Ottawa, 14th-20th May as declared by Mayor Jim Watson. Ms Hewitt is performing with Chamber Players of Canada on Friday 18th May; there will also be An Afternoon With Angela Hewitt on 20th May at the National Arts Centre hosted by the Canadian Friends of the Trasimeno Music Festival .

Pigeon Funk

Notes on a very random purchase. Earlier today I acquired Venetian Snares 'Rossz Csillag Alatt Sz ü letett ' purely on the basis of the language and artwork. Its certainly something different - and most definitely not pop. After a bit of searching: Venetial Snares is, according to Wikipedia, the performing name of Aaron Funk, who seems to specialise in experimental tracks in odd time signatures. Article here . The sleeve notes for this album (whose title is Hungarian for 'Born under a bad star') poses the question: what if, for just a day, we could both be pigeons? Interessant. Apparently this concept (a day in the life of a Hungarian pigeon) is non-typical of Venetian Snares sound, but one could ask, does Mr Funk do 'typical'? On first listening, the sound of this CD mixes classical/traditional Hungarian sounds and breakbeats. but aside from that? Definitely a 'listen for yourself' artist; try the website , fan site or myspace .

Mini update

I have finally sorted out my site links to reflect some new/renewed interests and my current location. We have something of a National Arts Centre bonanza shortly: I had already booked to see Angela Hewitt on 16th Feb but found a good ticket offer on LivingSocial.com to see Radu Lupu this coming Wednesday, 26th. In addition to all that, New Yorker music critic Alex Ross (his recent book, Listen To This , is excellent, as well as his previous tome, The Rest Is Noise ) is giving a talk there on 13th February. This is all followed in March by a complete about turn to the Bronson Centre to see Finnish band Apocalyptica . They have been somewhere on my radar for a while but I was spurred on to book tickets after a bout of nostalgia. M and I were regular visitors to Wolverhampton UK to see various bands at Civic Hall/Wulfrun Hall; a few months ago a mutual friend posted on that there Facebook thing about seeing said Apocalyptica at Wulfrun Hall. Nostalgia for the venue and renewed intere...

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