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...

Music, Poetry and Cake (Gateshead and Lanchester)

Piano at the ready! (by M) After a good few months prep, the concert Piano Music and Poetry (organised through the Gateshead Piano Workshop folks) came around pretty quickly. As one of the participants, I was excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of a Paying Audience. The work paid off, as all the performers were excellent! Well appreciated by the compact audience. The format was in relation to National Poetry Day which was on 2nd October. Each performer chose a poem either in direct or indirect relation to their piece. A summary of the programme: Alan - Liszt Consolation No 4 and Mozart Adagio in B minor Graeme - Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with 'Uncertainty' by Adam Mickiewicz me - Clara Schumann, andante con sentimento with 'Clara Wieck und Beethoven' by Franz Grillparzer Jim - R Schumann Kinderszenen 1 and 7 with 'My child, we were just children' by Heinrich Heine Ernie - Debussy Clair de lune with excerpt from 'Fêtes g...

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 .

Piano salons

Catching up on LinkedIn after a vacation, I came across a link for The Saturday Piano Salon . This caught my eye as I organise and attend an adult amateur piano group here in Ottawa. The Saturday Piano Salon, based in London, is an impressive step up from our friendly afternoons, giving amateur (and semi-professional, according to their site) pianists an opportunity to perform on a Steinway Model D at Steinway Hall. I read the review of their first Saturday event with interest. Maybe next time I find myself in London...

PrettyInScarlett

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