Maida Vale Ukulele Christmas Party

We were invited to play and sing a guest segment at M.U.G‘s (Maida Vale Ukulele Group) Christmas Party at Gracie’s Cafe at Forrestfield this year. We played, sang, dined, and just short of dancing with this fabulous bunch. Thank you husband and wife team, George and Jan for inviting us. We truly think ukuleles are the happiest instruments in the world. Give one to each home, and we might be putting the shrinks out of business! 😉

We are so grateful to have witnessed and enjoyed a sophisticated & scintillating performance by an Acoustic Duo.

I experienced the Booming Bass of Didi at my rear the whole night and what a delight it was to get that Driving Bass Sound throughout the night. And most of all we loved his Bass going hell-for-leather in “These Boots Are Made For Walking”. Even our “Rent-A-Crowd” Diners clapped loudly! 😂

But you Juliet, if there’s one thing you taught us MUG Members last night … and that is us Ukulele players need not necessarily Bash Away Loudly with our Strumming & Singing! Just caress the Ukulele gently and deftly with lovely Chords up and down the frets … WOW!

Here’s an exercise to reveal the simplicity and beauty of this instrument: Glide your index finger/thumb gentle across it – listen to that lovely sound – you just played a C6!

The group jammed, played an extensive list of classics from These Boots Are Made For Walking (Nancy Sinatra), to All of Me, Bye Bye Blackbird, and heaps of Christmas carols. What an amazing fun bunch. My favourite is Jingle Bells (Aussie Version!):

AUSTRALIAN JINGLE BELLS
Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It’s Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut !,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Engine’s getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family’s there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes ’round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.

Although we play a variety of instruments, including the guitar (or used to), it takes a bit of dedication to an instrument to understand it. I think instead of comparing to it as a 4-string or tiny guitar, appreciate it for its little body, its sweet treble sounds when you play it. I have grown to see its own beauty when i decided to give up guitar so i wouldn’t be confused. I didn’t like the superimposition by a 4th, it felt like my heart was never quite here with my tiny mighty. Maybe someday i’d pop back on the guitar, just maybe. And i doubt i’d be comparing it to a massive uke!

Have a terrific blessed Christmas M.U.G. and all the Perth Uke Groups in the North and more! Here’s to tiny!

P+M