Tag Archives: Ukulele, Victoria, Australia

Songs about Dance for the Ukulele

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It’s nearly Autumn in Melbourne but the weather is still fine and warm and there are still festivals to attend, both for the Ukulele community and the wider population.

In early March (8-11) is the Moomba Festival with it’s Multicultural Parade on the 11th, and all kinds of community events in the city, including ukulele lessons for kids. For details visit https://news.melbourne.vic.gov.au/moomba/

Moomba Procession Dancers

Later on in March (15, 16, 17) is the famous Melbourne Ukulele Festival in Northcote. For all the events and workshops visit https://www.muf.org.au.

In the Northern Hemisphere Spring is just around the corner with everyone will emerging from Winter hibernation and looking forward to enjoying finer weather with all kinds of celebrations. So let’s put on our dancing shoes and play some relevant songs on the Ukulele.

With that end in mind I have selected some ukulele versions of songs with a dance theme performed by talented ukulele players on YouTube.

The 1958 song Do You Wanna Dance by Bobby Freeman is interpreted on ukulele by Pete Ukuholic Joyce with additional instruments.

Martha and the Vandellas first recorded Dancing in the Street in 1964, followed by many other popular artists, like The Mamas and the Papas. Here we have Paul Gasper doing a lively rendition on ukulele.

Matt Daniels performs David Bowie’s Let’s Dance from 1983 to really get your toes tapping.

Learn to play Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit, Dancing in the Dark from Ukulele Cheats wonderful tutorial.

To round up this selection of Dance Songs, Overdriver Duo gives an excellent performance of Abba’s Dancing Queen (1976).

I hope these songs inspire all those who love the ukulele to attend a festival, do a ukulele workshop or just enjoy playing the ukulele where others can dance along to the music.

It’s great to be back after having a year of challenges that have keep me away from this blog. At least I have been able to play my ukuleles to retain some sense of fun and calm. It really is an instrument of joy.

Happy strumming,

Kat

Bayside Ukes: Changes for 2022

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Due to the difficulties of running a Ukulele Group during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Bayside Ukes will no longer be run as a public group at the Hampton Community Centre.

Thank you to everyone who has come to these sessions over the years and made them so much fun.

This website will continue to celebrate ukulele music.

Keep on strumming,

Kat

Ukulele under Lockdown

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Melbourne is still in Stage 4 Lockdown and because of the now accepted aerosol risk of contracting Covid-19 when singing, it looks like Bayside Ukes will not be able to meet at the Hampton Community Centre for some time.

It would also be difficult to sing when wearing a mask so we will continue with our Zoom sessions for regular members until it is safe to get together in the real world.

Keep on strumming,

Kat

To cheer us all up here is a fun video featuring the delightful Olivia Colman recording a song with accompanying ukuleles.

When can Ukulele Groups Resume Sessions During Covid-19?

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The Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne is now easing and soon many activities will begin again. While this will be great for community groups, we at Bayside Ukes think that there is a need to proceed with caution before starting back at the Hampton Community Centre due to the increased hazard of contracting Covid-19 from the mechanics of group singing. There is a higher risk of contracting the virus in an enclosed space. 

For those who are unaware of these health risks, the following video gives detailed health and scientific advice from experts with regard to group singing in an Australian context. This information is also applicable to anyone singing in a group during this pandemic. The video takes about an hour but it is worth viewing for health and safety reasons.

The main recommendation is that singing groups should not get together inside until there have been no new local cases of Covid-19 for at least one month. Bayside Ukes will be following the advice of these experts and we look forward to such a time when we will be able to play together in the real world.

We will update the calendar on this blog before we resume our sessions depending on the rate of transmission of the virus in Melbourne.

In the meantime, here is a fun video by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain of Kraftwerk’s The Model (RIP Florian Schneider).

Stay safe and keep on strumming.

Kat

We Will Survive: Ukulele Play-Along Song

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Bayside Ukes regret to announce that, given the seriousness of the Covid-19 virus Emergency in Victoria, we will not be running sessions until further notice, out of respect for the health of our older members and those with chronic health conditions.

This has been a difficult decision, but we are not the only ukulele group in Melbourne to take this step and it will be hard on us all to temporarily give up our group sessions, which we really enjoy.

We must not let this get us down and everyone should carry on with ukulele practice at home to stay sane during this crisis. With that in mind here is a fun ukulele play-along challenge to help you stay strong and give that virus the boot!

If you find some of these chords difficult try to search for an easier version through google.

I will continue with this blog to share any ukulele songs and tips.

Wishing everyone in the ukulele community the very best and hope you all stay well.

Keep on Strumming.

Kat

Working Songs on Ukulele

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Melbourne and the Yarra River

From March 6 -9 the Moomba Festival is held in Melbourne. It is Australia’s largest free festival, with all kinds of events held around the Yarra River and the Moomba Parade on the final Monday (9 March). This occurs on the second Monday in March which is also the Labour Day public holiday in Victoria and commemorates the introduction of the eight hour day for workers.

This festival is all about getting together and having fun and what better way than to have fun with you ukulele and celebrate by playing songs about workers. Here are a few good examples.

The Beatles A Hard Days Night is a classic of this genre. This ukulele version by Neil Starr does the song justice with some great vocals.

The following is Uke Boy’s version of Sheena Easton’s Morning Train. Such a beautiful melody that is just made for the ukulele.

If work is getting you down Fifth Harmony’s Work From Home is wonderfully escapist. Enjoy this lovely ukulele version by EMAYLA.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s seventies hit, Taking Care of Business has been given a fun twist on ukulele and unicycle by C J Hoyle.  Would love to see this in the Moomba Parade.

There are other great working songs that I could not find a ukulele version on You Tube, such as Roy Orbison’s Working for The Man or Australian band Cold Chisel’s Working Class Man, but I’m sure that you would be able to find online music for many working songs that are suitable for the ukulele.

The ukulele as an instrument of the people is just made for such material.  It is a great way to bring joy to your working day and makes every day a festival.

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Moomba 2019

Happy Labour Day!

Kat

Bayside Ukes Back for 2020

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Next week (Tuesday 28 January) Bayside Ukes sessions begin for 2020 from 7 PM at the Hampton Community Centre. It will be great to get together again to play our ukuleles and sing.

Now is the time to brush up on the songs we did last year and be ready to tackle some new material.

There is nothing like a bit of ukulele madness to make you feel good so come along. We look forward to welcoming any new members. (For more information see our About page).

Kat

Happy Holidays!

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Bayside Ukes has finished its sessions for 2019 after a great year of festivals and fun. Everyone has worked really hard to make our group performances enjoyable for all.

Now the weather is starting to warm up, many of our members will be preparing for the holiday season in sunny Melbourne or are off to far away places, hopefully with their trusty ukuleles.

We’ll be back in 2020 for more ukulele fun.

Where every you may be, whether it is beside a fire or on a beach, everyone at Bayside Ukes wishes you a very happy festive season, full of ukulele joy.

Happy Holidays!

Kat

I found this recent video by guitarist and ukulele player, Johannes Linstead performing his song Tropical Christmas. It was filmed in the beautiful Dominican Republic which reminds me of the islands of Northern Australia. Nothing like spending your holidays on a tropical island to inspire you to play the ukulele.

Bayside Ukes at the Sandy Village Festival 2019

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Bayside Ukes Sandy Village Festival 2019

Bayside Ukes members had a wonderful time performing at the Sandy Village Festival last Sunday. Despite the slight drizzle, the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Thank you to everyone in the group for their hard work. Another big thank you to our terrific audience and to all the group members, family and friends who came to see our performance.

Finally we would like to thank the Sandringham Village Traders for including us in their music line-up. Bayside Ukes really appreciates their support and we are glad to be a part of such  a great festival.

Below are a couple of videos from our performance. More can be found on Bayside Ukes You Tube channel by clicking here.

Kat

Misty Mountain Hop Where the Ukuleles Fly

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If the bustle and stress of city life is getting you down there is nothing like a change of scenery to refresh the spirit, especially were there are multitudes of ukuleles. That’s a good reason to head to the Dandenong Ranges for the Hills Ukulele Festival next weekend.

On Sunday May 19 at 11am Bayside Ukes will be playing on the main stage at Emerald Primary School. For more information see the previous post on this website.

Here’s a song to get you in the mood for a trip to the hills.

We’ll be packing our ukes for the misty mountains, up to hills where the ukulele spirit flies! Come and join us.

Kat