Merewether Bowling Club – 6:15-8:30pm

The Ukastle Ukestra still holds the heart of the Ukestra movement in Newcastle. It has had as many as 40 people come along (crazy!), and very occasionally drops to 17 ish (rare).  Like all ukestra sessions, Tuesday nights is very convivial and welcoming, with increasing amounts of (often fruitless) creative discipline required to keep the cats well herded. We have fun, but are learning a lot together within the fun.

The sounds are increasingly professional with singers and harmonies galore, and an increasing usage of different ukulele parts to give that quintessential Ukestra sound. In 2011 we were the proud recipients of the revered (and tongue-in-cheek) Melbourne Ukulele Festival Golden Ukulele.

Here’s what it looks like (they should be wearing white gloves. The armed guard is just off to the right of shot).

If you are fresh from a beginners workshop, or years of guitar knowledge, or from our own Entree course, then we place some faith that you will be ok, immersed in the strategy of ‘throw them in the deep end’. We usually do a couple of simple songs that newbies will probably get through, but then it is on to the more difficult stuff that the Ukestra likes to rehearse. If you are new, you can Z chord it, hear the song, sing along, and play a few chords. During the week you can practice your chords and songs, and come back the next week with faster fingers, more chords, and greater familiarity with the music. Sheet music for what we do is on the Ukestra Music page, and we still have to get some of the old youtubes back up

Cost is $17.00 casual (how much does it cost these days to go sit in a darkened room by yourself and watch a movie?).  If you wish to purchase some in advance, it works out at $13.50 per session.