Author Archives: Austin Ukulele Society

June 27, 2015: Keepin’ Austin Weird!

For the third year in a row, an ensemble of Austin Ukulele Society members wowed the runners in the Keep Austin Weird 5K! Many stopped to dance, sing along, or just take a selfie with us. It was a hot time for runners and strummers alike! MANY thanks to everyone who came out. Can’t wait til next year!

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June 11, 2015: When You’re Smiling!

Our June meeting was so delightful, it nearly made us swoon! Well, maybe the lack of air conditioning contributed, too, but we managed to stay cool and jazzy with a great Tin Pan Alley-era medley arranged by Bob. The group sounded just lovely harmonizing on three songs every ukulele player should have in his or her repertoire: πŸ™‚

  • “When You’re Smiling” by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher and Joe Goodwin, 1928
  • “Ain’t She Sweet?” by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen, 1927
  • “On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields, 1930

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You can download the lyrics and chords for our “Tin Pan Alley Medley” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along). And here we are performing it:

In honor of the all the rain Austin has recently received, we revisited “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” before opening up the floor to great and varied open mic performers.

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We enjoyed Jack covering Buddy Holly, Woody paying tribute to fathers, Walter bringing back “Crazy Words, Crazy Tune,” a funny and enjoyable Tin Pan Alley tune about ukulele players, as well as Ray, Richard, Helen, and Bob’s diverse songs about love. As always, we’re so grateful for the talent shared with us.

2015_06_11_jack 2015_06_11_woody 2015_06_11_walter
2015_06_11_ray 2015_06_11_richard 2015_06_11_helen

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting on July 9! πŸ™‚

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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

May 14, 2015: Dancing In the Dark!

Dancing In The DarkWith first-timers from as far as Oklahoma and Austin Ukulele Society veterans alike, the 90 or so May meeting attendees enjoyed an energetic and fun-filled evening. We learned and played Bruce Springsteen’s mega-hit from the 80’s, “Dancing in the Dark.” Bob broke down the chord progressions, making it easier for us to put the song together and sound great playing it after just a few run-throughs. The Boss himself would be proud.

You can download the lyrics and chords for “Dancing in the Dark” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

We also enjoyed revisiting Roy Orbison’s “You Got It” as well playing our usual warm up and closing tunes.

We were thrilled to have a talented assortment of open mic solos, duos, and trios:
Cranius    |    Alex    |    David    |    Anna and Leta
2015_05_14_cranius    2015_05_14_alex    2015_05_14_david    2015_05_14_anna_leta
Christine, Charlie, and Brock    |    Kendra and Bob
2015_05_14_christine_charlie_brock    2015_05_14_kendra_bob

We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on June 11! πŸ™‚

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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

April 24, 2015 – Performance at Lakeway!

Members of the Austin Ukulele Society had a wonderful time playing some of our favorite songs for a sold out event at the Lakeway Activity Center. With rhythm by Gary on upright bass, kazoo solos by Walter, a surprise guest appearance by a Lakeway Sing Along member on sax, and sweet harmonies throughout, the attendees were delighted by our performance. A special thanks to Nick Renneker and Joann Anderson for inviting us back, to Bob for his musical guidance, to Jen for coordinating the group, and to Lyda for great photography.
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April 9, 2015: Build Me Up Buttercup!

ButtercupThe Austin Ukulele Society’s April meeting attendees had a terrific time learning and singing “Build Me Up Buttercup,” the contagiously catchy Foundations hit that likely gets stuck in your head whenever you hear it. Well, now you can sit down and strum and sing it the next time that happens! We also enjoyed revisiting the Jimmy Buffet classic “Margaritaville,” as well as our traditional meeting songs “Three Little Birds” and “On the Road Again”.

You can download the lyrics and chords for “Build Me Up Buttercup” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

We were treated to delightful and varied open mic performances by Vince, Cranius, Walter, Richard, Leta, and Liam, with a great mix of original songs, covers, and our first ever song performed and sung in Japanese.

2015_04_09_vince  2015_04_09_walter  2015_04_09_cranius  2015_04_09_richard  2015_04_09_liam
2015_04_09_leta  2015_04_09_group2
As always, we look forward to the next time we meet on May 14, and we hope to see you out and about at some live ukulele music shows, soon! πŸ™‚
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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

March 12, 2015: You Gotta Get Up and Try, Try, Try!

2015_03_12_pinkThe Austin Ukulele Society had a fantastic March meeting with a terrific group of ukulele players and enthusiasts. After kicking off the year with classic Elvis and Sam Cooke songs, we enjoyed learning, playing, and singing “Try,” a huge 2012 hit for P!nk. Bob taught us how to play both the strum and picking during the instrumental parts of the song which gave us the chance to create some great harmonies.

You can download the lyrics and chords for P!ink’s “Try” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

As always, we were delighted to have great talent shared during the Open Mic portion of the evening. Big thanks to Paige, Cranius Astounding, Kathy and Bill, Leta, Richard, Woody, Annie, and — all the way from Brazil — VerΓ΄nica Nunes and Ricardo Vogt.

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We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on April 9th! πŸ™‚

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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

February 12, 2015: Cupid, let your arrow go!

The Austin Ukulele Society was thrilled to host its 50th monthly meeting to date with over a 100 players! In keeping with tradition from the previous February meetings, we learned and played a Valentine’s/love-themed song. We sounded great crooning and strumming Sam Cooke’s “Cupid,” and we enjoyed revisiting “L-O-V-E” from February 2014’s meeting. “Eight Days a Week” was a blast, too, in keeping with the love song theme.

Here we are playing “Cupid”:

You can download the lyrics and chords for “Cupid” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

We really enjoyed the Open Mic Night portion of the evening – a big thanks to all!
John backed by the Tuesday Ukulele Group, Kevin and Bob
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Richard, Ray, Luke, Elizabeth
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Norville, Janet, Woody
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We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on March 12th! πŸ™‚
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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

January 8, 2015 – Happy Birthday Elvis!

The Austin Ukulele Society kicked off its fifth year with a rockin’ good time, as we paid tribute to the King of Rock and Roll on his 80th birthday. Elvis would surely have enjoyed “Don’t Be Cruel,” “All Shook Up” and “Return to Sender” played and sung by 80+ ukulele players. We are so grateful to all of our members for the continued success of our great meetings. πŸ™‚

You can download the chord charts here:

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Don’t Be Cruel
All_Shook_Up
All Shook Up
Return_To_Sender
Return To Sender

Watch us play each tune:

A special thanks to those who shared originals, Elvis and other covers, and much enjoyment during the Open Mic portion of the evening!

Jack, Phillip, Kevin
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Richard, Leta, Liam
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Richard, Jacob, Bob
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We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on February 12th! πŸ™‚
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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

4th Annual Holiday Potluck and Jam!

The Austin Ukulele Society’s December 11, 2014 meeting kept a lovely tradition going by having our 4th Annual Holiday Potluck and Jam at Susan and Ted’s lovely South Austin home. We enjoyed the chance to chat with old and new friends, eat and drink, and play ukulele music together in an intimate setting. Thanks to Bob for leading the group in “Blue Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and our Rockin’ Christmas Medley. Much appreciation to Leta and Anna, Bill and Kathy, Walter, Alex, John and Woody for sharing solo and group play-a-longs of other holiday favorites and originals. Special thanks to Jen for managing the invitations, RSVPs, and all the many details that made the event possible.

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We wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday season, and we look forward to kicking off our 5th year with an extra fun meeting on Thursday, January 8th! πŸ™‚

For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!

November 13, 2014 – Rockin’ Christmas Medley!

Our November meeting was on the coldest night Austin has seen since February, which was the perfect setting to get the holiday spirit going with our Rockin Christmas Medley! At our largest gathering yet with over 100 ukulele players, we not only sounded great but looked festive, too, with Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and Christmas sweaters. We may not have been dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square, but we were strumming and singing in the frosty air. πŸ™‚

You can download the lyrics and chords for our “Rockin’ Christmas Medley” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

A huge thanks to our wonderful and talented Open Mic performers:
John, Walter, Kevin, Annie
2014_11_13_john   2014_11_13_walter   2014_11_13_kevin   2014_11_13_annie   
Erin and Michael, Woody, Jess and Raina of the Love Leighs
2014_11_13_erin_michael   2014_11_13_woody   2014_11_13_jessica_raina   

Looking forward to our special December 11 holiday gathering where we can eat, drink, strum, sing, and be merry! πŸ™‚

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For more downloadable music, visit our Ukulele Music Library. For more Austin Ukulele Society videos, check out our YouTube Channel.

Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list!