The 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 — Verônica Nunes and Ricardo Vogt.

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

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!

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
  
Richard, Ray, Luke, Elizabeth
      
Norville, Janet, Woody
    
We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on March 12th! 🙂

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!

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. 🙂

You can download the chord charts here:

Don’t Be Cruel

All Shook Up

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
  
Richard, Leta, Liam
            
Richard, Jacob, Bob
            
We’re looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting on February 12th! 🙂

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!

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.

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! 🙂

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!

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. 🙂

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
            
Erin and Michael, Woody, Jess and Raina of the Love Leighs
         

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

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!

Happy Halloween! Our October meeting was a howling good time, with spook-tacular group strumming and sing-a-longs to “Bad Moon Rising,” “Monster Mash” and “Love Potion No. 9” as well as some cheerful tunes like “Three Little Birds” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” to help keep the ghosts and goblins at bay.

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

The Halloween theme was not lost on our wonderful open mic performers who included eerie tunes like “L’il Red Riding Hood” and “Hotel California.” A big welcome to new members, visitors like Dolly all the way from Amsterdam, and a hearty thank you to all the regular members who came out to make hauntingly beautiful group and solo music on our dearly beloved ukulele. 🙂

Janet, Joy, Jack, James
      
Woody, Richard, Elissa, Bob
            

We’re looking forward to strumming and singing with you again on November 13th! 🙂

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!

Our September meeting was a cheerful group of 85+ ukulele players, as we learned to play and sing the quirky and uplifting Burt Bacharach tune “Raindrops Are Fallin’ On My Head.” We’re pretty sure we increased the chance of much needed rain that followed. 🙂

You can download the lyrics and chords for “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” or download a copy of the presentation (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along).

Thanks to all the first-timers, visitors and regulars for making it such a lovely evening, and as always, much gratitude to those who shared their talent during the open mic portion of the night. 🙂

Erin, Richard, Walter, John
         
Richard, Kevin, Jon, Jack
               

We’re looking forward to strumming and singing with you again on October 9th! 🙂

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

August’s meeting, our biggest to date, had nearly 100 ukulele players singing and strumming a great tune by The Clash: “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” The fast tempo and contagious rhythm energized our talented group who proved yet again what a wonderfully diverse instrument our beloved ukulele is, moving seamlessly from reggae to 80’s punk rock, to Tin Pan Alley tunes and Willie Nelson country.

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

A huge thank you to those who shared a tune they’re working on – you all sounded great, and we look forward to hearing more at the Rattle Inn on Tuesday, August 19, and at future meetings. 🙂

Vince, Phillip and Kevin, Janet
                  
Erin, Ryan, and Michael
      
We’re looking forward to strumming and singing with you again on September 11th! 🙂

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

Our July meeting was a mid-summer night’s dream full of everything wonderful! Family gathering, friends chatting, faces smiling, voices singing, and of course, scores of ukuleles strumming! The group did a great job learning a medley of three great Tin Pan Alley-era tunes, songs every ukulele player should have in his or her repertoire: 🙂

• “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” by Ray Henderson, Sam Lewis and Joe Young, 1925
• “All of Me” by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons, 1931
• “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby” by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn, 1925

We also had a blast giving a surprise shout-out to some of our ukulele friends across the pond, the Belle V’Ukes of Shrewsbury!

You can download the lyrics and chords here. Download a copy of the instruction sheet for this song (what we project up on the wall for all to follow along) here.

A very warm welcome to the first-time participants as well as those of you have been joining us for nearly four years! A special thanks to Leta and Thayer, Ryan, Celeste, Jack, Ray and Walter for delighting us with a tune during the Open Mic portion.

Walter, Sam and Sammi, Ryan, Ray
               
Thayer and Leta, Jack, Celeste
      
Brady, Woody, and Ian Woodall
   

We’re looking forward to strumming and singing with you again on August 14th! 🙂

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

An ensemble of Austin Ukulele Society members wowed the runners in the 2014 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 players alike! MANY thanks to everyone who came out. Can’t wait til next year! 🙂