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.

April 9, 2015: Build Me Up Buttercup!

The 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.

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! 🙂

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

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

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.

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

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.

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. 🙂

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.

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.

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.

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. 🙂

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.

October 9, 2014 – Bad Moon Rising!

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.

September 11, 2014 – Here Come the Raindrops!

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! 🙂

August 14, 2014 – We’re Going to Stay!

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! 🙂