This event will be held over 3 days at the Gower Heritage Centre. It will be our 4th year celebrating this great instrument and its awesome community. You can expect quality artists, workshops,open mic sessions, jamming areas, singalongs, stalls and much more...
Based in the heart of the beautiful Gower Peninsula, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
We have home grown world class acts, also camping, stalls, workshops, open mic and jamming,not to forget a luscious selection of fine ales and other refreshments all for
your enjoyment and entertainment,these are just a few of the many community based activities we have planned for UFOW 2019. Promising to be a fun packed weekend!
In addition to the Festival, the centre has craft shops, craft activities, old fashioned games arcade, sandpit area,adventure playground, soft play area, tractor play area, an animal farm with chicks, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep and horses and is home to La Charrette Wales' smallest cinema.
We will be kicking off this year’s Festival on the 28th June, you can download the festival songbook and timetable below so get those Uke’s ready !!!
FRIDAY 6pm- 11pm
SATURDAY 11am- 11pm
SUNDAY 11am- 6pm
Gary Phillips has performed all over the globe and will be playing a special set of tunes showing the true potential of the ukulele in many different styles including Hawaiian, Latin, Gypsy Jazz, Bluegrass, Ragtime, Blues, Old-Timey, Contemporary and more.
Formed for a talent contest in late 2008, Captain Cat and the Sailors are a Swansea based folk outfit who perform with verve. Playing a range of styles including traditional, contemporary and shanties, their performances are rarely forgotten. Whether singing ballads, telling stories or playing their own creations they are sure to entertain.
Corinne has been treading the musical boards for a few decades now in various guises! Originally found playing six strings with her guitar partner Mark Trueman, then doing some solo work in pubs and folk clubs she began her ukulele career in 2010 playing uke rock, blues and soul and performing with the popular Nantwich band , the N’Ukes.
Festival favourites Dead Mans Uke are a two man band playing old blues, dirt swing and hokum tunes on double bass and a resonator uke that belonged to Tiny Tim. They have recently played shows in Prague, Austria, Germany, Paris, London’s Hippodrome, Las Vegas and... Rotherham and are excited to be playing in Wales!
A biligual band with a difference putting an ubeat feel to well known classics as well as originals.Dont think usual folk band.. rather a modern and upbeat amplified combo - ukuleles,banjos,bongos,cajon,guitar, handrum and unconventional instruments.
The music band Gaudy Orde reside in South Wales and play original toe-tapping quirky music that is fun and flippant. If you're looking for a genre then you might try 'skiffle' or 'vaudeville' although neither of those trousers are a perfect fit. However you decide to describe Gaudy Orde, one thing is certain, they are a thoroughly entertaining live act.
Neil Starr is a musician hailing from Caerphilly, South Wales. He is usually found travelling the world playing with his rock n roll band ‘Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons’ but when he can he also likes to dust off his ukulele and play some solo shows. Neil’s set includes original songs mixed in with a blend of covers from the likes of The Beatles and Nirvana. Neil’s debut ukulele album, ‘Under the moon’ is set for release in 2019 and more ukulele shows are to follow.
The Naughty Corner Ukulele Band are a three piece outfit based in Worcester. They are all-singing, all-strumming,toe-tapping Ukulele players with a diverse songbook. The band formed at the start of 2015 primarily as a group of buskers to raise money for a band member to run the London Marathon.
Opera-lele is a crossover act specialising in singing music from opera and musical theatre accompanied by the emotionally powerful yet understated twang of the ukulele. Having both trained as singers at the Royal College of Music and Goldsmiths College in London, George Bartle and Amanda Harkett have gone on individually to forge careers for themselves as entertainers of the highest calibre.
Plastic Jeezus are a three-piece from Bournemouth. We write toe-tapping tunes with hummable melodies and drily witty lyrics to make audiences chortle. We’re very passionate about performing original songs – there is no better feeling feeling than being onstage, watching a crowd dancing, smiling and singing along to song that YOU wrote.
Quaintest Show On Earth are an alternative folk band from Wigan. They have played main stage with artists from all over the world at some of the most prestigious Ukulele festivals. Heavily featured across radio, short films and many forms of artistic media QSOE has caught the curiosity of many and gained a loyal following.
A singer/ songwriter, Sarah Kelly has supported stars like Joe Brown, Keston Cobblers Club and Mike Sanchez. In an eclectic set, rich with live-looped layers of harmony she presents original songs, old songs and contemporary songs but always TRUE songs.
A band formed from a ukulele club based in Resolven near Neath, the band brings a lively, varied and foot tapping set with some ‘unusual’ songs not often associated with the ukulele. Covering songs by artists such as Elton John, The Eagles, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones, their performance promises to be a memorable one!
Steven Sproat is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, ukulele exponent and bestselling author. His recording career began in the ‘80s and on his musical journey so far he has released 5 albums with several songs from those albums garnering airplay on BBC Radio 2, noteably by Aled Jones and Jeremy Vine.
The Ukoholix are an established Swansea band who perform a wide range of genres from 1960’s to current day hits.They have played in many festivals and were winners of The Golden Ukulele at Winchester Ukulele Festival 2017, they have also completed a tour of Jersey. Utilising a rhythm section and a funky bass, get ready to dust off your dancing shoes for some uke madness.
Al is our resident photographer. However,alongside his passion for taking pictures Al has been a lifelong student of the blues and ragtime, learning his craft playing guitar and harmonica in local bands. This year, along with taking pictures, Al will be bringing a taste of the Juke Joints of the Mississippi Delta to the festival, echoing the styles of Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, many others.
Are a dynamic and imaginative trio, consisting of 2 electro Ukes, Bass Uke and keyboard, and with their rich 3 part vocal harmonies they have this year thrilled audiences all over Europe and the Uk. They constantly strive to show what a lyrically beautiful instrument the Ukulele is, as well as a rhythmical one.
The Ukulele Uff Trio is comprised of Chris ‘Ukulele’ Hough on ukulele, ‘Lonesome’ Dave Searson on guitar and‘Brother’ Bill Leach on Hawaiian guitar. They specialize in obscure 1920’s and 1930`s jazz, tin pan alley songs and traditional Hawaiian music with a skill and authenticity.
Skills (various) Workshops (1 hour) fee £10 per workshop. to be paid on the day.
Sarah Kelly will be running her Complete Beginner free taster workshops at the GHC classroom all the others will be held at Mount Pisgah Chapel Parkmill.
You can also download the Workshops Timetable pdf in the About section of the Website.
DRUMABEAT SAMBA
Why not try your hand at something different and come along to our amazing Samba Drumming Workshop. Fun for all the family. No experience required and all instruments provided. More information on our Website www.drumabeat.co.uk.
CLAWHAMMER TECHNIQUE
Liam has been playing Clawhammer banjo longer than he’s been making ukuleles. In this workshop we will explore rhythmic approaches to Clawhammer ukulele informed by old-time Banjo playing, and look at accompanying American fiddle tunes in a way that suits the feel of the music.
INTRODUCING THE SPLIT STROKE
Gentle introduction to a very complex technique ,Easing in with splitting beats/explanation of splitting beats (no upstrokes at this stage) Gradually adding the upstrokes once the ‘split’ is being understood. Not just for Formby songs but any genre that has a beat or jazziness, can be played slow, medium or fast.
BEGINNERS
A singer/ songwriter, Sarah Kelly is known for her passion for the fostering of ukulele at grass roots level, through her teaching business “UKE-CAN”-Ukulele Lessons. Jump aboard a free beginner session and UKE-CAN be playing and singing Rock and Roll classics in minutes! Suitable for beginners of all ages.
Ukuleles will be supplied by Sarah for the duration of this workshop. No admission fee for this workshop but donations for our chosen charity would be kindly accepted.
Sarah's workshops are FREE.
MY FAVOURITE TECHNIQUES
In this workshop i intend to dissect some aspects of my own playing. I will be explaining some of my favourite techniques including strums and finger picking and how to use them. In other words i’ll show you some fancy stuff!
JOIN OPERA-LELE'S OPERA CHORUS
Ever wondered if you could sing in the opera? Well, Here’s your operatunity! George and Mandi from Opera-lele will teach you a famous opera chorus which you will then have the chance to perform on stage with Opera-lele. Here is your big chance to break into the opera - next stop, Covent Garden Opera House!
HOW TO SING HARMONY
This Workshop Roland will be teaching,singing and in particular vocal harmony If you want to find an easy and fun way to learn how to sing harmony by ear then this is the course for you. No note reading, no bogging down in music theory, learn to sing harmony intuitively. Just come along and enjoy!
Footage Courtesy of Alun Wyn Jones
221 Oxford Street, Swansea SA1 3BQ
info@derricksmusic.co.uk
By Post:
Gower Heritage Centre,
Parkmill,
Gower,
Swansea,
SA3 2EH,
Wales, U.K.
Telephone: +44 (0) 1792 371206
Fax: +44 (0) 1792 371471
Email: reception@gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
Whether you are looking for somewhere you can relax and unwind in a tranquil environment or have an exhilarating and exciting activity holiday in spectacular settings, Swansea, Gower, Mumbles
Web: http://tourismswanseabay.co.uk
Email: info@tourismswanseabay.co.uk
Telephone: 01792 371 441
Tŷ Hafan is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities and offers care to children and support for their families, throughout Wales.
Web: http://www.tyhafan.org