Under threat of closure due to increased rent, the splendid ukulele and banjo emporium, the Duke of Uke (http://www.dukeofuke.co.uk/), is running a series of fundraising events to support a re-location to new premises. The event was kindly hosted by Wieden+Kennedy, an advertising agency with offices next door to the Duke and boasting a ukulele orchestra of its own, presumably taught at the classes run by the Duke for beginners and experienced uke aficionados. Featuring the quirky and rather lovely Fiona Bevan, as well as Lulu and the Lampshades, 'Allo Darlin', and of course the W+K ukulele orchestra itself, the event exuded goodwill, fun, and warmth. With much of the audience lolling about on deckchairs scoffing free beer and cider, the evening boasted surprisingly good acts in an intimate, live setting. Lulu and the Lampshades were fresh and original, displaying real versatility as members of the (almost) all-female band swapped instruments with ease, exchanging percussion for guitar, and of course incorporating the all important ukulele. An extremely charming electric ukulele featured quite heavily!
'Allo Darlin' were a little too loud and repetitive, but they got a great atmosphere going, and the solo performed by the lead singer accompanied only by ukulele at the end was really quite magical.
To round the evening off, I was astonished to win the top prize in the raffle - a course of ukulele lessons! In anticipation, my Christmas ukulele got buffed up and tuned as soon as I got home!
More Duke of Uke fundraisers this week: http://www.dukeofuke.co.uk/news/?page_id=45
SB
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