MIDLAND CULTURAL CENTRE
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Each year the Midland Cultural Centre hosts its annual ukulele festival in beautiful downtown Midland. This three day festival, the first Uke Fest in Ontario, allows ukulele players of all ages to participate in workshops, jam sessions, concerts and all things ukulele-based. The diverse range of workshops provides both a lively and educational experience.
From beginner, to intermediate, to advanced workshops, there is something for every skill level. A dynamic group of workshop leaders also ensures that no two workshops are alike. A mass jam session, Uke-Mania is a festival favourite - with over 150 participants all playing simultaneously this is an exhilarating experience!
Each year Uke Fest continues to grow, attracting ukulele artists, instructors and enthusiasts from all across the province and beyond.
The line-up of topnotch performers and instructors reflects that growth, featuring Lucky Uke (Montreal), Stuart Fuchs (Buffalo), Heather Katz (Orangeville), Cynthia Kinnunen (Guelph), Big Al (Al Csirik - Ottawa), Barb Rowlandson (Midland), Douglas John Cameron (Midland), and Bytown Ukulele Group (BUG - Ottawa) Jam Leaders Sue and Mark Rogers.
Visit the festival website for the complete schedule and all biographies of performers and workshop instructors, here: https://www.ukefest.ca/
Midland Cultural Centre is delighted that other towns across Canada are creating their own ukulele festivals and encourages everyone to support them as part of the growing uke community. What a tremendous wave of enthusiasm. Don't miss out on this year's amazing festival - tickets are still available online
for the following events
On Saturday, May 19, Stuart Fuchs (Ukulele Zen) Leads Two Intermediate Afternoon Workshops:
Stuart Fuchs is an internationally-touring performing guitarist and ukulele artist who performs and teaches fun & innovative ukulele workshops at music festivals throughout North America, the Caribbean & Europe. He keeps a busy schedule as a teacher in the ukulele circuit and also blends mindfulness and music at his annual “Ukulele Zen” retreat held at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck NY.
He has arranged and performed the gypsy jazz guitar music of Django Reinhardt for full symphonic orchestras and was featured on PRI’s "The World” with his award winning gypsy jazz band “Babik”. In 2014 Stuart was awarded a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts for his work bringing healing music to cancer patients at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo NY, where he was a professional artist in residence for over seven years. Stuart is an endorsing artist with Kala Ukuleles and currently tours internationally with the world renowned new age Kirtan artist Snatam Kaur. 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. Workshop #3
The Life & Times of Chuck Berry: Rock n Roll for Ukulele
Learn the stylistic nuances of rock n' roll on your Uke! By exploring songs from Chuck’s deep catalogue and applying Stu’s “Uke-a-billy” method, participants can give their ukulele-playing that classic rock n’ roll style & edge and play lots of fun and easy songs from the Father of Rock n Roll, Chuck Berry They will learn new rhythms, melodic licks that can be used to solo, and learn to improve their ability to strum and sing at the same time.
In addition, they will gain an insight into the creative ways Chuck Berry wove storytelling and rhythm & blues together to help create the style of Rock n Roll music.
4:15 - 5 p.m. Workshop #4 Ukulele Zen: Get Rhythm!
This workshop will give ukulele players of ALL experience levels a rock-solid foundation in ukulele-strumming and rhythm. Both beginning and advanced players will benefit from the focus on effortless “zen" technique. Participants will play LOTS OF FUN & EASY SONGS and learn many all-purpose grooves, deepen their rhythmic sensibilities using holistic and body-centric technique, and, improve tone and timing. In addition they will learn how to shortcut the learning process by applying Stu’s lighthearted and effective method of “Ukulele Zen” - a holistic learning method that draws upon the principles of yoga, meditation and qigong. Ukulele Zen has helped thousands of people cultivate good technique through a focus on good posture, breathing and relaxation techniques; a very positive and supportive mindset for their music journey.
2018 All Star Concert. This Year's Saturday Night All Star Concert Headliner is Lucky Uke - 8:30 p.m.
Featuring ukulele-based reggae and surf-pop renditions of heavy metal anthems, Lucky Uke was formed in 2010 around the talents of Montreal-based musicians Matt Laurent, Martin Héon, Sebastien "Watty" Langlois, Greg Morency, and Christian-Marc Gendron.
For more information, please visit the website
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