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We all have our own stories... A customer asked me today how I can be so confident recommending a particular Uke, I have been around the block a few times and I figure a rainy September evening is the perfect time to tell you all what Ukes I use and have used. Forgive the self indulgence but just recently, more...

Every month we ask Phil Doleman to try out a Ukulele and give us his thoughts. This month he is looking at the Romero Creations Tiny Tenor Ukulele. ROMERO CREATIONS TINY TENOR This is an intriguing uke, and one that traditionalist might immediately dismiss; they'd be making a mistake, though! Luthier Pepe Romero worked with Daniel Ho to design this...

Beltona instruments are made by luthier Steve Evans a few miles from Leeds, UK. He's been making them since 1990, and you'll have seen them played by Tiny Tim, James Hill, Dead Man's Uke, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and yours truly. Since 2002 he has focussed on making his instruments from resin: That's where it gets interesting! First...

So here we are again; about to dive head first into August and all that comes with the 8th month of the year. July has been a great month for us at SUS as we finally had long awaited deliveries from Pono, Risa, Goldtone, Anuenue and Kala. The CITES restrictions on Rosewood pretty much dragged our industry to a halt...

Happenings in July In the 22nd July it's Uke Fest Essex. This is a free event (though workshops are £15), featuring Ben Rouse, Opera-lele, Phillipa Leigh, The D'Ukes, and me and Ian  Emmerson. http://ukefest-essex.co.uk Shameless plug! I'll be playing with Ian Emmerson in London and Shrewsbury in July. Fri 21st July:  Chat's Palace, Hackney http://chatspalace.com/events/phil-doleman-ian-emmerson/ Sun 23rd July: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury http://www.theatresevern.co.uk/shows/music/phil-doleman-ian-emmerson Around the World In July you'll also find; July 7th 9th: Rocky Mountain Uke Fest, Colorado, with Kevin Carroll.  http://rockymountainukefest.com July 14th 16th Uke U, Bend Oregon, with Lil' Rev, Jim D'Ville, Aaron and Nicole Keim,  Danielle Ate The Sandwich and lots more. http://ukeu.info July 16th The 47th Annual Ukulele Festival Hawaii, with Ohta San, Herb Ohta Jr. and  lots more, including Roy Sakuma's 700 piece Ukulele Band! http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org July's playing tip Be aware. This might sound obvious, but it's very easy when you're reading a sheet,  trying to remember the next chord or are just generally bogged down in the  technicalities of operating your instrument to forget to listen to the music you and  those you are playing with are making. Ask yourself; am I feeling the  beat?  Am I 'in sync' with everyone else? Am I aware of where I am in the song? When is the  ending coming, and how am I going to finish? We've all been in a session where  someone is playing very loud and out of time, or is late with every chord change,  or where someone carries on after the final chord has been hit.  Don't let it be you! Chord of the month A nice easy easy one to play this month, but one that's very effective. C augmented  crops up in the chorus of The Beatles' “All My Loving”, in between an Am and a C,  creating lovely descending line. It's a pattern the Fab Four were very fond of.  You can use it as an ascending pattern too, which happens in John Lennon's  “Just Like Starting Over” (if youplay it in C!) and even in Food, Glorious Food  from Oliver (on the 'Is it worth the waiting for, if we live 'til eighty four?' line)!  Given the oft-mentioned Beatles influence on the band Oasis,  it's hardly surprising then that we find this chord in their songs, too.  “Let There Be Love” uses a C to Caug change several timesat the very beginning.   All the best, Phil www.phildoleman.co.uk

The original post can be viewed here with more photos relating to Cheltenham. http://www.icontact-archive.com/vb_QF00Z4fgxG3h1kQx41Jw4qN29uAr2?w=3   How did you enjoy that mini heatwave? It was crazy down in Bournemouth with holiday makers and day trippers really getting a taste of Bournemouth at its best. We have met some wonderful people that planned whole holidays around coming to the store and the...

Happenings in May We're well into festival season now, and they're coming thick and fast. I'll be at Winchester Ukulele Festival on June 3rd along with Del Rey, Andy Eastwood, Operalele, The Mother Ukers and more. The following weekend (9th-11th) I'll be at the Ukulele Festival of Scotland with a whole host of performers including Sarah Maisiel & Craig Chee...

As mentioned last month, May kicks off with the 5th Grand Northern Ukulele Festival on the 5th -7th, but you'll also find The New Forest Ukulele Festival in New Milton, Hampshire on the 20th and Uke Power at Drax Social Club, Selby, North Yorkshire on the 26th-28th. Uke happenings around the world In Europe The Paris Ukulele Festival takes place...