Zooming in

DUO convened for the first time in a couple of weeks today by the magic of video conferencing technology.  Learning to play ukulele - learning anything musical, in some cases - means we’re used to the idea of a learning curve but this has been something on another scale altogether.  Just like lots of people across the UK, we’re grappling with how our phones, iPads or computers can help us to meet without breaching the social distancing advice.  It’s probably going to take a bit more practice and some more thinking to work out how we can use the technological resources at our disposal to substitute for our usual weekly rehearsals - playing along together in real time really doesn’t work - but it was a joy to be able to see and talk to each other (with a few absentees) for an hour.

We’ll do what we can to keep our fingers warmed up and to work on new pieces that we’ll hope to bring to you just as soon as we’re through this.

In the meantime, Stay Home and Save Lives!

Also, fun fact: An old cassette case works quite well as a phone stand during a video conference.

Wise Men Say...

In DUO, we always strive to give the best performance that we can and to please our audiences. If something does go wrong, though, the worst that can happen is that we'll have red faces and maybe have a bit of a laugh about it. No real pressure, right?

Today was different. 

Today we played at our first wedding. 

As bride and groom made their pledges to each other, we provided the soundtrack to the most important day of their lives so far. 

No pressure? 

Truth be told, it wasn't absolutely perfect. A wrong note or two, a missed beat here and there. But I'm not sure anyone noticed, or cared, if they did. 

It was beautiful, magical, special and wonderful. 

Thank you, Mr & Mrs Burgess. Lang may yer lum reek!

#TheDevilMadeMeABetterUker

We unveiled a fiendish new number on our (first) outing to Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry yesterday.  Here's a wee clip.  It's only part of it but you get the flavour.

(Video by Matthew Laing)

Look out for it popping up in our upcoming gigs.
The event was a fundraiser held by friends of a Glasgow born sound engineer who sadly died last year at his home in Greece.  DUO were delighted to open the event and we hope a good sum was raised for the causes chosen, which were personal to man being remembered.  As you can see from the video, we didn't fit on the stage so performed acoustically on the dancefloor.

We had a great time listening to the acts that followed us as you can see from the photos.

Posing before the Opry stage

Jackie

Zoe, Catrin and Freda

Liz, Freda and pals

Helen and Joanna (at her 1st gig!)

Duke had a comfortable perch to view proceedings

(Photos by Zoe, Helen, Jackie 😎)

Alice

Our hearts were full in DUO today as we bade a final farewell to orchestra member and dear friend Alice Newlands at her funeral in Alloway.

Alice joined the orchestra in 2016 not long after she and husband, Derek, had returned home to Ayrshire on their retirement after many years living and working in other parts of Scotland.  Alice worked for many years for RSABI, a Scottish charity providing emotional, practical and financial support to people from the farming and agricultural community, including during the sector’s most challenging period of recent times – the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001.

With her beautiful singing voice and keen musical ear, Alice was at the vanguard of developing DUO’s now-signature vocal sound and she was a regular both at rehearsals and at performances throughout her time with us up until illness made it impossible for her to continue.

It was both an honour and a privilege to be asked to play at Alice’s funeral.  In her honour, we played two of Alice’s own favourite songs from our repertoire – “That’s the Glory of Love” and “Wild Mountain Thyme”.  We hope that it provided some comfort to Alice’s family and friends to hear us. It was certainly moving and uplifting for us to play.

We send our love to everyone who knew and loved Alice.  She’ll always be a part of Dalrymple Ukulele Orchestra. 

PEANUT BUTTER (and jelly)

We all about the ukuleles, of course, but, if you've heard us perform, you'll know how much we like to sing as well.  In fact, we've had some lovely feedback about our vocals recently that's making us blush just a bit.

We're working on something special for later in the year and wanted to make sure our vocal performance is all that it can be so we invited the lovely Wendy-Anne Wilson along to give us some guidance.

Let's just say that we're glad no-one was filming us as she put us through our paces with some vocal exercises (including the one that gives this blog post its title) to improve breathing, diction and sound.

Hopefully, you'll hear the fruits of her labours in our next few performances.  See our gigs page for your next chance to hear us in action.

Beginning again and an ending

After a short break and with summer drawing to a close, we've started rehearsals again this evening.
Although we are starting up again, our first task has been to bid a fond farewell to Sheila, who is heading North.

Sheila might not have been with us for very long but we wish her well in her next chapter. If you're in the Highlands in the next couple of years and hear the strains of a ukulele playing, perhaps it will be her - and maybe it will be her and the ukulele orchestra she's going to start up 

If, on the other hand, you're near the MacLaurin Gallery this Sunday 25th about 2.30pm and hear ukuleles, it's US and, if we're already playing, you're late for the gig! (tickets £8 on the door, includes refreshments).

Vacaciones españolas del D'uke

Just got this email from band mascot, D’uke, who is on holiday with the gaffer in Fuerteventura: 

“Hi, guys!

Well, this is the life!  The boss, the head roadie and I flew from Prestwick yesterday and, just a short while – and a ferry ride - later, we were enjoying the sunshine in Fuerteventura.  

I know I shouldn’t brag since it’s probably grey and rainy back in Scotland (sorry!) but this place is just beautiful.

I’ve been meeting the locals and had a great jam with a local musician on the seafront.  Well, I tried, but he really didn’t do very much.  I kept waiting for him to break into song but nothing.

Anyway, after that, we went for a drink.  Well, I say “we” but, bearing in mind it was me, the roadie and the boss, how many drinks do you see in that picture?

Must close now.  It’s time for my siesta.  Wish you were here!

Your pal

D’uke”

D'uke's summer

Band mascot, D'uke, enjoyed a short break recently in the company of the Donaldson family. 

D'uke and pal, Leopard, spent time jamming in the caravan out of the rain while D'uke got to know his new ukulele, lovingly made for him by Mr S.
D'uke will be joining us on the stage with the best view in Scotland at the Dunure Festival Of The Sea this afternoon. The action kicks off at 1pm and we're due on at 1.30pm.
See you there!

The Best Fest in the West

Thanks to Dalrymple's very own meteorologist, the glorious weather was no surprise as day 2 of Doonfest dawned. Also no surprise was the general fabulousness of day 2 of Doonfest musically speaking.

Hinging by a Threed regaled the bar with an upbeat selection of melodies and sold copies of their beautiful CD (www.hingingbyathreed.com).  

Daytime entertainment included penny whistles, bhangra dancers and samba drummers.

We hosted a ukulele singalong and then played a short set to round off the (free) afternoon session.

The evening session in the main marquee kicked off with local sensation, Seaside Sons followed by Glasgow based ska outfit, Esperanza. The night came to a rousing conclusion with the spectacular vocals of Melissa Kelly and the Smoking Crows. Melissa hails from Ayrshire and started gigging on the local scene.

Doonfest is in its 3rd year and keeps getting better and better, appealing to all ages, if the enthusiastic (sold out) crowd was anything to go by.

There's just one more day of Doonfest 2019 to go, but it's going to be as good as day 2 and maybe more.

Uke on the 4th of July

We think our audiences are generally pretty great but the ladies of Ladies Golf Club, Troon have set the bar higher than ever.

At a red, white and blue celebration of American Independence Day (complete with Uncle (Aunty?) Sam), the excitement level was stratospheric almost from the first strum.

We packed the set list with American classics, kicking off with "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" and including "Wagon Wheel", a medley of Johnny Cash songs and "Bad Moon Rising".

We absolutely believe in audience participation in D.U.O.  The left side of the room definitely took the prize for their excellent performance in the chorus of "Proud Mary". (Which left? Yours, or theirs? Ed.) By the 2^nd restart of “They Don’t Know”, the ladies had got the timing for “Baby!” almost exactly right.  You’ll get it next time, for sure.

Your next chance to try is at Doonfest, which starts TOMORROW!

If you are holding an event or your club has a space to fill in  your calendar and you would like to see whether you can be an even more excited audience than the ladies of Troon, get in touch via our email address, Facebook page or this sites Contact form.

Belleisle Conservatory Gig 21st June

A Summer night in...

The ladies of the orchestra playing in the conservatory

We recently found ourselves in the beautiful surroundings of the newly refurbished conservatory in Belleisle Park for a performance to celebrate "Make Music Day".  Hosted by Belleisle Conservatory Ltd, the event was part of a global movement to promote wider engagement in music, which is definitely something we can get behind.

An unusually enthusiastic audience (and a little prosecco) kept us going.  We loved the atmosphere and we're already looking forward to playing there again.  Keep an eye on our events page for news of other gigs.