Look out Garner, here we come!
Plus, what 'Brown' did for us, and news about next week
Hello, fellow barre-istas,
Our evening with David “Ukester Brown” Remiger was amazing, barre none. (OK. I’ll show myself out.) David opened our fingers and our minds to a new world of joyful playing and treated us to some delightful arrangements of songs at a performance we’ll cherish. Thank you 1 zillion times over. And thanks to those who joined in the fun.
When I’ve crowdsourced more photos and videos, I’ll post them.
Garner-ing 4-stringers for a brisk night of strumming
Tonight, Friday, September 23, WE WILL PLAY AT THE GARNER NIGHT MARKET! From 7-9 p.m., in the historic district downtown. A map is attached.
Another musician precedes us, so we may not be able to set up before 7. Try to arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 even so. Look for the stage area. Or get there earlier and sample the vendors and the people-watching options. I’ll send an email to our list a little after 6 with the precise coordinates.
Be ready for delightful autumn weather.
The playlist is in our Dropbox folder, or available if you need it. Email raleighukejam@gmail.com before 5 p.m. to get a copy.
Week of September 26: Here we go!
The fun is just starting.
• Tuesday, Sept. 27, Pelagic Bluegrass Jam, 300 Pace Street, downtown Raleigh, 7-9 p.m. Let’s pick some mountain music (and more)! A revised playlist will be in Dropbox.
• Thursday, Sept. 29, Open Mic at the Church, 7-9 p.m. Get a song or three ready to share with our discerning and supportive audience. We’re postponing our 9th Anniversary Party to Thursday, Oct. 6 (the next regular jam) because of a scheduling issue. Consider it an extra week to prepare for celebration!
• Saturday, Oct. 1, Open Strum-Along and Sing-Along at the IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival, downtown Raleigh, 3-5 p.m. Our friends Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will lead us in some songs. Bring your uke and a chair. They’ll provide the song sheets. Look for the Jam Tents in Exchange Plaza, 200 block of Fayetteville Street (between the old Capitol Building and the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center). Rain or shine!
If you have Netflix, be sure to catch the just-released documentary “Travelin’ Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall.” It’s 96 minutes of your life you’ll gladly give up to see maybe the greatest American rock and roll band at their peak, in 1970. The interviews and background (when and why did John Fogerty write “Proud Mary”?) are excellent.
The entire performance may take up no more than 45 minutes, but it’s shown from beginning to end, no interruptions, no commentary. Just the way the audience experienced it (but with better camera angles and superior sound).
Here’s a bootleg recording from the concert. The Netflix film is sooo much cleaner. (We should start doing their arrangment of this.) Happy strumming!
Film Critic Rick