by Lucy and Neil Carleton
Put together 20 strumming ukuleles, a djembe drummer and 70 voices raised in song–and what do you get? A real, old-time hootenanny!
Uke beginners and pros alike tapped their toes and strummed their instruments as the lyrics and chords popped up on the big screen above the stage at JR’s Restaurant on Thursday, December 19.
Down-down-down-down, down-up, down, down-up. The jam leaders provided all the enthusiastic participants with simple rhythm patterns for strumming and song sheets for the familiar tunes. But singers and strummers raised more than their voices .The Ukelaide Benefit Concert for victims of the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines also managed to raise $1000 in donations. This amount will now be matched by the Government of Canada, and will go directly to UNICEF Canada to providing clean drinking water, essential medicines and emergency nutritional supplements to provide humanitarian support and relief. Thank you to the musicians of the Bytown Ukulele Group, who came out to lead the sing- and strum-along, and who set the tone for a groovin’ good time.
Thank you to the musicians of the Bytown Ukulele Group in Ottawa, <www.bytownukulele.ca/>, who led the sing-along and strum-along. The contributions of supporters across the valley was appreciated very much.
