KYukefest 2022 – Sept. 9-11
Presented by Artworks at the Carver School
and Lexington Parks and Rec. along with LexArts
Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Danielle’s concerts are a real treat – it’s simply impossible not to be delighted by the experience. She’s also, quite simply, a fabulous human being. We have been trying to coordinate schedules with this superstar for years and are THRILLED that she will be headlining KYukefest! Her particular gift is as a wordsmith and we know that her workshops will help you hone your songwriting skills.
Ohana Ukulele artist Timothy James is an American singer, songwriter, and country music recording artist. Born and raised in, California, James grew up engulfing himself in the works of country music icons like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, George Strait, Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw.
In 2017 Josh Misko left California to join Tim in Tennessee, and they began to develop their signature sound.
Members of the ukulele community know jeremy messersmith for his album 11 Obscenely Optimistic Songs For Ukulele: A Micro-Folk Record For the 21st Century And Beyond. A thoughtful lyricist, the Minneapolis-based troubadour crafts songs that span the emotional gamut from poignancy to whimsy. This is Jeremy’s first ukulele festival (but we’re are certain that it won’t be his last).
Sho is a solo instrumental ukulele performer who plays original music, but also enjoys surprising audiences with genres and sounds they never expected to hear from the ukulele. From classic rock covers to complex, live-looping dance beats, Sho makes audiences laugh and gets them up and dancing.
We were first introduced to Sho on TikTok, but you may already know them from the 100 days of ukulele community.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND CLASSES
FRIDAY NIGHT (TICKETED)
6:30 Check-In Carver Center
7:00 pm Everybody Gets a Kitten Sandwich Sing-a-long from the songbooks of Danielle Ate the Sandwich and Jeremy Messersmith Carver Center
9:00 Curated Open Mic at the Clarion – Free admission, cash bar and menu hosted by Colonel Uke and featuring 516 and Jonathan and his Four String Fiasco
SATURDAY (TICKETED)
8:30 Check-In Carver Center
9:00-9:30 UKULELE MARKETPLACE OPEN
9:30am-10:30am CLASSES (TICKETED)
Class codes: B/Beginner, I/Intermediate, All/All levels (Full Weekend Passholders May Choose Up to Four Classes. First Come, First served.)
C/Available for Companion Ticket (Companion Ticketholders Entitled to One Class from the Designated Offerings)
9:30am-10:30am
ROOM A (All) DATS: Soulful Singing and Playing on the Ukulele – All Levels
Loosen up your body! Free your spirit! Let your voice be heard! This workshop focuses on relaxing the muscles and approaching your playing with a loose and soulful attitude. When we find the rhythm in music, the movement in our bodies and the soul in our voices, we can concentrate on giving better performances and achieve a higher level of playing. All levels of experience are welcome, but we will use basic chords and play standing up and moving around.
ROOM B (B/I) Sho: 5 Levels of the Island Strum: Part 1 – Beginner
Participants break down the island strum into less busy components, then use those to form contrasting sections (verse gets a softer strum, that builds to a larger chorus, etc). The goal is to acquire key tools for performing on the ukulele while not straying too far from the familiar.
ROOM C (B/C) Jeremy Messersmith: An Obscenely Optimistic Class for Beginning Ukulele Players – Absolute Beginner/Companion Pass eligible
Jeremy is known in the ukulele community for a clever micro-folk album that is accessible to new players and engaging to players of all abilities. Join him for this fun beginner class!
10:45am– 11:45am
ROOM A (I) Sho: 5 Levels of the Island Strum: Part 2 – Intermediate/Advanced
The same base song as the Beginner Version (Three Little Birds – Bob Marley), but this time adding more components onto the island strum (percussion, feathering, fills), to be able to build contrast in both directions. Workshop will be friendly to those who didn’t attend the beginner version of the workshop, but will directly build off of the beginner version.
ROOM B (I) Jonathan Piercy: That Feline Beat: Making Your Chords Move – Intermediate
That chord sheet might just say “C” or “G”, but that doesn’t mean your fret hand needs to sit still! Jonathan Piercy (of Four String Fiasco fame) will show you how to find more interesting sounds by moving those chords around. You’ll learn his arrangement of the Disney classic “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” and talk about walks, slides, and other jazzy bits. Because playin’ jazz, you’ve always got a welcome mat! This is an intermediate workshop. Familiarity with basic chords and some barre chords will be helpful.
ROOM C (All) From Seat to Stage: Map out your musical journey with Mim’s Ukes – All levels
When you see people on stage do you think, “I could never do that!” Well, sorry to break this to you, but EVERYONE can! From finding your unique voice, conquering your fears, stagecraft, skipping the school of hard knocks, and taking the stage like a seasoned performer; This will be a workshop about finding where you are now, setting goals, finding your musical self, taking the first step and you… yes YOU… will be on your way to taking the stage.
ROOM D (B/I) Josh of Timothy James: Intro to the Nashville Numbers System, gone Ukulele!
Students will learn the basic theory behind the famous Nashville numbers system, why it is used so prominently in live and recorded music today, and how to apply it to ukulele playing, jamming, and songwriting.
Noon To 2:00pm
Lunch on Your Own
Ukulele Marketplace Open
Aloha Jam Room Open
1:30-2:15 Ukulele Portraits with Professional Photographer Patty Dawson
2:15-3:15pm
ROOM A (B) DATS: Songwriting Basics (45 mins+) ALL LEVELS
In this class we will explore how to use your ukulele as a songwriting tool. We will focus on the basics of chords, melody and writing lyrics, and write a song together. Beginners are absolutely welcome, but those with a basic knowledge of chords and strumming may find it easier to concentrate on the writing and singing aspects of this class. Please bring your favorite writing utensil.
ROOM B (I) Jonathan Piercy Under the Covers
What’s the difference between a good cover and a great cover? In this workshop, Jonathan Piercy (of Four String Fiasco fame) will show you how to find the “finesse points” that can take your cover up a notch and really make it yours. In the second half of the workshop, you’ll have a chance to play one of your songs and we’ll talk about how to punch it up. Recommended level: advanced beginner to intermediate.
ROOM C (B/I) First, Do No Harm with Colonel Uke (Paul Curry) – Teaching beginner ukulele lessons that focus on the essential skills, without reinforcing bad habits. In this class you’ll learn some tips for ensuring that your ukulele beginners; get started off right, stay excited about practicing, and don’t develop bad habits that will frustrate and discourage them as they progress.
ROOM D (B/I) Timothy James: The ukulele jam, gone Country!
4:00 – 6:30pm DINNER BREAK
4:30 Banjolele flash-mob at Greyline Station 101 W Loudon Ave, Lexington, KY 40508
Dinner on Your Own
Ukulele Marketplace
Aloha Jam Room Open
6:00-7:00 Ukulele Portraits with Professional photographer Patty Dawson
7:00pm-9:30ish KYukfest Concert at Carver (GYM)
(Ticketed Event. Free for those with a Weekend Pass or Companion Ticket )
10:00 – Afterparty and Open Mic at Goodfellas Pizza
Free admission, cash bar and menu. Hosted by Jonathan and his Four Fingered Fiasco and featuring Richard Cisnaros and When Ukuleles Attack
SUNDAY SCHEDULE (TICKETED)
9:30am-10:30ish
ROOM A (I) DATS:Finding Your Songwriting Voice (60 mins+) Intermediate
This class is aimed to help you write personal and authentic songs. We will focus on how to write interesting and authentic lyrics, and develop them into melodies that fit into chord structure and form. Diving deeper into songwriting, our goal will be to begin to unlock your personal style and message as a writer. Beginners are welcome, but those with a basic knowledge of chords and strumming may find it easier to concentrate on the writing and singing aspects of this class. Please bring a pencil!
ROOM B (B) Sho: 4 Chords in 4 Positions
A workshop focusing on building contrast within an arrangement by changing how chords are fretted. This workshop uses the classic Riptide by Vance Joy as a springboard into playing chords all the way up and down the neck, as well as a brief lesson in another readily available “chord” – dead notes. The goal is the same as other workshops – to give participants tools to expand performing on their instrument – while again not straying too far from the familiar, as the workshop sticks to the basic Island Strum the whole time.
ROOM C (B/I) Mick Jeffries: The Beginning of the End – Beginner/Intermediate
Lexingtones song stylist/arranger Mick “Mr. Toastey” Jeffries is back with tricks for making songs your own by tweaking up beginnings and endings, including chord voicing, percussion, and riffing! Please bring a “pocket tune” (personal, can’t-lose favorite), as we’ll try to go around and work up some start/finishes for each person’s song! (time allowing)
ROOM D (All) – Mim’s Care and Feeding of the Ukulele.
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn tips and tricks from Mim to make your ukulele as playable and tone-rich as possible.
11:00 GYM
(All/C) Community Karauke. YOU are the star!!!!
Have you always wanted to take center stage with a full ukulele ensemble? Here is your chance! Your Karauke choices will include fun favorites and while you take the spotlight mic and strut your stuff the audience will dance to your sweet jams. Mim will emcee and give prizes for the most outrageous performances and outfits. Silent Auction and Drawing Winners announced!
Ukulele Marketplace
Been drooling over ukuleles that you can only find online?
Looking for a solid starter uke, but you want to be able to try a number of different models?
Do you want a one of a kind handcrafted instrument? We’ve got you covered.
You’ll also find a great assortment of shakers, amps, and accessories.
Vendors include:
Mim’s Ukes, Mainland Ukulele, Michael Burt Pottery, ThomDawg Woodworking, and other vendors.
Countdown to KYukefest!
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