Fourth Annual Frets Halligan Ukulele Picnic
will be held May 31, 2025 - Searsport Shores Ocean Campground
will be held May 31, 2025 - Searsport Shores Ocean Campground
What: Ukulele Picnic, open to the public, to honor Frets Hallagan. Frets founded the first Belfast Ukulele Picnic and is now strumming on the west coast.
Donation: A donation of $10 per family, including visiting players, is strongly suggested. Volunteers are free to skip the donation. You may buy a wood-fired pizza cooked specifically for you. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
Sponsors: Our great sponsors are Bliss of Ellsworth (for your ukulele needs!) and big thanks go to our host, Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport ME.
Vendor: Bliss: Ellsworth's Music Source will have ukuleles and uke supplies like Ando's Beginners Manual, tuners and straps for sale at the picnic. Scott can special order almost any instrument or musical accessory. Stop by and talk to him about your wants and needs (except when he is playing that day with his group.)
When: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 1:00 to 8:00. Rain or shine! Multiple indoor facilities are available if needed. Your $10 donation covers all activities and events.
Beginners' Ukulele Workshop led by Ando Anderson starts at 1:00. Workshops for more experience students will be led Jeff Weinberger, Ando Anderson, and Dave Lewis at 2:00. Performances start at 3:00 followed by a picnic supper or pizza dinner, with a guided jam led by Ando Anderson starting at 7:00. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
Where: Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport ME on Route 1 between Belfast and Searsport. Look for the big Mermaid sign.
Why: To bring together Ukulele players in the Midcoast Maine area for a fun musical experience.
Who: Ando Anderson is coordinating the picnic events. Midcoast Ukes and Stone Soup Ukes are the two of the groups performing. Everyone is welcome to come and listen and to join the guided jam session.
What the Bring: Ukulele if playing. Picnic supper if staying. Pizza available for sale. Click HERE to reserve a pizza. Recommended: Music stand, comfortable chair, printed music booklets, cash for pizza, joyful attitude.
Publicity Help Needed: Please hand out or share the poster for the event available HERE (PDF) and HERE (jpg)
Donation: A donation of $10 per family, including visiting players, is strongly suggested. Volunteers are free to skip the donation. You may buy a wood-fired pizza cooked specifically for you. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
Sponsors: Our great sponsors are Bliss of Ellsworth (for your ukulele needs!) and big thanks go to our host, Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport ME.
Vendor: Bliss: Ellsworth's Music Source will have ukuleles and uke supplies like Ando's Beginners Manual, tuners and straps for sale at the picnic. Scott can special order almost any instrument or musical accessory. Stop by and talk to him about your wants and needs (except when he is playing that day with his group.)
When: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 1:00 to 8:00. Rain or shine! Multiple indoor facilities are available if needed. Your $10 donation covers all activities and events.
Beginners' Ukulele Workshop led by Ando Anderson starts at 1:00. Workshops for more experience students will be led Jeff Weinberger, Ando Anderson, and Dave Lewis at 2:00. Performances start at 3:00 followed by a picnic supper or pizza dinner, with a guided jam led by Ando Anderson starting at 7:00. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
Where: Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport ME on Route 1 between Belfast and Searsport. Look for the big Mermaid sign.
Why: To bring together Ukulele players in the Midcoast Maine area for a fun musical experience.
Who: Ando Anderson is coordinating the picnic events. Midcoast Ukes and Stone Soup Ukes are the two of the groups performing. Everyone is welcome to come and listen and to join the guided jam session.
What the Bring: Ukulele if playing. Picnic supper if staying. Pizza available for sale. Click HERE to reserve a pizza. Recommended: Music stand, comfortable chair, printed music booklets, cash for pizza, joyful attitude.
Publicity Help Needed: Please hand out or share the poster for the event available HERE (PDF) and HERE (jpg)
|
|
|
DETAILS:
My friend Frets Halligan was a great ambassador for ukulele in Midcoast Maine years ago. He taught uke to group and adult ed classes, and at the Maine Fiddle Camp. He led workshops in local schools as well as throughout Maine, New England, and the entire East Coast. Frets' enthusiastic uke playing and singing was treasured in many venues; nursing homes, churches, parties, schools, and Belfast Summer Nights. He ultimately organized the first local ukulele picnic which evolved into the Belfast Uke Fest organized by Midcoast Ukes. The pandemic forced cancellation of the Uke Fest for the last two years, and Midcoast Ukes decided not to hold one in 2022. John Elberfeld and I decided a smaller, much simpler, picnic could bring local players together to share songs and good company. I decided to name it the First Annual Frets Halligan Ukulele Picnic to recognize his contribution to uke music around here and because of its success, we are holding a Fourth Annual Picnic. Admission to the picnic has a $10/family suggested donation for everyone. Family participation is encouraged. Our great sponsor is Bliss of Ellsworth (for your ukulele needs!)
LOCATION: The picnic is on the grounds of Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport Me. The Uke Picnic will be held rain or shine. Events will be outside if possible, so dress appropriately. The campground has a covered sound stage for performers, and several benches for the audience. Bringing a comfortable chair with you is recommended. There are short walks from the parking locations to the band stand and modern restrooms. You are encouraged to arrive early so you have time to tour the beautiful campground area and the waterfront.
FOOD: Bring your own food and drink for the evening meal or buy fresh wood-fired pizza created and baked to your specific guidelines. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
SCHEDULE:
1:00 Complete Beginner workshop
2:00 All workshop will run from 2:00 to 2:45. Concerts start at 3:00:
3:00 Midcoast Ukes
4:00 Stone Soup Ukes
5:00 Smaller groups and individuals
6:00 Supper will start when the performances end at approximately 6:00. Bring your own food or purchase a wood-fired pizza made fresh as you watch and direct. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
7:00 A guided jam session will begin at 7:00 or when the majority of the players have finished eating and will end at 8:00.
WORKSHOPS: Locations depend on the weather.
Please print the handouts and bring them with you to the workshop
CONCERT LOCATION: 3:00 - Main Stage if warm and sunny - Rain or cold: Dye Barn
GUIDED JAM: 7:00 - Dye Barn - Ando will lead the jam participants through 20 songs (or so, depending on the time) selected for different playing levels. Three of the songs have harder chords which can be reviewed prior to the day of the picnic. The song booklet may be downloaded HERE for those who want to prepare and become familiar with the tunes. If possible. print your copy of the song book and bring the copy with you because only a limited number of printed jam books will be available at the picnic. Many players view the song sheets on tablet computers.
CONTACTS: If you have specific questions please contact Ando Anderson. Volunteers are needed to help with the parking, assist beginners in the workshop, and guide visitors to campground facilities.
Photos from previous years:
My friend Frets Halligan was a great ambassador for ukulele in Midcoast Maine years ago. He taught uke to group and adult ed classes, and at the Maine Fiddle Camp. He led workshops in local schools as well as throughout Maine, New England, and the entire East Coast. Frets' enthusiastic uke playing and singing was treasured in many venues; nursing homes, churches, parties, schools, and Belfast Summer Nights. He ultimately organized the first local ukulele picnic which evolved into the Belfast Uke Fest organized by Midcoast Ukes. The pandemic forced cancellation of the Uke Fest for the last two years, and Midcoast Ukes decided not to hold one in 2022. John Elberfeld and I decided a smaller, much simpler, picnic could bring local players together to share songs and good company. I decided to name it the First Annual Frets Halligan Ukulele Picnic to recognize his contribution to uke music around here and because of its success, we are holding a Fourth Annual Picnic. Admission to the picnic has a $10/family suggested donation for everyone. Family participation is encouraged. Our great sponsor is Bliss of Ellsworth (for your ukulele needs!)
LOCATION: The picnic is on the grounds of Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport Me. The Uke Picnic will be held rain or shine. Events will be outside if possible, so dress appropriately. The campground has a covered sound stage for performers, and several benches for the audience. Bringing a comfortable chair with you is recommended. There are short walks from the parking locations to the band stand and modern restrooms. You are encouraged to arrive early so you have time to tour the beautiful campground area and the waterfront.
FOOD: Bring your own food and drink for the evening meal or buy fresh wood-fired pizza created and baked to your specific guidelines. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
SCHEDULE:
1:00 Complete Beginner workshop
2:00 All workshop will run from 2:00 to 2:45. Concerts start at 3:00:
3:00 Midcoast Ukes
4:00 Stone Soup Ukes
5:00 Smaller groups and individuals
6:00 Supper will start when the performances end at approximately 6:00. Bring your own food or purchase a wood-fired pizza made fresh as you watch and direct. Click HERE to reserve a pizza.
7:00 A guided jam session will begin at 7:00 or when the majority of the players have finished eating and will end at 8:00.
WORKSHOPS: Locations depend on the weather.
Please print the handouts and bring them with you to the workshop
- 1:00 p.m.The Beginner's Workshop, which is for people of all ages who have never played a ukulele before, although beginners at all levels are welcome. It will run from 1:00 to 1:45. Ando Anderson will lead the workshop. Saturday afternoon. Participants should bring an instrument with them. If you arrive a few minutes early, volunteers will help you tune your uke. The workshop is based on Ando's new ukulele manual, Playing the Uke with Ando. You may download HERE the select pages that will be used in the workshop. Printed handouts will be available on a first come-first served basis. The complete book will be for sale at the picnic. Children from the age of six up through senior citizens will be able to play a song or two by the end of the workshop.
- 2:00 p.m. Fingerstyle Ukulele - led by Jeff Weinberger. In this workshop, we take a look at proper right hand technique and then have fun exploring several styles using this skill set. We’ll look at essential picking patterns as well as how to apply them to some actual songs. We’ll cover everything from simple folk songs to sophisticated classical pieces. Open to all but absolute beginners. Click HERE for downloads.
- 2:00 p.m. - Moving Harmonies - Ando Anderson - My workshop will focus on playing moving harmonies within chords in Something by George Harrison and Kind of a Drag by the Buckinghams.
- 2:00 pm.- Flatpicking Ukulele led by Dave Lewis. This intermediate level workshop will focus on rhythm patterns as well aa melodic playing, using a guitar-style flat pick. Emphasis will be on accompanying singing. An open discussion: participants will help set the agenda. Come with songs, ideas and questions.
- 1:00 - ANDO - The Beginner's Workshop - Welcome Shack - Rain or cold: Rec Hall
- 2:00 - JEFF - Fingerstyle Ukulele - Main Stage if warm and sunny - Rain or cold: Dye Barn
- 2:00 - ANDO - Moving Harmonies - Welcome Shack - Rain or cold: Rec Hall
- 2:00 - DAVE - Flat Picking Ukulele - Garden Kitchen
CONCERT LOCATION: 3:00 - Main Stage if warm and sunny - Rain or cold: Dye Barn
GUIDED JAM: 7:00 - Dye Barn - Ando will lead the jam participants through 20 songs (or so, depending on the time) selected for different playing levels. Three of the songs have harder chords which can be reviewed prior to the day of the picnic. The song booklet may be downloaded HERE for those who want to prepare and become familiar with the tunes. If possible. print your copy of the song book and bring the copy with you because only a limited number of printed jam books will be available at the picnic. Many players view the song sheets on tablet computers.
CONTACTS: If you have specific questions please contact Ando Anderson. Volunteers are needed to help with the parking, assist beginners in the workshop, and guide visitors to campground facilities.
Photos from previous years:
|
|
|
|
Photos from the 2024 Picnic by John Elberfeld and Jon Gottsche. If you have photos, please email them to [email protected]. Thanks.