BELOW is a video sent by Frets Halligan from Portland, Oregon to help everyone celebrate the 2023 Ukulele Picnic in Maine. After getting many people started playing the ukulele in the Midcoast Maine area, he is using his talent now on the west coast.
What: Ukulele Picnic open to the public for FREE (donations appreciated) to honor Frets Hallagan. Frets founded the first Belfast Ukulele Picnic and is now strumming on the west coast.
When: Saturday, June 3, 2023. FREE! I will be teaching Beginners' Ukulele Workshop starts at 2:00. Performances start around 3:00 followed by a picnic supper or pizza dinner, with a guided jam led by Ando Anderson starting at 6:45.
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 two of the Belfast groups performing. Several ukulele students and individuals will also perform. Any uke players who would like to perform please text me at 207 322 7123 to sign up. 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. Recommended: Music stand, comfortable chair, printed music booklets, cash for pizza, joyful attitude.
When: Saturday, June 3, 2023. FREE! I will be teaching Beginners' Ukulele Workshop starts at 2:00. Performances start around 3:00 followed by a picnic supper or pizza dinner, with a guided jam led by Ando Anderson starting at 6:45.
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 two of the Belfast groups performing. Several ukulele students and individuals will also perform. Any uke players who would like to perform please text me at 207 322 7123 to sign up. 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. Recommended: Music stand, comfortable chair, printed music booklets, cash for pizza, joyful attitude.
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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 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 Second Annual Picnic. Admission to the picnic is free and open to everyone. Family participation is encouraged. Volunteers will pass the hat for free will donations to help defray the cost of this event.
LOCATION: The picnic is on the grounds of Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport Me. All events will be outside. In case of bad weather forecast I'll try to organize a rain date if possible. 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.
SCHEDULE: The Beginner's Workshop will run from 2:00 to 3:00. Starting a little after 3:00, local ukulele groups (including Stone Soup Ukes and Midcoast Ukes) and individuals will start to perform. Any individual players or small groups-duos, trios- are encouraged to sign up to perform. Supper will start when the performances end at approximately 6:00. A guided jam session will begin at 6:45 or when the majority of the players have finished eating and will end at 8:00.
FOOD: Bring your own food and drink for the evening meal, or buy fresh wood fired pizza created and baked to your specific guidelines.
WORKSHOP: I will lead 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 2:00 to 3:00 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.
GUIDED JAM: I 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.
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.
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 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 Second Annual Picnic. Admission to the picnic is free and open to everyone. Family participation is encouraged. Volunteers will pass the hat for free will donations to help defray the cost of this event.
LOCATION: The picnic is on the grounds of Searsport Shores Ocean Campground in Searsport Me. All events will be outside. In case of bad weather forecast I'll try to organize a rain date if possible. 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.
SCHEDULE: The Beginner's Workshop will run from 2:00 to 3:00. Starting a little after 3:00, local ukulele groups (including Stone Soup Ukes and Midcoast Ukes) and individuals will start to perform. Any individual players or small groups-duos, trios- are encouraged to sign up to perform. Supper will start when the performances end at approximately 6:00. A guided jam session will begin at 6:45 or when the majority of the players have finished eating and will end at 8:00.
FOOD: Bring your own food and drink for the evening meal, or buy fresh wood fired pizza created and baked to your specific guidelines.
WORKSHOP: I will lead 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 2:00 to 3:00 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.
GUIDED JAM: I 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.
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.