2023 Vashon Island Uke Fest on Sunday, June 11th at Open Space for Arts & Community

Schedule of Events:

• 10AM: Uke Blues Party Workshop
• 12PM: Uke Fingerpicking Workshop
• 3PM: Del Ray + Strum Concert
• Kanikapila All Day

Concert:

Del Rey started playing guitar when she was four years old. At thirteen, she was immersed in the world of folk music, via the San Diego Folk Festival. She has tried to get a whole band onto her solo instrument from the beginning. This gives her music an interesting complexity, especially when applied to the ukulele.
Rags, blues and tunes of the early 20th century are her specialty, even as she writes new music to add to the tradition. Del Rey also has fashion sense that would make Minnie Pearl smile.

Del Rey has taught and played all over the world, and brings her distinctive finger-style approach to guitar and ukulele to her teaching DVDs on Homespun “Boogie-Woogie Guitar,” ”The Music Of Memphis Minnie,” “Memphis Uke Party,” and “Blue Uke. Her website is www.delreyplays.com and her albums can be found at www.hobemianrecords.com

Workshops:

American Roots Music for Ukuleles
Pay what you can: $15-$25 per session/$30-$50 for both

Ukulele Blues Party
Be comfortable and confident with first-position chords and able to keep time while changing between them. More advanced levels will be accommodated too! It’s a party!

Jugband and blues songs orchestrated for the ukulele, with playing and singing parts for several levels of player. We’ll work on getting that old-timey sound on your uke, with the right rhythm, chord positions, and where to find the melody. Plus we’ll listen to each other and play together. We’ll add parts for basic chords, strumming, picking, and singing. Re-entrant tuning preferred. By ear. No TAB.

Advanced: Fingerpicking The Blues on the Ukulele
Be able to keep a 4/4 beat with your thumb while picking a melody with your fingers.

This class focuses on the picking hand. Many of the great 1920-30s guitar and banjo blues tunes sit beautifully on the ukulele, as well as the music of ukesters Lemon Nash of Louisiana and Rabbit Muse of Virginia, with distinctive styles on traditional and standard jazz material.

Using characteristic chord inversions and melody picking, we’ll learn a solo fingerstyle arrangement for the uke Re-entrant (high G) tuning preferred. By ear. No TAB.

Tickets:

Day pass includes all-day:
Kanikapila, one or both workshops, + concert: $50-$75

Kanikapila + Concert:
Pay What You Can: $15-$24
GenAd: $25
Patron: $45

Please join us! We invite you to find the payment that feels right. Tickets at the “Patron” level and all donations make it possible for everyone to participate, regardless of their ability to pay! Youth attend for free. This is an Open Door event.

Page Thumbnail Photo: Del Rey playing Ron Phillips guitar. Photo by Jim Mader