Seasons of the Ukulele

A weekly song challenge for ukulele players - all welcome. Find out more here

Seasonistas International Open Mic

UkeCan1

The song I wanted to do, if I'd thought far enough ahead to find my chart and relearn it - "You Went the Wrong Way, Old King Louie" by Allan Sherman. Lisa asked for video (from Bastille Day, 2014), before we thought this had anything to do with "US".

Joko

My apologies for unceremoniously disappearing from the open mic last night - just to let you know what happened.

It was Trump's fault. Or the seasonal lack of rain. Or the serial incompetent energy resources management created by a government headed by a military junta. One of those things. More directly, the power has been out 18 hours per day this week, and whereas my giant home solar/inverter/battery systems keeps things (except air con and refrigeration) running most of the time, at three AM, the battery had gone dry.

Why is the electricity off 18 hours per day? It's the end of the dry season and the reservoirs are low - thus reducing hydroelectric output. The Strait of Hormuz closing not only creates rationing, it's gotta effect the gas-powered plants. Improving and maintaining the electricity grid isn't high on the state's to do list.

Yours in semi-darkness,

Scribe

April 11, 2026

Hello Ukulele Friends,

Thank you for your outstanding talented performances and conversation at Saturday's Open Mic. BRIAN, thank you for hosting!

ILA PRESS will host the Open Mic next Saturday April 18, 2025, UK/Ireland 20:30 London time (GMT+1), 12:30 PM Pacific DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Time (PDT).

Zoom Identification Number: 623 009 0567

No Passcode is required.

Please check the Seasonistas Flarum site to confirm the host and Zoom number.

Saturday's theme question: What do you miss (things you used to do) that you can't do or find anymore?
As always, the question has no parameters or definitions. It's a way to share our stories, facilitate discussion, thoughts and opinions. There is no right or wrong answer. Answers are not provided.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EMAIL AND THE EMAIL POSTED ON THE SEASONISTAS FLARUM SITE IS OPEN TO ALL ON THIS SITE. DISCUSSION IS PUBLIC AND SHARED. PLEASE DO NOT POST ANYTHING THAT IS OF A PERSONAL AND PRIVATE NATURE THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF A NEWSPAPER OR OTHER INTERNET SITE. YOUR PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT TO EACH OF US.

Here is the list of Saturday's Open Mic performances. If you have any corrections, please let Charldene know. Links by the original performers of some songs may be included. Please do not feel slighted if a link isn't provided with your song. Feel free to circulate a link to your favorite performer.

1. Wendy: "Caisson Song", 1st Lt. Edmund L. "Snitz" Gruber, 1908. In 1917, John Philip Sousa arranged the song into the march he named "The Field Artillery Song". In 1956, Harold W. Arberg adapted the music with new lyrics which became the official U.S. Army song, "The Army Goes Rolling Along". A "caisson" is a horse-drawn wagon designed to carry artillery ammunition.

2. Jim P: "Light on the Road", original

3. ILA: "Stray Cat Strut", Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats

4. Charldene: "Norwegian Wood", Beatles

5. Marc: "Room on the Porch", TajMo (Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo') with vocalist Ruby Amanfu, May 2025 LINK:

6. Joko: "My Way", Paul Anka, artist Frank Sinatra

7. Jim Y: "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You", Tom Waits

8. David: "Truckin'", Pop-O-Pies, punk cover of the Grateful Dead song LINK:

9. Lisa: "All My Memories Are in the Music", original with Harry Moore

10. Brian: "Fanfare-Rondeau", Jean-Joseph Mouret, theme for PBS Masterpiece Theatre with Alistair Cooke

Glad to see you Jane. Thanks for joining us.

Enjoy a great week! See you at next Saturday's Open Mic for more wonderful music, conversation, laughter and fun! Each of you is important...please don't forget this! Thank you for making this Open Mic a special community!

Cheers!

Charldene

UkeCan1

Our question today was to share something we'd been up to this week. I shared that I had completed and submitted two "Poster Videos" for the Conference for Global Transformation, and that I'm rather pleased with the results and would share them here once I'd uploaded them to my personal YouTube. (If accepted, they should be up on the Conference channel in a few days.)

Here's a playlist with all six videos I've submitted to the Conference over the past the years. The new ones are the two at the top.

Comments welcomed!

CanadaJim

Here's Lead Belly's version of When I Was A Cowboy. I always use a II chord in the first two lines, but I see that Lead Belly doesn't.
[C] When I was a [Bb] cowboy out on the western [C] plain,

Sounds like ***"Throw your jelly out the window" ***to me. I always figured it had some kind of double entendre like: It must be jelly, 'cause jam don't shake like that."

janedugan

Loved Leadbelly's performance and yours too! (✿◠‿◠✿)

CanadaJim

Here's John Rutherford singing his and his dad's song on a Harmony soprano with a plastic fingerboard:

Scribe

Hello Ukulele Friends,

REMINDER: This Sunday, May 31, 2026 beginning at 7:00 PM, PDT, UkeFoote will be performing their 2026 Kickoff Show of their 2026 Summer Concert Series! It will showcase a preview of new and eclectic songs for the season. If you can't attend in person, watch the live broadcast on Zoom. See the attached posters for details.

ZOOM CALL IN NUMBER: 622 972 7495

PASSCODE: woodstock (all lower case letters)

Looking forward to seeing you!!!

ILA will host on May 30, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM GMT

Zoom Call In Number: 623 009 0567

Song Lists from May 23- April 18. I apologize for the delay in providing these lists. Theme question responses are not provided.

May 23, 2026, Brian, host. Theme: Song lyrics that didn't mean anythig when you first heard them but later had meaning.

1. Jim P: "Pinball", Brian Protheroe

2, Wendy: "White Room", Cream, lyrics by Pete Brown, music by Jack Bruce

3. Marc: "Strawberry Woman", Jason Isbell

4. ILA: "The Way I Am", Ingrid Michaelson

5. Charldene: "If You Could Read My Mind", Gordon Lightfoot

6. Rick: "Coney Island Baby", Lou Reed

7. Jim Y: "Normal", Martin Mull

8. Lisa: Sstand Up and Sing", original

9. Brian: "Undun", Guess Who

May 16, 2026, ILA, Host. Theme: Words of advice from mom or dad

1. Rick: "Song of the Summer"

2. Lisa: "Teach Me How to Pray", original

3. Wendy: "Happy Mother's Day, Mom, original

4. Jim P: "Now What Are They Doing", Anthony Phillips of Genesis

5. Charldene: "Pavane" duet with Brian

6. Brian: "Pinball Machines" from "Pinball Wizard"

7. Joko: "I Will Survive", Gloria Gaynor

8. ILA: "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow", Fleetwood Mac

May 9, 2026, Brian, Host. Theme: Favorite place as a child where you grew up.

1. Jim P: "Hey St. Peter", Flash and the Pan (Aussie band)

2. Lisa: "I'm Doing My Best", original

3. Marc: "Jesus, Etc", Jeff Tweedy of Wilco

4. Rick: "This Place", original

5. ILA: "American Tune", Paul Simon

6. Wendy: "Jerusalem", Steve Earle, lyrics by William Blake

7. Jim Y: "My Ukulele Helps Me Beat the Blues", John and Edward Rutherford (Ontario, Canada)

8. Charldene: "I'll Follow the Sun", Beatles

9. JoAnn: "He's Just Two", original

10. Brian: "I'm Your Captain", Grand Funk Railroad

May 2, 2026, ILA, Host. Theme: What are you looking forward to most this summer?

1. Jim P: "Hamlet (I Need More Proof)", original

2. Rick: "Na Na", John Cruz

3. Wendy: "August Down Under" a parody of "Living in the Land Down Under"

4. Edwin: "Dance in the Rain", original protest song inspired by a sign on a church

5. Lisa: "Stand Up and Sing", original

6. Brian: "The Good Thing", Talking Heads

7. Charldene: "Foolish You", Wade Hemsworth, sung by Kate and Anna McGarrigle

8. Jim Y: "These Dance Hall Girls", Alan Fraser and Fraser DeBolt

9. ILA: "Dedicated to the One I Love"

10. Joko: Did not perform

April 25, 2026, Brian, Host. Theme: Describe an experience with a policeman, either good or bad

1. Joko: "Dinosaurs aand Chickens", Dr. Sparkles, a sing-A-long song

2. Jim P: "All In a Day's Work", original written in 2010

3. ILA: "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", Crystal Gayle

4. Marc: "Going to New Orleans", Walter Hyatt

5. Lisa: Original. Sorry I missed the title

6. Charldene: Had to leave before singing song. Coughing.

Sorry but I missed Wendy, Jim Y and Brian's songs.

April 18, 2026, ILA, Host. Theme: Share something you experienced this week.

1. Jim Y: "I Did It Their Way", parody of "I Did It My Way", Bob Blue and Paul Anka

2. Jim P: "Angel Delight", Fairport Convention

3. Charldene: "Sakura", Japanese traditional folk song, instrumental

4. Wendy: "Goodnight Saigon", Billy Joel

5. Brian: Summer Samba", Astrud Gilberto

6. Lisa: "Spiritual Warrior", original

7. ILA: "You Might Think", Ric Ocasek

Enjoy a wonderful week. Look forward to seeing you at the next International Open Mic for more songs, conversation and laughter.

Cheers!

Charldene

DelGriff

Scribe ILA will host on May 30, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM GMT

Hoping to be there today! 🤞🏼

CanadaJim

Here's a better version of the song that I forgot today.
I recall a Twilight Zone (I think) program where a scientist is sent back in time and while he's in the past, he steps on a butterfly. When he returns to his own time, he discovers that this small, insignificant action has changed the world in such a way that it's no longer a place he wants to live. John's song shows us as well how seemingly small actions can have significant results.

Scribe

Hello Ukulele Friends,

REMINDER: This Sunday, May 31, 2026 beginning at 7:00 PM, PDT, (3:00 AM BST) UkeFoote will be performing their 2026 Kickoff Show of their 2026 Summer Concert Series! It will showcase a preview of new and eclectic songs for the season. If you can't attend in person, watch the live broadcast on Zoom.

ZOOM CALL IN NUMBER: 622 972 7495

PASSCODE: woodstock (all lower case letters)

Look forward to seeing you!!!

BRIAN will host the International Open Mic on June 6, 2026, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM BST.

Zoom Call In Number: 622 972 7495

No Passcode is required

Here is today's Song List. Theme: If you could listen to only one song for the rest of your life, what song would this be? (From Stephen Colbert's interview questions) Responses are not provided.

1. Jim Y: "I Would Not Be There", John Hartford

2. Lisa: "All Is Well", original

3. Jim P: "Watching the Wheels", John Lennon. A song that Jim posted for Season 258, "Let It Happen" by Tame Impala has had 6,700 views due to recent spike. Recent comments are in awe of Jim's musical skills and at times, a bit humorous. See the link below.

4. Del: "tt Must Be Love", Madness

5. Wendy: "Rainbow Blues", original

6. Marc: "All In Good Time", Iron and Wine. Listen to his duet with Fiona Apple.

7. Charldene: "The Swimming Song", Louden Wainright III. Popular cover by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Fairport Convention has also covered this song.

8. Brian: "Moonglow", music by Will Hudson and Irving Mills, lyrics by Eddie DeLange. Today was band leader Tommy Dorsey's, birthday and Brian played this song to honor him.

9. ILA: "Let My Love Open the Door", Pete Townsend

Jane, it was great that you could join the group.

Thank you, everyone, for a wonderful Open Mic. Your performances were fantastic and the conversation was lively and humorous. Looking forward to seeing you at next Saturday's Open Mic. Enjoy a great week!

Wendy, Happy Fall!

Cheers!

Charldene

janedugan

CanadaJim Wonderful, Jim, love it! I also love John Hartford - he died way too soon. I never danced with him, like your Maggie, but I did hang up his big black hat and coat for him at the local acoustic music store where he was giving a workshop, and even that was a special occasion (taking his hat and coat, that us - I didn't go to the workshop, not a banjo player.) He had a very dynamic presence in that little room.

Scribe

Hello Ukulele Friends,

SAVE THIS DATE: Sunday, June 28, 2026 beginning at 7:30 PM, PDT, (3:30 AM BST). UkeFoote will be performing MUSIC FROM 1966. If you can't attend in person, watch the live broadcast on Zoom. A poster will be provided in the coming weeks.

ZOOM CALL IN NUMBER: 622 972 7495

PASSCODE: woodstock (all lower case letters)

Looking forward to seeing you!!!

ILA will host the International Open Mic next Saturday June 13, 2026, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM BST.

Zoom Call In Number: 623 009 0567

No Passcode is required

Here is today's Song List. Theme Question: Window or aisle (on any type of transportation)? (From Stephen Colbert's interview questions) Responses are not provided.

1. Jim P: "Let It Grow", Eric Clapton

2. ILA: "Fever", Eddie Cooley & Otis Blackwell aka John Davenport

3. Rick: "Dobie's Song" aka "Available", original about his dog, Dobie

4. Wendy: "Reinstalling Windows", Les Barker. Parody of "When I'm Cleaning Windows" by George Formby

5. Jim Y: "Lucky Guy", D. Cooper

6. Charldene: "What the World Needs Now", music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David

7. Del: "Molehills and Mountains", original

8. Lisa: "Bring 'em Lord", original

9. Brian: "Blackbird", Beatles for his daughter's birthday today

Jane, thank you for joining the group.

Thank you, everyone, for a wonderful Open Mic. Your performances were fantastic and the conversation, as always, was lively and humorous. Looking forward to seeing you at next Saturday's Open Mic. Enjoy a great week!

Cheers!

Charldene

Scribe

Hello Ukulele Friends,

SAVE THIS DATE: Sunday, June 28, 2026 beginning at 7:30 PM, PDT, (3:30 AM BST). Brian Fergus and Borfus Wallaby of UkeFoote will be performing MUSIC FROM 1966. If you can't attend in person, watch the live broadcast on Zoom. See the attached poster for additional information. Sorry but I was unable to attach the poster.

ZOOM CALL IN NUMBER: 622 972 7495

PASSCODE: woodstock (all lower case letters)

Looking forward to seeing you!!!

Rick will host the International Open Mic next Saturday June 20, 2026, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM BST.

Zoom Call In Number: 555 562 3974

No Passcode is required

Here is today's Song List. Theme Question: Share a funny or interesting story about your family. Responses are not provided.

1. Jim P: "Where Did You Lose the Light?", original begun in late 1980s and recently completed

2. Brian: "Beyond Antares", Wilbur Hatch and Gene L. Coons, Sung by Nichelle Nichols to Dr. Spock in a 1966 Star Trek episode.

3. Wendy: "Your Mama Don't Dance", Loggins and Messina

4. Marc: "Call It a Loan", Jackson Browne and David Lindley

5. Charldene: "The City of New Orleans", Steve Goodman, performed by Arlo Guthrie

6. Jim Y: Medley of "Dog" by Tom Dundee and "He's a Good Dog" by Fred J. Eaglesmith

7. Lisa: "Unicorn Song", original

8. ILA: "Flowers", Miley Cyrus with Gregory "Aldae" Hein and Michael Pollack

Jane, thank you for joining the group.

Everyone, thank you for a wonderful Open Mic. Your performances were fantastic and the conversation, as always, was lively and humorous. Looking forward to seeing you at next Saturday's Open Mic. Enjoy a great week!

Cheers!

Charldene

UkeFoote

I forgot that I’m performing at the Oak Grove Arts Festival on June 27, so I’ll not be able to host that day.

Looking for a substitute!

UkeCan1

We had a small but mighty group June 27, hosted by Rick. Jane set the theme question by sharing about her recent high school reunion, so we all shared about high school reunion experiences and/or friends we're still in touch with, or got back in touch with, from our high school years.

And we played some fabulous songs:

Jim Y: That Old Time Feeling - Guy Clark

Marc: I Shall Be Released - Bob Dylan

Wendy: I’ll Be There for You (Friends theme) - The Rembrandts

Jim P: Early Morning Wake Up Call - Flash and the Pan

Rick: Rockin’ in the Free World - Neil Young

Remember to attend @UkeFoote Brian's always terrific monthly driveway concert tomorrow!

Sunday, June 28 7:30pm PDT / 10:30pm EDT / 3:30am UK / 12:30pm Sydney

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6229727495 / password: woodstock

CanadaJim

Jesse Fuller's fotdella.

Scribe

Hello Ukulele Friends,

SAVE THESE DATES: Sunday, July 26, 2026 beginning at 7:30 PM, PDT, (3:30 AM BST). Brian Fergus and Borfus Wallaby of UkeFoote will perform MUSIC FROM 1976. Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM, For the Birds (Songs about birds). Sunday September 27, 2026 at 6:30 PM, Oh Canada! Music by Canadian artists. Brian's poster could not be attached.

If you can't attend in person, watch the live broadcast on Zoom. See the attached poster for additional information.

ZOOM CALL IN NUMBER: 622 972 7495 PASSCODE: woodstock (all lower case letters)Looking forward to seeing you!!!

RICK will host the International Open Mic next Saturday July 11, 2026, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM BST.

Zoom Call In Number: 555 562 3974No Passcode is required

**
ALTERNATIVE: ILA may host next week.**

Zoom Call In Number: 623-009-0567 No Passcode is required
Check the Seasons website to confirm the host.

Here is today's Song List. Theme Question: What are you most proud of about your country? Responses are not provided.

1. Marc: "Fourth of July", Dave Alvin

2. Jim P: "Ameria", Robyn Hitchcock

3. Wendy: "Stars and Stripes Forever, John Philip Souza. Last verse "Be Kind To Your Web-Footed Friends", Mitch Miller

4. Charldene: "America the Beautiful", poem by Katharine Lee Bates, music by Samuel Augustus Ward

5. Rick: "Sweetheart", Bob Dylan

6. Jim Y: "Take It Slow and Easy", Jesse Fuller

7. Lisa: "Stand Up and Sing", original

8. Brian "Fly Like an Eagle", Steve Miller, 1976

Cheers!

Charldene

Scribe

Jim, Thank you for the video of Jesse Fuller and his fotdella. He was an amazing one-man band!!!

Charldene

Scribe

Hello Ukulele Friends,

SAVE THESE DATES: Sunday, July 26, 2026 beginning at 7:30 PM, PDT, (3:30 AM BST). Brian Fergus and Borfus Wallaby of UkeFoote will perform MUSIC FROM 1976.

Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM PDT, For the Birds (Songs about birds). Sunday September 27, 2026 at 6:30 PM PDT, Oh Canada! Music by Canadian artists.

If you can't attend in person, watch the live broadcast on Zoom. See the attached poster. (unable to attach, look for the poster from several weeks ago)

ZOOM CALL IN NUMBER: 622 972 7495

PASSCODE: woodstock (all lower case letters)

Looking forward to seeing you!!!

Brian will host the International Open Mic next Saturday July 18, 2026, 12:30 PM PDT, 8:30 PM BST.

Zoom Call In Number: 622 972 7495

No Passcode is required

Check the Seasons website to confirm the host.

Here is today's Song List. Theme Question: What random things did you learn about your home state when growing up? Responses are not provided.

1. Jim P: "Every Dog Will Have His Day", Procol Harum

2. ILA: "Memory", Andrew Lloyd Webber

3. Wendy: "I'm From New Jersey", John Gorka

4. Marc: "Funny How Time Slips Away", Willie Nelson

5. Charldene: "Heart Like a Wheel", Anna McGarrigle

6. Lisa: "In the Place of the Unicorn", original

7. Brian: "Gonna Fly Now" (theme song from "Rocky"), 1976. Music: Bill Conti; Lyrics: Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins. UkeFoote will be playing this song at their July 26 concert!!!

8. Rick: "Here Comes Yet Another Day", The Kinks

Jane, it was great to see you!

Thank you for a wonderful Open Mic. Your performances were fantastic and the conversation, as always, was lively and humorous. Looking forward to seeing you at next Saturday's Open Mic. Enjoy a great week!

Cheers!

Charldene

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