Ukulele
| Meeting time | Every Thursday 2:00pm-4:00pm |
| Venue | Lovedean Village Hall (see map) |
| Enquiries | For more information or to join this group : Email groups@waterloovilleu3a.org.uk Use our contacts page Or visit the Groups table at any Coffee Morning or General Meeting If the group is full, your name can be added to the Waiting List and you will be offered a space when you reach the top. |
This group started in March of 2013
Band presentatiom to its chosen charity , Portsmouth Abuse And Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) in February 2020.
During the lockdown period we held a competion for band members to write a poem or lyrics with a theme of the pandemic. Click here to read them!
Click here to watch a video of our concert in April 2014.
Click here to watch a video of us at Wellington Vale in 2019 .
A BRIEF LOOK AT THE A, B & C OF “WACKY WEDNESDAYS”
ACTIVITIES
The band has a repertoire of approximately 300 songs of all types but, in essence, with a little practice can take on any song presented to it; not always with complete success, I might add.
It performs at venues over an area stretching from Petersfield south to Portsmouth and Southsea and east to Chichester. The band has yet to venture west, beyond Denmead! A sample list of the varied venues is on this display board.
The band sees its activity as being good for both health and wellbeing, not only for band members but also for members of the public attending live performances. That is why the band particularly enjoys entertaining elderly hospital patients and care home residents.
BEGINNINGS
The band was formed on 3rd April 2013 with just 6 members in attendance. A year later there were 17 members, a good sign for the future.
It’s first live performance was in the August of 2013 when it entertained attendees at the U3A Open Day event. There was another notable performance for U3A members in 2014 at The Sacred Heart Church, Waterlooville, and 2015 saw Wacky Wednesdays perform its first paid performance at the Denmead Village Show. Edging on the professional?
CURRENTLY
Since those ‘heady days’ the band has grown in strength and ability and currently has a membership of 28+ ukulele players, with a couple of banjos available to provide appropriate music style when needed; if you play a ukulele you can also play a 4-string banjo, sometimes referred to as a ‘banjulele’, because tuning is identical.
Its repertoire of songs has increased considerably and is still growing. Furthermore, invitations to perform have also increased to the extent that, prior to the pandemic, each year presented the band with up to 24 bookings. Any payments received now go to the band’s chosen charity (PARCS).
We remained undaunted during the Covid Pandemic and met every Wednesday forenoon on Zoom. With the Government’s modifying of the restrictions governing group meetings, we now currently practice every Thursday afternoon at Lovedean Village Hall from 2-4 PM, using the larger of the two halls, which allows for social distancing, or behind the hall on the lawn if the weather permits.
July 2021.
In August 2016 we played outside Mary's Beach Hut on Hayling Island
The late Jeff Bond, no relation to James Bond but just as interesting.
Band Practice in Lovedean Village Hall 2018
At the Fort 2017
Beach Hut 2018
Wacky Wednesdays Performing
Wacky Wednesdays Zooming