The third issue of UKE Magazine is in production, with a release date at the beginning of September! This promises to be an exciting issue, as we team up with the fabulous Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain to celebrate their 30th anniversary! Orchestra Director George Hinchliffe talks at length on the origins of the ensemble, their years of touring and plans for the future. The UOGB feature will be a two-part special, with more to come on The Ukes in December!
In addition we're delighted to welcome Pete Howlett to the magazine. As you will know Pete is an exceptional luthier, who builds amazing ukes. He starts a series of features covering different tonewoods this issue. Staying on the building theme, we talk to Andy Miles, who makes tiny nano ukuleles in his shed, AND speak to the famous Japanese maker Takahiro Shimo.
There is a review of the ukulele festival scene over the summer, tunes to learn and master, reviews of rival concert electro ukuleles and input from all parts of the UK ukulele world. It is available to order straight away!
Issue 2 features a tab from the wonderful Ben Rouse... if you want to hear how it sounds with a uke in expert hands - here is the video of Ben demonstrating Sweet Blue Belles, enjoy!
“This piece should be played slow and with feeling, think of yourself on a blanket in a meadow early summer. Remember to try and make each note ring out and shower lovingly with vibrato. The chords should be raked so each note is played.”
Issue 2 has started to land on doorsteps. If you're keen to get cracking with the Phil Doleman clawhammer tab and like me desperately need to hear what it should sound like first, here's a video Phil made to help!
The second issue of UKE magazine has now arrived! We've pictured it here alongside the Joe Brown signature soprano ukulele that you can win if you order a copy. If you visit our Uke Magazine shop, there are options to buy this single issue, or order it as part of a subscription. Pre-sales and orders are going well, so we expect to sell out of issue 2 before too long, so don't delay! It is packed with content for the UK ukulele player; to learn new techniques, hear from pro performers and discover the latest ukulele gear.
It features Mike Hind, Krabbers, Dead Mans Uke, reviews of 5 Ohana Ukuleles, Big House in the Country, Phil Doleman tab and article, Ben Rouse tab, Mark Pugh at the Frankfurt MusikMesse, The Small Change Diaries recording tips, Ukulele club photos, Beltona Resonator Instruments and of course, Will Grove-White from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. You can win a Joe Brown Laka soprano uke too!
UKE magazine is professionally designed and printed. It looks great and is packed with interesting content. It isn’t financed by a large company, but instead is a labour of love for the small team involved. Therefore, to survive into future issues, UKE Magazine totally relies on the UK ukulele community to get behind the magazine. With healthy pre-orders and a steady stream of readers continuing to buy the magazine, the future is looking bright. Editor Matt Warnes wanted to express his thanks to people for taking the plunge and buying into the idea of a UK ukulele magazine.
“It has been wonderful that people have ordered the magazine and enabled to first issue to cover its costs. A new publication is always a tricky thing, but thanks to the trust and the enthusiasm of the nation’s ukulele player, the magazine looks to have a strong future.”
Despite its surge in popularity, to date there has not been a printed ukulele magazine with a UK-centric perspective. Until now! UKE Magazine has been designed and published independently, with a host of interviews, features and techniques to digest. The magazine hasn’t come from a big publishing house, but rather a small group of contributing writers who share a passion for the uke. With pre-orders very healthy, the first issue is off to a great start and we hope very much for a bright future for our new, quarterly publication!
