Road Wonders, Well May the World Go...

Kate - Back in the 1950's, a bellhop named Pedro Flores took a yo-yo out of his pocket to entertain himself during his lunch break in front of the hotel in Santa Monica.  Carving and playing with wooden yo-yos was a traditional pastime for this Phillipino but the crowd that soon surrounded him had never seen anything like it.  Before long, the yo-yo (which means "come-come") drew so much excitement that Pedro started a company to make the toys that eventually became ubiquitous Duncan Yo-Yo.

The company sent yo-yo masters around the country to display the wonders of the yo-yo to the uninitiated.  Steve remembers a Phillipino yo-yo champion captivating he and his buddies  in Teaneck, NJ.  He was sent by Duncan and outside the local soda fountain began demonstrating his astonishing skill on yo-yo.  After his tricks, he pulled out a small carving knife and in short order handed over his yo-yo with a palm tree beautifully carved on the side to the nearest lucky boy, Steve.  It is a fond memory from his childhood.

That fond memory planted a seed that has grown into a beanstalk of an idea that we are referring to as the "Ukalalien Songbook Tour" we face ahead of us.

Steve and I have spent most of our lives enchanted with folk music, folk instruments, songs and stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  Pete Seeger mentored that into us from the beginning and we've carry on the tradition he created as well as we can.  Twenty-five years of showing folks at Artichoke Music their first three chords has grown our love and respect for the simplicity and joy that the ukulele provides to everybody who tries it.  The ukulele has become the perfect "gateway" instrument through which all things musical are possible.

Steve and I are keen to introduce the uke to people who want to come into the fold of playing music.  So we are taking it upon ourselves to show them how.  Why?  The expression on a beginning player's face when they realize that they can play, even a little, is so satisfying!  It makes such a sweet difference in peope's lives.  When they begin to make a little music, all of the songs and fancy stringwork that Steve and I can pull off, pales in comparison to that joy and wonder.  It's a privilege to open the door for new players.  After all those years at Artichoke Music, we're hooked getting people across the bridge from "can't" to "can". 

The happy result is that we're turning out dozens of new uke players every day into the streets of their lives, making the world a little more musical with every strum.  This is where we find our path taking us. 

Back to real life, it's a little nutty around here.  Today, the final version of the soon-to-be-available-at-www.qualityfolk.com-and-wherever-we-go "Ukalaliens Songbook" is printing at Wesley Rogers' wonderful print shop (another historic Portland institution). 

This little book, I have to say, is one of the sweetest music books ever.  I can't help but feel that you're going to love it as much as we do.  It's covered and filled with Steve's wonderful art, drawn especially for Ukalaliens!  The method is in real "Steve & Kate" language and teaches the way we really sound and show, the way we always have.  There are twenty traditional and original songs in slow, learning speed and full versions to practice with.

If you didn't get a chance to play with us before, you are going to have all the opportunity you could ever want by just putting the "Ukalaliens Songbook" CD in your player and grabbing your ukulele (or any other instrument for that matter!).  We'll tune together, learn chords, strums, picks and tricks together and then sing till the cows come home with every song.  Steve's narration is warm and friendly and steadies the confidence of even the most reluctant beginner.  We sing and play together all through the CD and by the end, between the book and the CD, it's inevitable that you will be a seasoned beginner by the end.

The minute the "Ukalaliens Songbook" is available, you'll be able to get it online at our website at www.qualityfolk.com and at all of our gigs, workshops and appearances around the country.  Our projected release date is October 1.

We're up and at 'em early each day to greet the tasks before us.  Our tour is scheduled for 80 days and there's still a lot to do.  We are seeking settings along the route to provide workshops and play shows.  We will blog and keep the interested queued in to the adventures we encounter day by day. 

We are full of special thanks in our hearts for the people who have been hitting our "contribute" button on the Quality Folk website.  THANK YOU!  Your help is making it possible to move forward (and makes it impossible to chicken out!) :o)  We are sending unreleased MP3s, thank you notes, postcards from the road and blogs to our fantastic donors who click the button to get on the bus with us.  We couldn't do it without you.  Thanks for all the enCOURAGEment.  It's really helping us to take the leap into the greater community to share what we do at home with the world-at-large.  You make a difference in our lives.  We hope to pass that on in the work ahead.  Thank you.

Ukalalien sitings are inevitable all around the nation.  We will harmonize with people in as many places as we can, west to east and home again.  The calendar will have all our confirmed stops posted before we leave near the end of September.  If you think there's someplace we should stop - let us know!  Thanks.

Hoping we will see you a lot of you along the way.  Thanks to our beautiful donors and thanks to our generous sponsors, Kala Brand Ukulele Co., Mya-Moe Ukuleles, Nossa Familia coffee, and to everybody involved in partnering with our mission to harmonize community with our music.  We're not as scared to try when we think of your support.   It's great to be alive and sharing the way we go with each and every one of you... Thank you.  Kate & Steve

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."  - Eleanor Roosevelt

Kindred Gathering grows Harmony

After fighting flash floods and a persnickety starter in our VW, Steve and I barreled up I-5 and jumped with both feet onstage at Kevin Fallon's NW Guitars in Bellevue, Washington to lend ukuleles and deliver our Ukalaliens Workshop to a room full of 30+ people waiting to explore the mighty ukulele. One hour later, the initiated were playing, strumming and singing with big smiles and nice harmonies and dozens of new Ukalaliens hit the street. It was great to share the Kala ukuleles to make beautiful music with everybody there and it worked! The sweet sounds of the uke strings filled the night in Bellevue at NW Guitars and we left happy and ready for the next adventure.

Little did we know that the next adventure was an overheated starter that wasn't going anywhere. With a jump start and popping the clutch, we were back on the road and headed to play, teach and commune at the 35th Kindred Gathering in beautiful Shelton, Washington. This is a gathering of dulcimer enthusiasts that has been held in a different spot on the Pacific Rim every year and people come together to share music, food, campfires and friendships over a few days. The Saturday night concert is a highlight of the weekend and includes everyone, even the youngest player, to share a song.

Admidst 70 unsuspecting mountain dulcimer players, we gathered in the grove around our campsite to teach the uke-curious our Ukalaliens Songbook Workshop at the festival after Sunday breakfast. Before long, twenty people were singing under the trees and harmony was in the air.

It's not hard to imagine how fun it is to get people playing music for the first time. It's a gentle conversion that allows even the least experienced to play songs and sing along in just a matter of minutes. The smiling faces of all of the new uke players remains the sweetest memory of the last few days.

Next stop, Tuesday night happy hour and singalong at the Airplay Cafe! Only two Tuesdays left. This has been a great summer of singing with our Portland neighbors on Tuesdays. The last one will be 8/25 and, yes, we will bring ALL the ukes that night. Come sing with us!

With thanks,
Kate