Great Musical Gift from my Ukulele Friend, Joost!

Who says guys can't choose great gifts?!! Look at these neato Castanets. "Professional Castanuelas" i should say. I just love how they're packaged too. They're a thank you gift from Joost Burger for Ukulele Lessons that he took from Marko & i. Sweeeet! Besides this we got groovy Spanish hats & i also recieved these cool Manga style needlepoint kits. They're so over the top! Unfortunately i don't have a photo but on one of them, this chick has a fried egg on her head. That's my favorite. Thanks Joost!

The Belgian Ukulele Festival Was A Smash!

Photographs courtesy of Hans Koert 'The Uke Box' performing at the 2nd Belgian Ukulele Festival 2009
Just got back this afternoon from Sint Niklaas where the 2nd Belgian Ukulele Festival was held. Ukulelezaza & Fredrik Goossens did such a wonderful job organizing this event. Great venue & wonderful acts. Loved meeting up with ukulele friends that we met last year in Germany and making new ones... Gus & Fin, Max & Veronica, Yan Yalego, Guillume & his buddies, Steph (who tended our market while we performed, Thanks Steph), and gosh...just too many swell folks to mention.

Although, I would however like to mention a few more that i especially adore... The Hot Potato Syncopators. I just love them taters! And lastly, but not leastly, Miss Nora, my favorite myspace friend. Unfortunately we didn't get much of a chance to chat (Marko & I had a market stand, led a workshop and performed so it was one busy day!) but, hopefully there will be a Ukulele Festival in Ierland in August which Nora asked us to play at! I hope that works out...i'd love to hang out with her!

Well, it was all swell. Plus, our market was quite a success. My handmade musical gifts & goods sold incredibly well. That makes me a happy gal! Sold quite a few ukuleles & toy accoordeons too. Bonus!

To read a review of the festival visit the Keep Swinging Blog by Hans Koert, whom i was also very fortunate to meet along with his lovely lady friend. He also has posted a great series of festival photographs. Especially great shots of Gerard & Gertrude and Veronica with her washboard! Hopefully we'll be seeing some video of the festival soon. Although i'm always a bit anxious about seeing video of myself. Let's say that there is video of us that doesn't suck...i'll be sure to post it! Lastly, special thanks to our great pal, Remco for inviting us. We had a ball!

'The Uke Box' is off to play....

at the Belgian Ukulele Festival hosted by the great, Ukulelezaza!

Video of 'The Big Damn Ukulele Band"

Ah, this is so great! This video was shot thursday during Queens Day. The band is comprised of participants from the "Ukulele Intervention Rotterdam North". This was a 7 week project in which we (The Uke Box) gave ukulele lessons to about 70 people in total at 5 different locations. It was a fantastic experience. They are all absolutely beautiful people. And, i'm so proud of them!

So, with no further ado....Here is "The Big Damn Ukulele Band" performing "Stand By Me" with guest star, Louis Windzak!



And here they are performing "Brandend Zand" guest starring Me!