Meet the George Formby fan, aged seven!

Meet the George Formby fan, aged seven!

Love him or loathe him, (and personally I'm in the first camp) there's no denying that George Formby and his ukulele featured prominently in 1930s popular culture and even today he is still synonymous with a particularly British form of novelty humour.

Still, it's not the kind of thing you might expect a 7 year old boy to like, never mind emulate, so that makes little James Bassett even more of a topping lad in my book.  If nothing else he's shamed me into getting a move on with my ukulele playing - if a seven year old boy can learn to play the uke in 6 months, to the point where he's taking off George Formby, I've really got no excuse!   

It's things like this that give one hope for the future; if there are young 'uns out there who enjoy George Formby or music of the Thirties in general then it's not likely to be forgotten any time soon.  In fact it is a testament to the enduring and universal nature of the likes of George Formby that there is now a new generation waiting to discover these songs.

I wish young Master Bassett the best of luck in the forthcoming awards and, regardless of whether he wins or not, I feel sure that his love of Formby's music will never leave him and hope it leads him on to greater things.

Eeh, champion!

Why the ukulele is enjoying a comeback

Why the ukulele is enjoying a comeback

The oft-maligned ukulele is sometimes seen as a rather limited instrument, occupying a small musical niche all of its own. This video of the increasingly-popular Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and the accompanying B.B.C. article should go some way to overturn that particular theory and prove that the humble uke deserves its place in the wider world of entertainment. Yet it is also an instrument that, as the B.B.C. piece suggests, anyone can learn to play. Why, even I might have a go!

Not only is the ukulele a much more versatile piece of kit than it is given credit for, it is also produces and extremely uplifting sound. Indeed, studies have shown that learning to play the ukulele is effective in combatting the symptoms of depression. What better reason could there be for learning to play the ukulele than to brighten your day with some jolly, yet easily learnt, strumming music? Isn't it grand?!