DaSilva Ukulele Co. - Calendar of Events, Exhibitions, Festivals and Fun

Rose Turtle Ertler in Concert with screening of "Rock That Uke"
April 18, 2008, 8pm, $15 at the door. "Rock That Uke" screening
will be after the concert.

Rose Turtle Ertler is one of Australia's most recognized ukulele players. She has been performing her own songs on the ukulele for the past seven years and has released three solo CDs. In April, Rose is touring the USA for her first time, performing at the New York Ukulele Festival as well as several shows in California.

"Rose Turtle Ertler calls the music on her latest album, Lady Birds of Crick Creek, 'wonky folk', but the Daily Planet reckons it's the rest of the world that's wonky and this a straight-up uke-pop gem." (Radio National, ABC-Radio - Australian Broadcasting Commission)

I am looking forward to hearing this fresh voice in the ukulele world. Rose has been exploring both electric and acoustic sounds of the ukulele. She has 2 CDs featuring the ukulele and you can check out her music at http://www.myspace.com/roseturtleertler . After the concert, we'll be screening the documentary "Rock That Uke".

DaSilva Ukulele Co. Open House and Open Mic
April 26, 2008, Noon to 6 pm. Free!
Please join us to celebrate my 4th year building ukuleles and my 3rd year in the Berkeley shop. We'll have an open mic, vintage uke display, lots of ukes to try out, special deals, door prizes, and refreshments. If you plan on attending the Northern California Ukulele Festival the next day, just visit the shop the day before and make it a complete ukulele weekend!

Michelle's been a tremendous supporter of DaSilva Ukulele Co. since she kicked off the opening of the shop three years ago. It will be great to hear her singing and playing once more. Please join us for what is sure to be a fun time. Michelle's website is http://www.ukalady.com.

And to open the show will be a group from Victoria, British Columbia, the Island Ukuleles A-1 Ensemble. The Island Ukuleles A-1 group this year is comprised of 26 students from 14 Greater Victoria middle and high schools. “Island Ukuleles” is a treasure of a music program boasting a 32 year history in Victoria’s diverse music community.

Northern California Ukulele Festival - Hayward, CA
April 27, 2008, 10:30 am to 5 pm.
Hayward Adult School, 22100 Princeton Street, Hayward, CA, 94541
I am looking forward to this year's festival even though I won't be setting up a sales booth. I'll be able to enjoy the music, jam with friends and show off a couple of special ukes that I'll have with me. Please stop me and say hi. I be the guy with a hat and a fish uke. Festival website - http://www.pica-org.org/ukulele

Michael Brown - Theater Performance
Memories and Dreams of the Twentieth Century
May 3,10, 2008 at 8pm, May 4 at 7pm. $15 requested donation.

Memories and Dreams of the Twentieth Century, an evening of stories (and a couple of songs) written and performed by Michael D. Brown and directed by Andrea Gordon.

A quote from one of these true stories might best describe the evening: "The personal life, deeply lived, expands into truths beyond itself." Characters such as an uncle who may or may not be a Mafia guy, the night-shift guard in a Wyoming jail, a champion race horse, Antonin Artaud, and a mysterious woman in a tale of passion and coincidence create an emotional landscape that is both dramatic and humorous.

Michael D. Brown has been creating and performing original plays for more than 25 years. His best known work was with the highly acclaimed Moving Men Theater Co. of Berkeley from 1972 to 1983. Most recently his work has received staged readings at The Magic Theatre. This is his first solo performance.

Andrea Gordon is a multi-award winning director, including 19 Bay Area Theater Critic Circle Awards, whose work has been produced at One-Act Theatre Co., Eureka Theatre and Marin Theater Co. to name just a few. She has directed plays in Chicago, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles as well as in the Bay Area.

Del Rey - Ukulele Workshop and Concert
May 17, 2008
Workshop - 3-5pm. $25, Concert - 8pm $20

Blue Uke Workshop
Intermediate (be familiar with basic chords and be able to keep time)
Blues repetoire suitable for the ukulele.What makes a tune "blue"?
Fingerpicking blue melodies and scales with an emphasis on material
from Del's "Blue Uke" DVD from Homespun (more info on that below*). Audio recorders encouraged.

Berkeley Ukulele Club
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
6:00pm - Beginner session (Instruction for beginners)
7:00 pm - Regular session

Berkeley Ukulele Club

Have fun, learn how to play, and grow as musicians. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. We meet at DaSilva Ukulele Co. which has easy parking, lots of room, lots of chairs, lots of ukuleles and other instruments and no noise level restrictions.

As many have found out, the ukulele is a wonderful instrument for all music levels. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned player, please join us twice a month to share songs, techniques and music and uke talk. Everyone is welcome - if you don't own an instrument or have never played one, this is a great way to find out about them and an easy way to learn. There will definitely be ukuleles at the meeting for you to try out. If you have been playing for awhile, there is no better way to expand your music horizons by meeting and playing with others and also sharing what you know.

There is no cost to attend, no need to signup. Just visit when you can.

There will be prepared songs with handouts to sing and strum with but please bring music and ideas with you.