Hi DUGs,
(I'm writing this week's newsletter on the train back from Lancashire. So far so good. But depending on how the journey goes, we'll be playing either 'Folsom Prison Blues' or 'Replacement Bus Blues')
Well, we finally got 2026 started. But a bit of a shaky start.
Technology is wonderful, when it works!?
Santa had brought me a smashing new tablet, but our projector wouldn't speak to it!?!?!?
Eventually, we got the PowerPoint up on the screen via my phone, but it was far from satisfactory.
We didn't get through everything I had prepared, but, with hindsight, I think I was trying to do too much anyway. We have a few songs that need quite a bit of work on them, but I will try and spread these out and only concentrate on one project at a time.
So, this week we will have another go at It's Raining Again, and see if we can get the 'Da-da da-das' and the Outro right.
I brought the projector home and, after a lot of fiddling and head scratching (while topping up the swear jar), I hope I have solved it.
Workshops
I mentioned last week, that Sarah had contacted us with her proposals for this year's workshops.
Sarah is offering a 4-session package will allow us to work together, set goals for the group, and, by the end of the year, see the results and outcomes.
This is how Sarah envisages it working:
1. Choose three or four songs - (two from my songbook, one or two of your own group choice)2. Throughout the year we work on each of the songs, gradually progressing all of them3. By the last session, we have learned them all 'off by heart' and have them performance ready.My focus this year is about elevating groups confidence and skills. I talk about the 'learning, rehearsing, performing' phases of learning songs. The goal is to have as many 'performance ready' as possible.Session 1 (learning phase) - The building blocks - looking at each song and the chord progressions of themSession 2 (learning phase) - Rhythm & Riffs - adding life through strumming, as well as any riffs or melodiesSession 3 (Rehearsal Phase) - learning the song off the book, ironing out the fine details, getting confidentSession 4 (Performance Phase) - Getting the songs ready to perform confidently, working on performance aspects of the song as a group and how to add some sparkle to them!In between each session there will be tasks for the group to work on. The time in between will be important as this will be your groups time to put things into practise and work on what we do in the workshops.By the end you will hopefully have three or four new songs that are ready to be performed anywhere!My songbook for 2026 has a huge selection. I'd be interested to know which songs you'd like to do. If you could choose a few options and I can help with narrowing them down. If some songs are slightly easier, then we could do four songs. If there is a particularly tricky song, I'd recommend we do three, so we can focus on the trickier one.
Sarah's Glasgow Songbook, and an up-to-date DUG Songbook, can be found in the '2026 Workshops' folder in the Members' Area of this website. Have a look at both and let me have one or two suggestions from each. They don't need to be particularly complicated or difficult songs, but something that lends itself to our strengths (we have a good range of playing abilities, and some great harmonising singers).
I'd like to do this fairy quickly, so I can look at a shortlist with Sarah.
BraveUke
While you are looking at the DUG Songbook, perhaps you could also suggest some possible choices for our BraveUke setlist.
We only have about 12 weeks to put this together. The sooner we choose our songs, the more time we will have to practice and rehearse.
On Wednesday, Lewis Capaldi's Someone You Loved was suggested. I think this would be a great start, but let's see what we come up with as a group. There will be about 15 or 16 of us on stage in May, but I would like input from the whole group (you will all be playing and listening to these songs for weeks!)
Playlist
Over the next few weeks, I would like some of you to pick the weekly playlists. It's very easy. You've got the up-to-date DUG Songbook attached, just pick around half a dozen songs first us to play on the night. It doesn't matter if you've done it before, just let me know... please!
As I said earlier, I'm trying not to put too much in this week:
Last week, I did Moonshadow as an open mic spot. It's such a lovely song, I'd like to add it to our sondbook.
Wagon Wheel (Just to get us started with an easy, up-beat song)
This Is The Life
It's Raining Again
Moonshadow
Someone You Loved
Walking on Sunshine
Tell Me Ma
Fisherman's Blues