Join in Nukes ukulele workshop
For the past 10 years New Zealand’s original ukulele trio The Nukes — David Parker, Ben Collier and Dave Thiele — has been playing their special blend of alt folk/country/roots up and down Aotearoa and beyond, taking in festivals in Australia and NZ including Womad, Splore and Auckland Folk Festival in NZ and Australia.
The Nukes not only holds the audience of concert goers, but have also been busy entertaining and inspiring primary and intermediate school students with ukulele workshops and concerts. The trio runs a one hour workshop with ukulele players and teacher selected volunteer pupils. A combined music, song and dance performance is then planned and rehearsed. Following the workshop session, they hold a one hour electric concert for the whole school, with the workshop group invited to join the band on stage and perform their set. This model is purpose built and can be adapted to any number of individuals and can be applied to suit singers and dancers as well.
Hawke’s Bay students haven’t missed out, with Mahora School being the first of three schools this week where The Nukes took workshops. They also visited Flaxmere, Taradale, Tamatea and Greenmeadows primary schools. At each school visit the group covers tips and techniques for ukulele playing, harmony singing with group dynamics and performance. Up to 35 children per visit are involved in each workshop — the performance that follows has been described as a bit like a mass flash mob. An opportunity for the public to be involved — a workshop and mini concert session — takes place this Friday, October 19, in Hastings. This group of workshoppers will be able to perform with the Nukes at the 8.30pm-9pm White Night Show performance in Napier this Saturday.
■ Public ukulele workshop, Friday, October 19, 2pm-5pm, Common Room, 227 Heretaunga St East, Hastings. For more details and tickets see Gerard at the Common Room, phone 027 656 8959 or online at eventfinda. White Night flash mob performance, Saturday, October 20, 7pm-7.30pm, all from public workshop session invited as well as the school children from 8.30pm to 9pm, outdoor area and carpark of the Rabbit Room Art Gallery, Hastings St, Napier. Visit https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/ 2018/the-nukes-common-roomworkshop-mini-concert/hastings/ tickets.