Make Me Smile (Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel), by the Ukastle Ukestra at BMUF23

There’s a bit of faffing around at the beginning of this video, but hang in there (or scroll through) to ukestran newbie, Maurie Voisey-Barlin, lead singing us in a very popular ukulele group singalong. We call it a ’ukestra’, and because we are from Newcastle, we are the ’Ukastle Ukestra’, and have been so since late 2009. Conductor, Jane Jelbart, ensures that we dress well, put some light and shade into our playing, and that we have fun, musically. Co-leader, Mark Jackson, attempts to ensure that we have fun, mirthically. Each February (since about 2010), 50 to 60 Newcastle-based ukestrans (plus a few national strays) travel to Katoomba - the glorious 1930s tourism capital of Australia where the Carrington Hotel hosts the annual Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival. This one (#BMUF23) was on another beautiful Blue Mountains weekend, with this performance being on Saturday 11 February 2023. The Ukastle Ukestra is the performing entity of the Ukulele Community from Newcastle Aust