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Category: Ukulele
Wed, 05 Aug 2009, 12:02
While researching a new ukulele, I came across the Corktown Ukulele Jam web site. With my brand new Kala concert uke in hand, I decided to check out the jam.
The evening Sylvana and I first went to the regular Wednesday night gathering of Toronto ukulele aficionados, it was 80's theme night. Imagine a room full of ukulele players playing "Video Killed the Radio Star", if you can. Well, it was a lot of fun, and I was hooked!
The next week was even more of a treat. The Jam chartered an old PCC streetcar. We boarded the streetcar at the Dominion on Queen and drove westward to Mitzi's Sister, where we took over the open mic night for an hour. Then it was back on the streetcar for the ride back to the Dominion. All the time on the streetcar, 44 of us were merrily strumming away on our ukes. To say the evening was a lot of fun would be a great understatement. Most of us were smiling for days afterward.
With the Corktown Ukulele Jam getting more publicity on radio and TV, the Jam is now becoming more popular. What started with about 2 dozen people in January has continually grown. At the last jam I attended, there were about 75 ukuleleists crowded in the Dominion's back room.
Some might argue that we're currently experiencing the third major wave of ukulele popularity, and the Corktown Ukulele Jam is a sign of that revival. (The first wave was in the 1920's, and the second in the 1950's.) I'm not quite convinced that we're in such a major wave of interest. After all, it's still uncommon to find good quality instruments in the local music stores. If a store has any ukes at all, they're usually inexpensive starter instruments, or novelty ukes.
No, I think what we're seeing now is just a group of Toronto ukulele fans finding other like-minded individuals. With the current publicity and word of mouth, still, fewer than a hundred people out of a city of three million have found a place where they can share their love of the ukulele and have fun.
Will the Corktown Ukulele Jam grow to the point that they'll have to turn away people? I certainly hope not! Part of the charm of the Jam is the location. The Dominion on Queen is a small neighborhood bar ideally suited to the group, with an owner sympathetic to the uke. But how many more ukerists can the place handle before running afoul of zoning bylaws?
I suppose we'll just have to see what the future holds in store for the ukulele in Toronto. Personally, I look forward to jamming every Wednesday evening. Let's just hope the Corktown Jam doesn't collapse under the weight of its popularity.
Omnifariously yours, Hans
path: /Ukulele | permanent link to this entry
