Solo album from a member of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Will Grove-White has released a solo album, Will Grove-White and the Others.  From an interview with ukulelehunt:

What was the impetus for your solo project?

In recent years, the Ukes has become more of a full-time job, making it harder for all of us to do other work, as the Orchestra’s demands grow and grow. I now find myself, at 35, a full-time Ukulele player – not something I ever thought I’d say, of course – I used to have a proper job. This album was really about seeing what it would sound like if I did something on my own, that could sit happily alongside the Ukes. The impetus was really from my wife, who kept telling me to get on with it.

What can we expect from your solo stuff?

Well, of course there are Ukuleles, but also plenty of other much maligned and overlooked instruments – the Musical Saw, Tuba, Melodica, Clarinet and Cardboard Boxes. I wish more mainstream musicians would cast their nets a bit wider in their choices of instruments. Bass, guitar and drums is a pretty tired formula. I think I can say it’s a good-time album, upbeat and optimistic – sort of Sid James meets Hoagy Carmichael and Tom Waits at a bluegrass concert.

Jem Cooke Misses You

This was the featured link on ukulelehunt early in July, it’s been playing in my head more or less constantly ever since. 

She has some other really great performances posted on youtube, unfortunately in most of them she doesn’t play the ukulele.  Even so, she sings her song “Revolution” with such force I have to post a link to it here.

Anna van Riel

Ukulele Hunt’s latest video of the day showcases New Zealand’s Anna van Riel playing a nifty little tune of her own composition. 

She’s also on youtube as half of the acoustic duo Bellebird; here they play their song “Too Strong Daddy,” apparently in their living room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEzCkncyI-Q

Of course she’s on myspace; the videos are registration-only, but there’s music available on the home page. 

http://www.myspace.com/annavanriel

And the band’s myspace page has several free songs.

http://www.myspace.com/bellebirds

http://ukulelehunt.com/