I don’t know how David Newland does it: he has a day job, a night job and a hobby that looks a lot like a third job. There he is every Wednesday evening at the Dominion Tavern (500 Queen Street East) hosting the remarkably popular Corktown Ukulele Jam with his musical partner Steve McNie. Launched in January 2009, uke nite as it’s affectionately known, typically attracts 50 – 75 ukulele players who crowd into the pub’s backroom to share music, laughs and most of all an inspiring sense of community.
Once a month the Uke-eteers move their party out front into the pub’s main lounge for a theme night featuring costumes, craziness and extra special musical offerings. This Wednesday’s performance (October 13) is devoted to show tunes and there should be laughs aplenty as the pros and novices test their chops and pipes on selections by Gershwin, Porter and who knows, maybe even Lloyd Webber.
For Newland, the quality of the music is almost beside the point. He heartily encourages people who have never played a stringed instrument before to jump right in. “There’s a magical quality to the ukulele,” he insists, “it humbles the great and elevates the humble. It’s a very simple instrument to learn – four strings, four fingers, that’s all there is to it. And it’s possible for a big bunch of people to get together and play ukuleles without drowning each other out.”
“We think a major reason people come out to the event is that they really need community culture in their lives,” speculates Newland, “and the ukulele is a way of making that happen. The playing isn’t so much what this event is about, it’s just the catalyst for fellowship and community.”
Newland is all about community. By day he’s the Director of Social Media for Canoe.ca and by night he’s the editor in chief of rootsmusic.ca, as well as a member of ’80s acoustic cover band, The McFlies. “My work is in connecting people with culture,” he says. “Primarily that’s music on the fun side and on the corporate side it’s about trying to build online communities around content.”
Each week the Corktown jam attracts a slew of regulars and a smattering of newbies who have been encouraged to tag along by family or friends. There’s a great spirit in the room as both the humble and the great share a short lesson in uke basics. Sing-alongs are standard, as are comical kazoo solos. No question, uke nite is fun; it’s also free. Only the monthly theme nights come with a cover charge (suggested donation, $5).
When I ask Newland what he gets out of it – aside from exhaustion – he responds, “I’m a performer and a songwriter and a ukulele player and a host and a community organizer — it’s a need for me so I’d be doing it anyway. I’ve hosted the Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Concert at Hugh’s Room for the past nine years; I’m on the board of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, this is the work I do. I think what I get out of it is personal gratification but it’s also on-the-job training; people hire me to be the MC of their events. I’ve hosted this event something like 100 times and in that process probably done 1,800 introductions on stage so it’s good for my chops.”
“It’s not about what’s in it for me,” he concludes, “the community told me what it wanted and I offered up what I had to give.”
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Thanks for the excellent article Christopher. The Corktown Ukulele jam is a community event built around an incredible partnership – Steve’s energy, passion and musical expertise drive it in a way I could never do on my own.
Hope to see some folks out at “Showtunes” theme night next Wednesday to experience the event at its finest with both of us doing what we do.