Liverpool Ukulele Ceilidh 2009

Dan Scanlan (Cool Hand Uke), your MC for the 2009 Ceilidh

Dan Scanlan, known as Cool Hand Uke to many, is a ukulele based song-writer, performer and teacher, performing professionally since 1973. He returned the ukulele to Madeira Island, the uke's ancestral home in 1998 and brought the reunion of the ukulele, rajao and braguinha to the World's Fair in Lisbon Portugal. Last year he helped create Ukuhooley, Ireland's first ukulele club. He leads a 30 member ukulele group and The Enablers quartet in Grass Valley California, his home.

All concerts will be at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool located at 50 Gorham Street .

To purchase individual concert tickets (not yet available through the Astor):

Astor Theatre

Phone #: 902-354-5250

Tickets can be purchased:

At the Astor during regular box office hours, Over the phone by using a credit card or through the Astor Theatre website at: www.astortheatre.ns.ca

Box Office - open Monday Through Friday 10am until 4pm
Closed Saturday and Sunday except on performance days 12pm until 8pm

Concert Package Registration is available now through the Ukulele Ceilidh website ( click on Buy Tickets)

Details of Concerts:

All Evening Concerts – 8:00 P.M.

Friday, October 23^rd

“Stars and Legends of the Ukulele”

Saturday, October 24^th

“The Langley Ukulele Ensemble: Enriching Lives Through Music

Sunday, October 25^th

“Once In a Blue Moon” featuring Chalmers Doane, Melanie Doane,

James Hill and Anne Davison

Inspirational Sing/Strum-Along Concert

Sunday, October 25^th -- 10:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M

Hosted by Pat Watson and Joyce Nickerson

Bring your instrument – Free Admission with a donation to the Liverpool Food Bank

Your Hosts for the Sunday Inspirational Sing/Strum-Along Concert :

Pat Watson has been singing all of her life. Her love of music and theatre have been instrumental in shaping her life. Pat’s current repertoire includes jazz and gospel music. She also performs with the Nova Gospel Ensemble which is a dynamic 9-member gospel singing group.

Pat has performed for two Lieutenant Governor’s of Nova Scotia, The Honourable Mayann Francis and Myra Freeman. She toured parts of Nova Scotia as a member of the South Shore Women in Jazz trio and was a part of the 2005 Halifax Jazz Festival. She has coordinated and directed gospel music workshops for Saint Margaret’s of Scotland Anglican Church in Halifax, The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival and the MahoneBayUnitedChurch. She has also conducted jazz and gospel music workshops for The Harmony Women’s Bazaar which is a festival of women and song that is held in Lockeport, Nova Scotia.

Pat was a cast member in the play, The Gospel of Colonus at Neptune Theatre, the Revels Production and the play Copernicus. She will be appearing in the play, “A Brief History of Chester, Nuts Included” at the Chester Playhouse in July.

Website: http://www.patwatsonsings.com

John Bird (Birdie) is renowned for his many musical endeavors during the past 30 years. Primarily a saxophonist and clarinetist, he has been developing his pianist skills in the jazz idom for the past few years.

A self-described “happy harmaniac”, John’s love for harmony in all forms is very evident in his playing. His sensitivity to musical style is often appreciated by singers such as Lisa Lelliot, Katrein and of course, Pat Watson. John writes for and directs the Octane Jazz Band, teaches at Buckley’s Music Centre in Halifax, and has several private students.

Several years ago, John received the Lescarbot award, a Government of Canada recognition for his musical contributions to Liverpool and the South Queens area.

Joyce Nickerson began singing professionally at age 16. She has sung as a soloist for many organizations and musical theatre. Locally she has performed to help raise money for the Astor Theatre, the Winds of Change Amateur Theatre group and the Terry Fox organization.