Category Archives: Uncategorized

It’s been a while…..

May 6, 2015UncategorizedClare

Yes it has, and here’s the explanation:

Our founder, inspiration and main man, Mark McGlynn, suddenly and very sadly died in October last year. Funky Pluckers was his baby, he brought the group together, introduced and arranged many of the songs we played, recorded and mixed, publicised what we were up to and kept in touch with the world. He also crested the wave of ukulele popularity, rolling out workshops, jams, lessons and uke picnics in the park through Newham Ukes and The Uke Troop, producing ukulele songbooks and generally bigging up this tiny but smile-inducing instrument. His blogs, posts and tweets are much missed.

His legacy falls to us, and we will do our utmost. We continue to pluck away, making sounds that are unique (I mean that in the best possible way!), and creating some of that ukulele joy.

We may not be as prolific as hitherto, but we will gradually update the website and let the world know what we’re up to. So watch this space….

A Welsh Weekend #ukeretreat

September 28, 2014Gigs, Uncategorizedpangolin, ukeretreat, walesClare

What a fantastic weekend!

First we played at the Bite Street Food event in Poplar then we set off for a weekend of four stringed fun in deepest Wales…playing, eating, drinking and – in a few cases – walking!

We worked on a couple of new arrangements, napped, read the weekend papers…..what more could you want?

The best bit though, was Andy’s open mic night at The Bell in Glengrwyney. It’s a great pub – landlord John is what every landlord should be…welcoming, engaging and open.

Funky Pluckers wait to go on at The Bell

We heard Steve King, an excellent singer/guitarist/songwriter, who, as well as doing his own set, joined Andy for an unforgettable acoustic duo version of Dark Side of the Moon. All of it. No – really!

We also hugely enjoyed guitar/banjo/vocals duo Pangolin, who gave us a couple of Kirsty Maccoll numbers among a massively wide ranging set, all delivered with clarity, wit and energy.

We always love a chance to collaborate, so we were delighted to perform impromptu accompaniment for lovely singer Karen. There’s nothing wrong with Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Que Sera Sera. Smashing.

Jim, of course, did a rendition of When I’m cleaning windows with Cockney Vic….no uke, though, just the voice. Vic sang some great songs and raised more than a few smiles. Imagine finding a Canning Town boy this far from home.

I have to say we went down pretty well ourselves, too.

Overall this was one of the most positive musical experiences any of us could remember- there was only one fly in the ointment – we missed you, Tony & Graham.

Thank you all – we’ll be back…if you’ll have us.

@BiteStreetFood

July 30, 2014Gigs, Uncategorizedbitestreetfood, chrisp street market, gigs, poplar harca, uke, ukulelemarkdmcglynn

Here we are Funkily Plucking at the Bite Street Food Festival in Poplar. We had a lovely time – great music, great food, lovely people and a smashing atmosphere.