UPDATED JANUARY 28, 2026
On Behalf of Corey Brendel…
It’s that time of year again. Break out the green…
YOU have a gift: the performance of music and songs! Let us go forth once again, bringing music and memories to society’s most vulnerable group, our senior citizens. You are good enough. This is up-down strumming, and a big singalong which was very well received by the audiences last year. Simple songs. Join us! This is a gift you give to them AND to yourselves. Feel free to invite other uke players.
Four gigs have been scheduled (see below). Rehearsal will be on Saturday, February 21 at 10AM. Please RSVP to Pam Vincent, pamvincent02@hotmail.com, if you would like to participate in one, some or all of these shows.
Wardrobe is unchanged from last year – black pants, kelly green, emerald green or white top. Please no deviations. Some green top hats and other accessories will be available for your use on the day of the performance.
Gene Mazzanti has designed a great T shirt, if this is something you would like to purchase as an option for your wardrobe. It is available on the Plucking Strummers Zazzle page.
Set List/Charts
The set list will be substantially, if not entirely, the same as last year – approximately fourteen Irish songs along with other familiar tunes. Music will be published on February 7. One, maybe two new songs, don’t assume you have it all from last year, that would be incorrect.
Rehearsal: One only, Saturday, February 21, 10AM
Japanese Cultural Institute, 595 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena 91103
Please try to attend. Tables and chairs available. Bring your own beverage, snack, and bring YOUR MUSIC AND MUSIC STAND.
FOUR GIGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED:
TUE MAR 3, 12N CALL TIME, 1P PERFORMANCE
Joslyn Adult Center, Burbank
FRI MAR 6 – call time 2PM, performance time 3PM (45 minutes)
Pasadena Highlands, 1575 E Washington Bl, Pasadena 91104
FRI MAR 6 – call time 2PM, performance time 3PM (45 minutes)
Pasadena Highlands, 1575 E Washington Bl, Pasadena 91104
THU MAR 12, 1 CALL TIME, 2P PERFORMANCE
Sparr Heights, Montrose
SAT MAR 14 – 1230P CALL TIME, 130P – Pasadena Senior Center
More info to come. Stay Tuned!
Pam had a VERY fun idea…
Dueling instruments. We seem to have two harmonica players interested – Chris of Plucking Strummers and Richard from Joslyn group. Maybe there is talent out there we don’t know about?
Here is what I want, to be blunt: Three renditions of Irish Washer Woman. First slow, second faster, third fast. (Maybe the last is a duet or trio of sorts, with the fastest competent player doing melody and the other/s playing an extended supporting note on beats 1 and 3, if that was comprehensible). People will clap along on 1 and 3, it will be a great addition to our set.
This only works if we can do the fastest one reasonably fast. Here’s what I need. I request interested parties to tell me the fastest BPM (beats per minute) he/she can play it at. Somewhere around 150 is what I have in mind. No, I don’t know the key. Interested parties are going to get together and figure that out.
The Director respectfully reserves the right to abandon the idea for any reason.