Weds. LIVE at The Wellington Arms, 8pm: Guest LUKE FUTCHERLUKE FUTCHER, from Salisbury, sings vintage jazz and swing backed by his authentic guitar and ukulele accompaniment. We heard a selection of foot-tapping standards played alongside lesser-known gems.
LUKE’s rich, smooth crooning takes inspiration from both sides of the Atlantic, drawing comparison with the likes of Bing Crosby, Al Bowlly and Nat King Cole. Grittier, bluesy numbers are delivered with gusto and (as his lockdown music videos attest) he knows how to wring the comedic value out of a novelty song. His guitar style provides the perfect counterpoint to his voice, conjuring Hot Club rhythms and the driving swing of a big band. Highly regarded on ukulele, his playing evokes the sweet stylings of the uke's first wave of popularity in the 1920s. Get a cheerful earful here. One aspect, which should please some of our number who hate the effect, is that Luke doesn't adopt a faux-Transatlantic, vaguely mid-Atlantic delivery for this predominantly US repertoire.
LUKE FUTCHER has performed at local festivals, private functions, public events and successful ticketed shows, as well as live-accompanying Hitchcock’s 1927 silent film The Lodger.
At The Welly [56, Park Rd, Freemantle SO15 3DE], following the calendar pattern there of THIRD & FIFTH WEDNESDAYS of the month. We kicked off our evening with a short ‘Singaround’ [round the room one turn at a time, from anyone who wishes to perform, with others harmonizing where appropriate].
As well as this Events Diary, I’ll also keep updated the FOCSLE Music Facebook page header, visible with NO LOG-IN, OR FBk A/C. Try it now: https://www.facebook.com/FoczleMusic. Fuzzy “plan” is for Guests-with-Singarounds on third Weds. and Singarounds-only on fifth Weds. One format MAY morph into another, as we ink in guest schedules and as guests get more confident / cavalier about attending events in smaller spaces.