The BUMS Coorparoo-based band is sad to be losing its guiding lights in 2017. A core group of The Bottom Line — Amanda, Cath, Lindsay and Mark — wish to focus on playing together as the performing group Anything Goes. The Bottom Line, an incarnation of the BUMS Big Band (BBB), practices at the Coorparoo Bowls Club on Wednesday nights.
Amanda Allwood joined BUMS in 2010, and Mark Bradshaw in 2011. They have been members of the Coorparoo group since the BUMS Big Band was established by Milton Scully to perform at our first ukulele festival — Brisbane’s Big Ukulele Jam in 2011. After the festival, Judy Holdaway, Jane Jacobs and John Henderson took over from Milton in 2012.
Members of the BUMS Big Band that performed at Brisbane’s Big Uke Jam on the QPAC Green in 2011.
Cath McCourt joined the BUMS Big Band in 2011, and Lindsay Ball in 2012. Later, Lindsay took over from Jane and Judy helping John lead the band. Available members of the band performed at our sister festival, Newkuleke, and the Cairns Ukulele Festival in 2012, and at Redlands, Blackall and Cairns in 2013.
In 2012, available members of the Big Band (Cath, Judy, Narelle, Amanda, Lindsay, Chris and John) represented BUMS Inc at our sister festival, Newkulele.
With the help of Benhur, the Big Band put together a credible entry for the festival video competition.
The BUMS Big Band and was at full strength for SPRUKE 2013 under Lindsay and Cath’s expert and enthusiastic artistic direction. After the roaring success of their SPRUKE performance, the group had a hectic local schedule of community performances.
The BUMS Big Band at full strength for SPRUKE 2013.
Lindsay remembers, “We really had a crazy time of it in 2013, performing 15 gigs in the year, including travelling to the Blackall and Cairns festivals. It was something of a baptism by fire, but the hard work we all put into practising for our performances helped us all to become rather good ukulele players very quickly. If you want to improve, there’s no better way than to join a performing group.”
To meet the growing demand for community performances in the Brisbane area, a Brisbane northside band, NUMB BUMS, was formed in 2014. With the establishment of NUMB BUMS, the remaining members of the Big Band, under Amanda and Cath’s guidance, and Lindsay’s dedicated direction, continued to provide entertainment at local events, including a memorable performance on the green at QPAC for Australia Day, 2014. The band developed a sophisticated repertoire, and continued to fly the BUMS flag in a smaller group known as The Bottom Line. They performed at festivals at Redlands, the Blue Mountains and Newcastle, culminating in a Friday night performance at SPRUKE 2015.
A larger group of Big Band members (Julie, Cath, Nina, Chrissy, Amanda, our guest drummer, Narelle, Phil, Lindsay, and Jack) performed as The Bottom Line at the Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival in 2014.
In explaining his decision to step down as the leader of the Coorparoo band, Lindsay said, “Given my work commitments, I realised I had time to devote to only one band, and I decided Anything Goes was it. After several years playing together in The Bottom Line, it felt like it was time for us all to move on to other things. Anything Goes is looking forward to challenging our skills with festival performances at the Sunshine Coast, SPRUKE and Neurum Creek this year, and we hope to be helping out at BUMS jams as well.”
We asked each of the departing members for their impressions of their time with The Bottom Line.
Amanda remembers, “The Big Band formed in 2011, as a bunch of enthusiasts determined to improve their playing and put on a show. Spurred on by the fearless leadership of Milton Scully (whose belief in us never wavered) we practised for months! Performing on the lawn outside QPAC as part of the inaugural BUMS Ukulele Festival in 2011 will always be a highlight for me! We were very well received and even had some young dancers on the lawn grooving to the smooth sounds of “Bridal Train” and “Blueberry Hill”.
Cath had this to say. “I heard that the Big Band’s bass player was leaving to go to Germany and thought I’d put up my hand to be a part of an exciting group, where having fun was the draw card. I knew we could venture further afield and try for other festivals and we got to show other states that Brisbane is up there with the rest of them.”
Mark has fond memories, too. “I’ve had no formal musical training of any kind. After joining the Big Band in 2011, I performed a few small shows. It really helped me to tackle more complicated musical work, and my confidence grew. After a break, I rejoined The Bottom Line in 2015. Later, I was invited to join Anything Goes and we have gone from strength to strength.
“The friendships that I have made in the bands have improved my life and have given me something to look forward to every week. I have been wonderfully blessed. I now have friends for life — and my music ability continues to improve. I hope to do many more shows with Anything Goes. I’m looking forward to seeing where the ukulele will take me in coming years. Without BUMS and the other members of Anything Goes, my musical abilities would never have gotten out of the garden shed!”
Lindsay said, “Being a part of the BUMS Big Band, and then The Bottom Line has taken me from a ukulele newbie to a confident performer. I have made wonderful friends, and discovered musical talents I didn’t know I had. There’s nothing like the buzz you get from performing for an audience and seeing people singing along, tapping their feet or dancing as you play and sing.
I’d like to thank all the members of the The Bottom Line who have helped me over the years, and who have worked so hard to make the band a success. In particular, thank you to Leeanne Horne, Julie Sharpe, Narelle Burke, Tammy Somerwil, Sue Gleed, Marg Otto, Chan Hoo and Jack Fitzwalter for their efforts over the past three years.”
Lindsay, Amanda, Cath and Mark at Newkulele 2016.
“As President, I would like to add my many thanks to all the members that have partaken in the BUMS Big Band and The Bottom Line over the years. I truly believe this band has made a great impact on the growth of BUMS and has shown many other ukulele clubs around Australia what a great organization we are. I have enjoyed and admired your musicality, standard of excellence and confidence in performing. On behalf of all BUMS members many thanks for taking us on the journey with you and best wishes on what lays ahead.”
Ian Phillips
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