Half year review

Time rushes by and BUMS has been busy.  In the second half of 2025, we ran 46 jams, organised 2 workshops and a ukulele sailing day as well as holding our Annual General Meeting and conducting a survey on our members' ideas on events we run.

Jams

We ran our 8 normal jams in most months and slipped in two extra daytime jams in October to support Queensland Senior’s Month. These daytime jams at Geebung and Ferny Grove were well attended, and we’ll look to do more like this in 2026.

Our big Christmas jams attracted large crowds. There were over 60 people at Coorparoo (Jingle BUMS), similar numbers at Sinnamon Park (Westside) and over 90 at Ferny Grove (Northside Christmas Spectacular).

Each of our jams are different and are run by a designated coordinator.  But what happens when that coordinator is unavailable?  Well, it happened for five of our jams in 2025 and in each case, BUMS members rallied round to make sure the jam went ahead as normal.  Thank you to all those who pitched in.

In October, we welcomed Len Henderson as the new jam coordinator for WEBUMS.  Thanks to Cath McCourt who had led the jam for the previous two years.

Workshops

The workshops we ran both focused on extending our ukulele skills. 

In July, two workshops were presented by James Hill (a renowned Canadian ukulele teacher) who just happened to be in Brisbane (lucky us).  One workshop explored new ways to play songs in C, F and G7 and make them sound different, and the second was all about adding a swing feel to playing.

In November, the Wild Women of Anywhere Beach (Cathy Welsford and Angie Smith) presented a fun and challenging workshop on playing Jazz standards.

 

Performing BUMS

One of the aims of BUMS is to spread ukulele music to the Greater Brisbane community.  We want to demonstrate that the ukulele is a genuine musical instrument, and we can make great music. And, of course, it’s fun.

Our community and affiliated bands have been active particularly as Christmas nears.  NUMB BUMS have performed at 15 aged care homes since July.  Linda Gough’s Strung Out band have just started playing at aged care homes and will do lots more in 2026. They played at the Hills Christmas Concert in the park.

Out on Bail played on the ABC Breakfast Show and at the Rocklea Tavern. Sublime Ukelectics performed at the Oxley Community Festival, for the Pyjama Foundation and at Brookfield Bush Christmas.

And BUMS had its usual presence at the Woodford Festival where Adrian Board, Andrew Hunt and Cath McCourt ran a daily ukulele jam.

2026

The new year promises more fun and learning, with Derek Farrell running a series of workshops over January, February and March and World Ukulele Day celebrations coming up on 1 February.