This evening was the first time in a while that I’ve had a chance to get across to Café Live, a free monthly open mic session hosted by Rob Newton at Sileby Methodist Church. It is on the 4th Sunday of every month at 7pm and I’ve normally got a band rehearsal. Not this week though, so I set off with my ukulele (and a couple of friends for good measure).

I started my slot with Folsom Prison Blues, a song I have done a lot recently but mainly on other instruments. For ukulele, it sounded better switching back to C, the key I first learned it in. It is a rare song that seems to suit my voice in a range of keys and made for a solid starting point.

Song number 2 was AC/DC’s Ride On, one of their slowest and most soulful songs from the band’s classic era. I’ve loved the song since I was a teenager but it was only a couple of days ago that the thought of trying to play it crossed my mind. I was a bit ropey on parts (I particularly need to work out a better way to cover the pre-chorus sections) but it also turns out to be one that fits my voice quite well.

Since I knew that was going to be a risk, I resorted back to a safer choice for my concluding song. Proud Mary is about life on a riverboat (possibly a paddle steamer?). I’m not sure it works as well for me on ukulele as on some other instruments but I can mainly lead with the vocals and the choruses are easy for the audience to join in.

So, two familiar songs and one that I think I’ll be bringing out again before too long.