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May 24, 2:00 pm

Inwood Nursing Home Concert

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May 31, 3:00pm

Whitakers Residential Home, Ossett Concert

Whitaker Grange WF5 8AF Ossett                                   

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June 5, 1:30pm

Ash Grove Home Concert

Ash Grove Care Home 116 Manygates Lane, Wakefield, WF2 7DP

Small Venue numbers may be restricted

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June 14, 10:00am

Horbury Street Fair 

Playing at the Street Fair outside the famous church

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June 29, 1:30pm

Thorpe Audlin Summer Fair Gig

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July 4, 10:30am

YAA Gig Ridings Centre

the Ridings Centre, Wakefield. WF1 1DS.

in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance

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July 7, 5:30pm

Meal at the Springs

sign up with Social Sec Beryl Haigh. No cost to members £15 per head for Guests

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July 22, 10:30am

Summer Break

David Broadbent is stepping down as Musical Director

and Leader of the band. we hope he enjoys a well

earned rest. Last Club Session is on 22nd July. After that

we begin our summer break. David may continue to lead

practice sessions periodically when we return.

August 9, 10:30am

YAA Gig Ridings Centre

the Ridings Centre, Wakefield. WF1 1DS.

in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance

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Sept 2, 19:00pm

New season begins on Tuesday 2nd September at

Walton Community and Sports Club with new practice

evening leaders taking turns and exciting changes to our

song Catalogue ahead

 

Sept 12, 10:30am

YAA Gig Ridings Centre

the Ridings Centre, Wakefield. WF1 1DS.

in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance

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4 days ago

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4 days ago
News Blog https://www.wakeylele.co.uk/2025/05/19/garforth-welfare-hall-gg-18-may-2025/
Garfort Welfare Hall Gig
A musical bonanza was in prospect as we passed the Strawberry Fields Primary School in Garforth just before we arrived at the imposing looking venue on the High Street with the flamboyant leader of the Leeds group already exhibiting his ukulele skills as he walked up and down the road advertising the GULP event.
  Initially there was an anxious feeling pervading our group as our numbers were small as the start time arrived but we neednt have worried as by the time we were due on stage those who had no doubt been tucking into their roast beef dinner had swelled the ranks to a decent number. 
  The Garforth group kicked off proceedings with the familiar Has Anyone Seen My Girl and did a good job with a Chuck Berry medley as they did with the majority of their set which included Calendar Girl and Sway, with a pleasing melodic sound enhanced by a talented sounding plugged in female uke player.
   A nice extra touch was that at changeover times a retractable screen came down over the stage with songs on it for everyone to join in with. The only problem with this was that Roy was blocking everyones view by standing straight in the middle of it like a toddler does in front of a TV screen to make me worry that he was reverting (?) to his childhood but actually he had just left his reading glasses in the car. Anyway, the Leeds group then took over and went for a full welly strategy with Pop providing a welcome contrast with his tuneful harmonica cameos.
  Being the last of the full bands to take to the stage there was a certain amount of trepidation as we readied ourselves for action but we were soon into our stride as I think Joes video shows. There were a couple of stumbles over timings in very predictable places although the first one was expertly overcome by the collective experience of the band. Pop found the time to say a few words about Wakeylele and our association with YAA and his stamina was something to behold as having now completed two full stints with different bands he was    soon back in the limelight as part of the trio which as Dave F has alluded to include a great effort from Val on bass. Hats off to Pop especially for taking on   this heavy load and yet still appearing like a spring chicken at the end of it - the only stimulant he needed was a glass of water. The applause we received after virtually every number seemed loud and genuine even allowing for the fact that there was mutual support from all attending so I think its fair to say that our present leader would have been satisfied that the standards he has worked for are being maintained. Incidentally, you may know that the home entry for the Eurovision was by a group called Remember Monday - they came 19th - well I would just like to point out that Wakeylele yesterday in the context of the groups appearing at Garforth (Remember Sunday) would certainly have been in the running for a top three slot! 
ADave Blackburn and Tony performed a set on stage at Garforth on Sunday and they did a great job so well played to both of them. I got a lift home  before the end so wasnt aware they were doing a separate set. As a result Im in the doghouse but I hope this grovelling will help to make amends. (Incidentally Dave also stepped up to do a solo tonight in his nonchalant and cheerful style, (more crawling) which we all enjoyed and our leader also chipped in in fine style.  Another enjoyable evening thank you.

  Coming soon is a gig at Inwood Care Home on Saurday, 24th May at 2:30 for 3p.m.

*AD to be interpreted very loosely as After David as although he wasnt there yesterday, he is fortunately very much still the go to man/ music guru for the foreseeable.

News Blog www.wakeylele.co.uk/2025/05/19/garforth-welfare-hall-gg-18-may-2025/
Garfort Welfare Hall Gig
A musical bonanza was in prospect as we passed the Strawberry Fields Primary School in Garforth just before we arrived at the imposing looking venue on the High Street with the flamboyant leader of the Leeds group already exhibiting his ukulele skills as he walked up and down the road advertising the GULP event.
Initially there was an anxious feeling pervading our group as our numbers were small as the start time arrived but we needn't have worried as by the time we were due on stage those who had no doubt been tucking into their roast beef dinner had swelled the ranks to a decent number.
The Garforth group kicked off proceedings with the familiar Has Anyone Seen My Girl and did a good job with a Chuck Berry medley as they did with the majority of their set which included Calendar Girl and Sway, with a pleasing melodic sound enhanced by a talented sounding 'plugged in' female uke player.
A nice extra touch was that at changeover times a retractable screen came down over the stage with songs on it for everyone to join in with. The only problem with this was that Roy was blocking everyone's view by standing straight in the middle of it like a toddler does in front of a TV screen to make me worry that he was reverting (?) to his childhood but actually he had just left his reading glasses in the car. Anyway, the Leeds group then took over and went for a full welly strategy with Pop providing a welcome contrast with his tuneful harmonica cameos.
Being the last of the 'full' bands to take to the stage there was a certain amount of trepidation as we readied ourselves for action but we were soon into our stride as I think Joe's video shows. There were a couple of stumbles over timings in very predictable places although the first one was expertly overcome by the collective experience of the band. Pop found the time to say a few words about Wakeylele and our association with YAA and his stamina was something to behold as having now completed two full stints with different bands he was soon back in the limelight as part of the trio which as Dave F has alluded to include a great effort from Val on bass. Hats off to Pop especially for taking on this heavy load and yet still appearing like a spring chicken at the end of it - the only stimulant he needed was a glass of water. The applause we received after virtually every number seemed loud and genuine even allowing for the fact that there was mutual support from all attending so I think it's fair to say that our present leader would have been satisfied that the standards he has worked for are being maintained. Incidentally, you may know that the home entry for the Eurovision was by a group called Remember Monday - they came 19th - well I would just like to point out that Wakeylele yesterday in the context of the groups appearing at Garforth (Remember Sunday) would certainly have been in the running for a top three slot!
ADave Blackburn and Tony performed a set on stage at Garforth on Sunday and they did a great job so well played to both of them. I got a lift home before the end so wasn't aware they were doing a separate set. As a result I'm in the doghouse but I hope this grovelling will help to make amends. (Incidentally Dave also stepped up to do a solo tonight in his nonchalant and cheerful style, (more crawling) which we all enjoyed and our leader also chipped in in fine style. Another enjoyable evening thank you.

Coming soon is a gig at Inwood Care Home on Saurday, 24th May at 2:30 for 3p.m.

*AD to be interpreted very loosely as After David as although he wasn't there yesterday, he is fortunately very much still the go to man/ music guru for the foreseeable.
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NewsBlog   https://bit.ly/3GqDm1H

Springing into Action 
             at The Ridings
            25th April, 2025

Our present leader referred to the opening paragraph of Marchs Ridings report as a masterpiece so I briefly pondered whether to frame the quote and put it on the mantlepiece. Then I thought, no, that looks a bit show - offy and in any case masterpieces dont come along very often so in order  to take the pressure off expect this report to be average at best -  besides,  the omens were not at all promising: firstly one group members apology for being unavailable for todays grew into four as Malcolm failed a late fitness test and then just before the start a bloke in a gilet ambled up to David and asked if this was the Wrenthorpe band. (As he was standing adjacent to the large Wakeylele Band banner at the time maybe he would have been better asking for the whereabouts of Specsavers.) Furthermore, David had been told that we had competition from the upper floor from a Horbury choir but fortunately the only hint of this was at the interval when Peter J was stretching his legs and came across someone singing into a mike with a small group of people seated around him. 
 So, to the start and with our Beverley Sisters front row of Maria, Mags and Sue unavoidably depleted and even Mags only making it with the aid of a stick and true Yorkshire grit after a recent health scare the rest of us had to double our efforts to make an impression. Fortunately, David had assigned On the Road Again as the opening number and with plenty of people in attendance the show got off to a rollocking start with loud applause encouraging the band to display their wares in their own version of Liberation Day- MWG- thats Make Wakeylele Great without the need for Again - well, theres nothing wrong in blowing your own Trump-et. 
 Talking of which... Roy, Mags and My Car were apparently the stars at Walton clubs Open Mike last night. (I didnt go but I did hear the strains of a chap attempting to belt out Together in Blue Jeans from our garden - as I dont know who was singing it, Id better play safe and say no comment.)
  Meanwhile back in the present the first half mix of old, quite old and relatively new tunes went down a bomb with the public with two security guards swaying their hips while a group of seated ladies were singing along throughout the performance and another man who had been in attendance turning to applaud our efforts as he moved on just as Im into Something Good concluded the first half. 
    Prior to the start of the second set David quickly briefed us about replacing Pops Wakeylele rallying call    with a full band cry as even Pops rich tones wouldnt reach Wakefield from Ipswich and so we were away and we Let (Our) Love Flow, before going onto Maxwell s Silver Hammer where Mags, amidst a frantic flurry of arms and good leg soon overcame a mini - crisis when hunting for her special annotated percussion  copy of the song which was hiding among my papers - a change of pace to the gentle Slow Boat to China offered her a welcome space to recover her equilibrium.( I should add that I had to blag my way through Chatanooga as I only found my copy lurking when it was too late.) There soon followed the catchy riff accompanying the gritty Sunny Afternoon which attracted the attention of several folk with the wistful Glory of Love adding a broader perspective of life in the round. 
  There only remained The Union of Different Kinds and Youre Sixteen and in what has been a significant week for the church it crossed my mind that with all the talk of how humble the pope was he may well have approved of the words of the Fishermans Friends song and might even have joined in given the chance which would have pleased Mike no end.
   Thanks for the umpteenth time to David for holding the ship together, to our regular supporters and to Joe for doing a good job as link man as well as hopping from his chair in between playing to fit in a bit of photography. In talking to a visitor to the YAA stall Joe was told that a friend of his son who was involved in the tragic car crash near Bretton in January had the services of the air ambulance to thank for saving his life, so we are grateful for the efforts of all their staff including our volunteer, band member Richard. Meanwhile you will be pleased to know that our other Richard, the tech supremo, has received some good news on the health front recently which has spurred him onto even greater heights in beavering away at getting the best deal possible with web hosting companies and he is in the process of moving from 1- 2-3 REG, ( not to be confused with 2- 4-6-8 Motorway) to another one called NameCheap which to a layman like me who has no idea about these things sounds reasonable.(Chortle.)
  David is unavailable on Tuesday but Mel has kindly offered to step up to the plate.
 p.s Beryl gave the group an update on Maria who is making a steady recovery. and everyone of course wishes her well and looks forward to her return.Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

NewsBlog bit.ly/3GqDm1H

Springing into Action
at The Ridings
25th April, 2025

Our present leader referred to the opening paragraph of March's Ridings report as a 'masterpiece' so I briefly pondered whether to frame the quote and put it on the mantlepiece. Then I thought, no, that looks a bit show - offy and in any case masterpieces don't come along very often so in order to take the pressure off expect this report to be average at best - besides, the omens were not at all promising: firstly one group member's apology for being unavailable for today's grew into four as Malcolm failed a late fitness test and then just before the start a bloke in a gilet ambled up to David and asked if this was the Wrenthorpe band. (As he was standing adjacent to the large Wakeylele Band banner at the time maybe he would have been better asking for the whereabouts of Specsavers.) Furthermore, David had been told that we had competition from the upper floor from a Horbury choir but fortunately the only hint of this was at the interval when Peter J was stretching his legs and came across someone singing into a mike with a small group of people seated around him.
So, to the start and with our Beverley 'Sisters' front row of Maria, Mags and Sue unavoidably depleted and even Mags only making it with the aid of a stick and true Yorkshire grit after a recent health scare the rest of us had to double our efforts to make an impression. Fortunately, David had assigned On the Road Again as the opening number and with plenty of people in attendance the show got off to a rollocking start with loud applause encouraging the band to display their wares in their own version of Liberation Day- MWG- that's Make Wakeylele Great without the need for Again - well, there's nothing wrong in blowing your own Trump-et.
Talking of which... Roy, Mags and 'My Car' were apparently the stars at Walton club's Open Mike last night. (I didn't go but I did hear the strains of a chap attempting to belt out Together in Blue Jeans from our garden - as I don't know who was singing it, I'd better play safe and say no comment.)
Meanwhile back in the present the first half mix of old, quite old and relatively new tunes went down a bomb with the public with two security guards swaying their hips while a group of seated ladies were singing along throughout the performance and another man who had been in attendance turning to applaud our efforts as he moved on just as I'm into Something Good concluded the first half.
Prior to the start of the second set David quickly briefed us about replacing Pop's Wakeylele rallying call with a full band cry as even Pop's rich tones wouldn't reach Wakefield from Ipswich and so we were away and we Let (Our) Love Flow, before going onto Maxwell' s Silver Hammer where Mags, amidst a frantic flurry of arms and good leg soon overcame a mini - crisis when hunting for her special annotated 'percussion' copy of the song which was hiding among my papers - a change of pace to the gentle Slow Boat to China offered her a welcome space to recover her equilibrium.( I should add that I had to blag my way through Chatanooga as I only found my copy lurking when it was too late.) There soon followed the catchy riff accompanying the gritty Sunny Afternoon which attracted the attention of several folk with the wistful Glory of Love adding a broader perspective of life in the round.
There only remained The Union of Different Kinds and You're Sixteen and in what has been a significant week for the church it crossed my mind that with all the talk of how humble the pope was he may well have approved of the words of the Fisherman's Friends song and might even have joined in given the chance which would have pleased Mike no end.
Thanks for the umpteenth time to David for holding the ship together, to our regular supporters and to Joe for doing a good job as link man as well as hopping from his chair in between playing to fit in a bit of photography. In talking to a visitor to the YAA stall Joe was told that a friend of his son who was involved in the tragic car crash near Bretton in January had the services of the air ambulance to thank for saving his life, so we are grateful for the efforts of all their staff including our volunteer, band member Richard. Meanwhile you will be pleased to know that our other Richard, the tech supremo, has received some good news on the health front recently which has spurred him onto even greater heights in beavering away at getting the best deal possible with web hosting companies and he is in the process of moving from 1- 2-3 REG, ( not to be confused with 2- 4-6-8 Motorway) to another one called NameCheap which to a layman like me who has no idea about these things sounds reasonable.(Chortle.)
David is unavailable on Tuesday but Mel has kindly offered to step up to the plate.
p.s Beryl gave the group an update on Maria who is making a steady recovery. and everyone of course wishes her well and looks forward to her return.
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4 weeks ago

Wakeylele Band at Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Centre,Wakefield 27th March 25 ... See MoreSee Less

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Wagon Wheel Wakeylele Band at Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Centre,Wakefield 27th March 25 ... See MoreSee Less

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Meet on Tuesdays at  Walton Club Shay Lane Walton

All levels 19:00 to 20:30

Leader David Broadbent [email protected]

 

THE WAKEYLELE BAND

"Seeking to make music together with
a sense of professionalism and
enjoyment."

Wakeylele Band. based in Walton,
Wakefield were previously known as the
"Gaslighter Ukulele Band." We have
existed, in one form or another, since
2018. We have around 50 members. 

We are a non-profit organization and
donate all our proceeds to charity.
We are proud to support the Yorkshire
Air Ambulance service and Wakefield 
Hospice.

Club Constitution

 

Gigs & Events History

May 25 Garforth Welfare Hall Gig

Apr 25 Ridings Centre Wakefield YAA

Mar 25 Ridings Centre wakefield

Mar 25 Inwood Nursing Home

Feb. 25 Ridings Centre Wakefield

Jan. 25   White Rose Leeds Yaa 

Jan. 25  Whitaker's Grange 1925

Dec. 24  Ridings Centre Wakefield

Dec. 24  Wentbridge House Hotel

Nov. 24  Ridings  Centre Wakefield

Nov. 24   Xscape Castleford

Oct. 24    Xscape to Castleford

Oct. 24   'Heaven's Above' Wakefield Cathedral

Sep. 24   West Riding Sports Club Concert

Sep. 24    lunch at the springs

July. 24    High Summer at the Ridings

July. 24   Summer Concert   Walton Club

July. 24   Badsworth Village Fete

july. 24  Old picture house Barnsley wedding

june. 24  White Rose Leeds

June. 24  Newmillerdam Green

june. 24 Horbury Street Fayre

May. 24 Mid May Gig. YAA Ridings, Wakefield

Mar. 24 Easter Eggstravaganza. White Rose Leeds

Mar. 24 Spring into Life for YAA Ridings Wakefield

Feb. 24 Yorkshire Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Jan 24 Burns Lunch. Gaskell's Restaurant. Wakefield

Jan 24 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Dec 23 Celebratory Club Session

Dec 23 Wentbridge House Hotel

Dec 23 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Nov 23 Farmer Copley's, Pontefract

Nov 23 Darby and Joan, Crofton

Oct 23  Yorks Air Ambulance Xscape Wakefield

Oct 23  Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Oct 23  Ted's Surprise Birthday Party

Oct 23  Silver Sunday. Ridings

Aug 23  Wakefield Hospice Butterfly Appeal

July 23  Wakeylele Anniversary. St Paul's

July 23  Newmillerdam Beer Fest

May 23  Yorks Air Ambul'ce. White Rose Leeds

May 23  Old Snydale Care Home

May 23 Walton Coronation Event

May 23 Newmillerdam Gr'n Coronation Event

Apr 23 Celebratory Lunch. The Spring. Sandal

Apr 23 Yorks Air Ambuance Ridings Wakefield

Apr 23 Horbury Uke Fest. Community Centre

Feb 23 Yorks Air Ambulance White Rose,Leeds

Feb 23 Whinn Dale Normanton 

Feb 23 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Jan 23 Gaskell's Lunch

Dec 22 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Dec 22 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

18 Nov22  Pippa's Birthday Walton Club

Oct 22 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Wakefield

Oct 22 Yorks Air Ambulance White Rose Leeds

Aug 22 Portobello Gala

Jul 22  Newmillerdam Beer Festival

Jul 22  Walton Open Gardens

Jun 22  Stanley Jubilee Gala

Jun 22  Crofton Working Men's Club

May 22 'Uke Can Sing' with Sandal Singers

May 22  Yorks Air Ambulance White Rose Leeds

May 22  Peter Harney Funeral

Apr 22 Easter Lunch - Springs Sandal

Mar 22 Walton Library/Hub Launch

Mar 21  Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings

Dec 21 Yorks Air Ambulance Cannon Hall

Dec 21 Christmas Lunch - Springs Sandal

Dec 21 Kings Croft Pontefract

Nov 21 Sherwood Court, Kettlethorpe

Nov 21 Yorkshire Air Ambulance Ridings

Nov 21 Uke Orchestra of GB. Bradford

Sep 21 Yorks Air Ambulance Ridings Centre

Sep 21  Stan's McMillan Nurse Garden Party

Sep 21  Labyrinth Opening Newmillerdam Green

2021  Wakefield Earth Fest St Paul's

2020  Sherwood Court Kettlethorpe

2020  Manor Care Home Walton

Dec 2019  Kings Arms Xmas Gig

Oct 2019  Horbury Uke Fest