"I Got A New Ukulele For Christmas, Now What?" Workshop

Hey Friends! Whether you are new to the uke or have some experience, I'm sure you'll benefit from the workshops I'm presenting on Sunday, Jan. 15th. They'll be held at Hungry Monks Music (1948 Belgrade street, Charleston, SC), and cost $25 each. The Beginners' will start at 3pm, and the Advanced at 4pm. Each workshop is 45 minutes long and filled up with fun information to get you started or to take you to the next level. Lot's of fun! Join Us!

V-Tones at El Bohio

El Bohio is the Cuban restaurant connected to the Pourhouse, over on James Island. They've got free music every night from 6:30-9:30, and we'll be holding down the Tuesday night spot. Food, drinks, dancing, live music, who could ask for anything more? Plus, with the V-Tones each show has a slightly different line-up and set list, so come on back, week after week. We'll be glad you did!

V-Tones at the Village Tavern

The V-Tones with Jo Elless
Thursday, Dec. 22nd
8pm-on
Village Tavern in Mt. Pleasant
$5

Check out our debut with the late night V-Tones crew at the Village Tavern! Jo Elless is a traveling multi-instrumentalist, and we're tickled pink to be playing alongside her as she swings through the Lowcountry. At Pleasant Mountaineers out there? This show's for you!!

V-Tones Holiday Swing Dance

Though the weather outside is frightful, the dance is so delightful! Friday, December 16th, Join the Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club at Spirit Moves for a veritable, vintage vestivity! Unite with the V-Tones as we provide the soundtrack for your fun-filled holiday party! Yes, friends, you can be a rank beginner or a fleet-footed champion at this dance, so come one, come all! Bundle up the babies and the elders and come in from the cold! Lessons, snacks and V-Tones are included: just $10 for everything! We've got a surprise or two up our sleeves,too , and we're looking forward to seeing you again! Peace on earth, goodwill and lots of love to all! Merry Christmas, etc....

7th Annual Holiday Extravaganza

Ho, ho , hold on a minute, folks! On Sunday, December 11th, at 3pm, the V-Tones of Charleston will present our Seventh Annual Holiday Extravaganza! Yes, friends, it'll be at the Main Branch of your Public Library, downtown, and will last a litle over an hour. This year, we've got a huge show with the Lowcountry Strummers (local ukulele club) a real Hawaiian Hula dancer, tap dancers, sing-a-long songs of the season, a tuba player, ukulele jazz, and plenty of surprises. Kick off your holidays with this free show presented, with love, from the V-Tones. Cheers!

Hukilau Swing Dance

Hey everybody! Dance away the cloudy skies with a Hukilau Swing Dance on Friday with the V-Tones! The Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club hosts a swing dance every Friday at Spirit Moves dance studio (across the street from Ye Olde fashioned Ice Cream on Savannah Highway). Lessons are provided before the live music starts--advance and beginners start at 7:30, then the V-Tones will get fired up at 8:30. Admission is $10, and that includes snacks, dancing, instruction (if you like) and live music. The theme, naturally, is beautiful, postcard-perfect Polynesia. We'll be doing our best to make the dream come true. Aloha!

Charleston Tibetan Society

Hey folks! Among the strangest of skills in me which have been developed along the years, somehow is the role as an auctioneer! So each year I grab a bag of dappled apples and get the patter going for the annual Tibetan Charity Auction and Fundraiser. It's always fun and the items which are donated are well worth the price. Plus, there's yummy food from Sermet's, and music by my buddies, Roger Bellow and Berita Martin (and me). You don't have to be a Buddhist to care about the Tibetans---this is not a religious service, it's a fun way to contribute to something good and to help others who are in a tough spot. The money raised goes to support our local center and our goal of creating a retreat center, but it also goes to India to help Tibetan orphans and refugees. Thanks for your support, good people, and I hope to see y'all there!

Respite Care Fundraiser Dance

On Thursday, November 10th, the Respite Care Ministries is hosting a swing dance with the V-Tones of Charleston at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Park. Tickets are $30. We'll be providing music in the Cooper River Room from 6-9pm. Now, the event is a fundraiser, so they'll have art for sale and they'll be having an benefit auction as well. The Respite Care folks do good work taking care of people with Alzheimer's, especially, and providing a program that allows family memebers and caretakers some much needed "off-duty"time. I'm happy to say that I play for the groups once and awhile and love it when they sing along or dance. We'll have the big, six piece ensemble for this show, and we hope that y'all can attend and support the program.

BOO! Cannonborough/ Elliotborough Neighbourhood Parade

It's that time again folks! On Saturday, October 29th, 6pm, please muster for the neighbourhood parade! We'll gather between Cannon and Spring streets on St. Philips---(that's near Hope and Union Coffee), with costumes and instruments, then march en masse to the Line Street Park for festivities up 'til 9pm. The South Carolina Broadcasters will be playing at the park as well as your friendly local neighbourhood Noodle and the V-Tones. Fun and games, community hobnobbing, food trucks, special guest stars, and general merriment shall erupt. Be there!

Swing Dance: Pure Gold

On Friday, October 21st, y'all can enjoy the golden experience of dancing to a live (and I must say quite well-practiced) band at the Friday night swing dance. The Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club puts on a dance every week at the Spirit Moves Dance Studio and I'm very happy to be playing for it this time around! This week's theme is 'Pure Gold', with an advanced lesson at 7:30, beginner's at 8pm, followed by live music at about 8:30. All this plus snacks for only $10!!! It's always a fun and relaxing time, so put on your fancy threads and comfortable shoes, and get those feets a movin'!
www.roaringtwentieshotjazzdanceclub.com/

UKULELE FESTIVAL!

Thursday, Oct. 13th, join the Lowcountry Strummers Ukulele Club for a workshop with Jim Deville. He'll be teaching how to play 'off paper' at 7:30. The cost is $25. I met Jim years ago at Artichoke Music in Portland Oregon, when my gal Eden was so charmed by him that she bought a pink ukulele. He's got a great reputation, and I'm encouraging all ukesters of all levels to attend. Check the Lowcountry Strummers google blog for information.

Saturday, Oct. 15th, the Strummers hoist the Blackwater Ukulele Festival at Cypress Gardens. The festival is an all day affair with a beginners' workshop in the morning (that's presented by your friendly neighbourhood Noodle at 11am), a Hula dance class, open mike, uke boat rides, and music in the afternoon by the Charleston Hot Shots and the V-Tones. We 'Tones go on at 4:30. There'll also be ukulele vendors and of course, the fabulous and beautiful gardens. Last Spring's uke fest was fantastic, and I expect this will one will be as well. Uke are not alone!

Amazing Mittens at Cupcake

Howdy Folks! Check out the lovely and talented Ms. Eden Fonvielle and me as we perform as the Amazing Mittens on Friday, Oct. 7th, from 7-9pm. We'll be at Cupcake, on King Street in Charleston, and though the show is free, you'll want to enjoy one of their new fall flavors. Scrumptious!

Pirate Tunes at Charles Pinkney

Avast ye land-lubbers! It be Pirate Noodle back at ye again with another round of Pirate and Colonial tunes a'played out in the open aire. Make thy way to the Charles Pinkney Historical Site on Friday, September 23rd (10am-2pm) and/or Saturday, September 24th (10am-4pm), fer the experience of living history. Ye'll be seeing many folks bedecked in Colonial finery, with their various demonstrations of craft and livelihood. Methinks 'tis free, yes, and natural fer all younguns as well. Goode times will be had by all....

L'il Mozart Circus: Saturday, September 17th, Marion Square

Hey music lovers!!! Come on down to Marion Square (downtown Charleston, SC), for an 'expo' of all kinds of music and musical groups. the whole day lasts from 9-3, and is part of the "Mozart in the South" festival, but I'll be doing some circus music from 11:30-11:50am. The event is free, and it's a good opportunity to introduce your young-ones to music making. Several youth groups will be performing throughout the day and there'll be people like John and Hazel, from the Hungry Monks Music School on hand, to talk about lessons and music education. Personally, I'd like to invite any and all jugglers to demonstrate their art during my short set. It's bound to be a ton of fun this Saturday!

Amazing Mittens at Cupcake in Columbia!

CUPCAKES IN COLUMBIA! Eden and I are hitting the road for a teeny-weeny tour up in Columbia. It's a busy day on Friday, Septemebr 9th. We'll be starting out with an 11am concert at the Presbyterian Home. We always enjoy playing for,and listening to the elders.

Then it's off to DRIP, a funky little coffeeshop (729 Saluda ave) that is cozy and swanky--we'll be there from 3-5pm, and though the show is free, you'll want to try some delicious coffee or treats that are available. Yes, the place is funky, cozy and swanky all at the same time! I don't know how they do it!

Then, join us at the yummy CUPCAKE in downtown Columbia from 6:30-8:30. It's a free show, but you've got to try one of their very fancy, tasty and decadent desserts! We've had a lot of fun playing at this space before, and we're delighted to be back! Yee-haw! Road Trip!!!

V-Tones at the Halsey

The V-Tones have been enlisted to get us back to the roots at the Halsey Gallery on Friday, September 26th. We'll have our mentor, Roger Bellow, with us, and we'll be playing a genre near and dear to his heart (and ours)--Old Country and Western Swing. The soiree is in honor of a new exhibit, and it'll go from 5-7pm, with a special performance by Bob Ray at 6pm. You can check out more information at the Halsey website, naturally, and be sure to thank Mark Sloan and his team for bringing some fresh energy into our old town. It's modern art and Old country music with the V-Tones of Charleston.

Early Bird Diner

Catch a rare show with my wife Eden and myself as we rumble through the decades on Thursday, July 28th, from 8-10pm at the Early Bird Diner. This is a great joint for some Southern comfort food, so we're very pleased to be promoting this locally owned business and to provide the soundtrack for your night of adventure. It'll be a hoot and a half. Check it out!

V-Tones! Swing Dance: Friday July 22nd

July is dance month! Once again the Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club is hosting an evening of Swing with the V-Tones. It's a very welcoming crowd, with a lesson at 7:30, followed by hours of live dance music, starting at 8:30. This time around we've got the legendary Roger Bellow on bass, plus our usual gang of mixed nuts! The cost is $10, which includes the lesson, and the venue is the Spirit Moves Dance Studio, which is across the street from the Ye Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe on Hwy 17.

V-Tones Trio: Martin Art Gallery, Friday 15th, 2011

The Charleston arts' scene is certainly blossoming, and to keep it alive, the Martin Art Gallery is participating in the Palate to Palette fundraiser on Friday. During this fundraiser, several local art galleries are paired with local restaurants; art lovers can stroll from gallery to gallery, checking on the exhibits, the food, the music and the cultural arteries of Charleston. The Martin Gallery is a funky, marbled space (a former bank?) on Broad street, near East Bay. We'll be playing from 5:30-7:30, so drop on by.

Hot Jazz Dance Club

Hey Everybody! The Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club is bringing the V-Tones back for live dances in July! We'll be playing at the Spirit Moves Dance Studio on Friday, July 8th, (and again on Friday, July 22nd). Other Swing bands will be playing for dances throughout the month. Lessons start at 7:30, followed by live music from 8:30-10ish (maybe later, depending on the crowd's energy). The cost is $10, I believe, and that includes a lesson from the celebrated dance-master, Stephen Duane. With the V-Tones, it's V for Variety, so every show has a slightly different line-up of players, and a different set list. This time around we'll have an original V-Tone, Sandy Hines on ukulele, and we'll be exploring her repetoire of Tropical Swing. There's nothing like dancing to live music! Beginner are most welcome as are advanced dancers. Check it out!

D'Allesandro's Pizza!!!

For those of you who are out and about, the V-Tones power trio is playing at D'Allesandro's Pizza TONIGHT, from 8-10pmish. We'll be celebrating the Solstice and kicking off the Summer. DL's is on the corner of St. Philips and Bogard streets, in picturesque downtown Charleston. Hot Jazz on a Summer's day!

Basics of Swing Ukulele Workshop

Hey Uke people out there! on Monday, June 6th I'll be presenting a Basics of Swing Ukulele Workshop at the Hungry Monks music school. Their address is 1948 Belgrade, and it's over in West Ashley. The workshop costs $25, and lasts from 7-8pm (with some jamming afterward, if you'd like). The only prerequisites are that you have a ukulele, and that you can play a song or two, all by yourself, from start to finish. During the workshop, we'll learn some standard Swing chord patterns, chord variations, "color" and "feel", and the elusive swing rhythm. Come on by on Monday night for an introduction to this fun and satisfying music.

The Amazing Mittens at Remedy Market!!!

On Monday, May 30th, the Amazing Mittens will be performing at Remedy Market for a wine tasting/slow dinner show. Remedy specializes in scrumptious, healthy food, and we are very happy to participate in this event. Downtown for Spoleto? Stop on by for a spot of wine before or after a show. We'll be playing from 7-9:30. Remedy is on Spring street, up between MUSC and the crosstown. We'll be serenading the city with antique Novelty and Parlor tunes, Swing songs, Tropical melodies and Ukulele Jazz. They've got great craft beer as well. Support a local business and enjoy the emerging cultural scene! Bon Appetit!

V-Tones at the Early Bird Cafe

Monday, May 23rd!!! That's right, it's tonight! Come on by the Early Bird Cafe (Savannah Hwy) for some tasty food and some tasty licks from Eden and Noodle. We love the Early Birds' creative mix of Southern cuisine and twisty, modern elements. The space is classic forties diner meets underground art gallery, so we hope to fit right in! It's fun with new frontiers....

Swing Ukulele Basics Workshop

Hey folks, it's time for a Swing Ukulele Basics Workshop with Noodle! It'll be at the Hungry Monks Music School (in West Ashley) on Monday June 6th, from 7-8pm. The cost is $25, and to paticipate you must have a ukulele and be able to play one or two songs all by yourself, all the way through! I'm not going to ask you to perform, but this workshop is for the intermediate player level, so you should be able to get around the uke! The Swing idiom (featuring Jazz-based American music of the Thirties and Forties), is a great way to learn the fundamentals of song structure, cool passing chords, "feel", and of course, the elusive swing rhythym! If you have any questions you can contact me at noodlemcdoodle@yahoo.com. It's bound to be lots of fun!

Girls Rock Camp Benefit

Are you ready to Rock and Roll? Years ago, Eden and I were in the great Northwest when the 'Riot Grrl' movement started to explode. So, it's very natural that now, years later, we'd be involved in supporting the fledgling efforts to get girls up on stage. Local noisemakers and organizers are busy pulling together a fantastic summer camp for all you fabulous females! We V-Tones are happy to be playing (along with Sarah Bandy and the Local Honeys) at Saffron on Thursday, May 19th, as part of their fundraiser. They'll also have some artwork for auction and the donation fee includes a pizza and salad buffet, and beer from Southend Brewery. We promise to present y'all with a few surprises if you promise to show up and support the future! If you need some more information, check out---

http://www.girlsrockcharleston.org/

Senior Music Festival

The Amazing Mittens (that's Eden and me) will be playing at the Second Annual Senior Music Festival on Friday, May 13th, up in North Charleston. The whole program lasts from 7-10pm, and there is a big ol' line-up including our buddy Roger Bellow, the New South Jazz Men, and Hannah Burton. Hannah actually opened up a V-Tones show many years ago when she was 3!!! The event is at the Sterett Hall, which I believe is on the old Navy Base. They'll have some drinks for sale, and some other donation activities. The proceeds are going to the Senior Companion Program. We can all thank Berita Martin for her hard work in putting this all together. I think the general admission tickets are $10, with reserved seats for $15. When we played this show last year, we had a fantastic time, and I think folks of all ages will enjoy it. Come on out!

Proud to be a Coconut

In addition to the fabulous V-Tones, yours truly is also a member of the local freak-folk band, 'Lime and the Coconuts'. Mary Edna Fraser, a world famous batik artist is our band leader and pulls together a lovely bunch of coconuts for our various shows. The music careens between pre-Victorian folk songs and Swing standards, with surprising jaunts into the modern songbooks as well. Mary Edna has a wonderful musical sensibility and with the Coconuts or motto could be "anything can happen and often does"! We've got some cool shows coming up next week. The North Charleston Arts Festival Street Fair is on Wednesday, May 4th. It's up on Montague and we'll play from 5-8pm. Then the next night, Thursday, May 5th, we'll be playing a Literacy Benefit at the Blackbaud Atrium Lobby at about the same time. Dress as your favorite literary character!

Cafe Mini-Tour 2011!

Hey everybody, it's a busy time of the year for Mr. McDoodle, so let me tell you about some upcoming shows. First of all, on Wednesday (april 20th), it'll be the Amazing Mittens at City Lights (6:30-8pm). Then, on Thursday (april 21st), it's the Amazing Mittens at the Cupcake (7-9pm) shop on King Street. Then, on Friday (april 22nd) catch the V-Tones at Alchemy Cafe, (6-8pm) over in Avondale. To round out the week, on Saturday (april 23rd) we've got more V-Tones at the Kudu Coffeeshop (3-5pm), in a special afternoon/tea-time show. I really appreciate all of 'y'all' out there who support live music. On behalf of the extended V-Tones network I raise my grateful mitten in salute! Thanks!

V-Tones Swing Dance/ Birthday Party

See the V-Tones! On friday, April 8th, the Roaring Twenties Dance Club presents a Swing Dance and Birthday Party. It'll be at the Spirit Moves dance studio. (7:30-lesson 8:30-live music) Stephen Duane, the founder of the Roaring Twenties Dance Club and our local dance professor, is turning a year older! Older than what? Well, you'll have to ask him yourself. At these dances, there is a wide spectrum of skill level, so it is very cool and appropriate to attend even if you've never danced a lick before! I'm just letting you know--because it's fun and the world needs fun now more than ever. As for the VTs, we are full of surprises, and those will include mystery guests??!!! New songs, twists and turns and curly-cues. It'll be a night of poetry in motion when YOU step onto the dance floor!

Spring Swing Soiree on Saturday

Hey You! Catch the V-Tones on Saturday, April 2nd at the Hazel Parker Playground Community building. The good folks at the Charleston Swing Dance Association have called us in to play a show from 8:30-10:30, with a Lindyhop lesson at 6pm, and a beginners' lesson at 7. Those lessons are included in the price! There'll be a DJ to fill in before or after we play, but folks, let me tell you, there's nothing like live music to make you move! Cost: $10 for the public, and $5 for CSDA members. The Hazel Parker Playground is down on East Bay, just before the Battery. All ages and dance degrees are welcome to attend. So, put on your dancing shoes and come check out the V-Tones! It's fun-time music:)

Sunday Noodle at Cafe Medley 11am-1pm

Check out the mellow ukulele Jazz and tropical Swing scene at Cafe Medley on Sunday. Cafe Medley is on Sullivan's Island, just across the street from Poe's and the White Gallery. They've got a variety of breakfast options as well as the calvacade of caffeine drinks. It's the 'Aloha' way to start your day.

Blackwater Ukulele festival

Blackwater Ukulele Festival
with the V-Tones, Kent Knorr and the Charleston Hot Shots
Saturday, March 19th
10:30-5pm
5$ donation to SPCA
+ admission to
Cypress Gardens
Monks Corner

It's a fabulous swamp-o-rama of ukes! This amazing all day event has it all! Ukulele lessons! Ukulele vendors! Ukulele open mic! the Butterfly House! Canoes! Alligators! Performances by some of the most uke-nique ukesters in the Southeast! Reptiles! Hula dance lessons! Ukulele jams and hobnobbing! Camelias and other tropical beauties! All kinds of fun and funky four string festivities!

Begining lesson at 10:30--please bring your uke! We'll work on a simple song and get our tempo, strum, chord changing and (gulp) singing happening.

Advanced lesson at 11:30--bring a uke! We'll work on a more complex song, with some chord substitutions, strumming tricks and that elusive ukulele bounce.

Hangover dance

V-Tones!
St. Patty's Day Hangover Dance
Friday March 18th
7:30- Lesson
8:30- Live Music
Spirit Moves Dance Studio
$8

Well, the good folks of the Roaring Twenties Dance Club are back, once again hosting the V-Tones of Charleston at Spirit Moves. We're thrilled to present our special guest star, on bass, Walter Biffle. Grab your shamrocks and dancing shoes and wiggle on down to the Friday night dance! It's a very encouraging crowd and all ages and stages of dancers are welcome.

V-Tones At Alchemy

V-Tones
Alchemy Cafe
Friday March 11th
6-8pm
Free!

Yes, friends, 'tis another opportunity to catch the ol' reliables in our multi-faceted form. We'll be spooling out great hits from yesteryear, played live and differently each time. These Jazz, Jugband, Swing and Blues tunes have lots of room for improvising--so even we don't know exactly what'll happen at each show! Wowza! Of course, Alchemy has yummy food and drinks and is appropriate for all ages. So grab your galoshes, hang on to your hats, and dance to the V-tones of Charleston.

Silent Movies with Live Music!

V-Tones
Silent Movies with Live Music
Thurs. Feb. 24th
7:30-8:30
John Rivers Communications Museum
free (donation)

The V-Tones of Charleston once again present an evening of Silent Movies with Live Music. We'd dived deep into the archives to discover some fascinating films from the ragtime era up to the jazz age. Seeing a film as its music and sound effects are produced live is a very different experience from seeing one with a "set in stone" soundtrack. We'll screen some Meliere and even an early nineteen teens version of "The Wizard of Oz"! Search for the Museum at the corners of George and St. Philips (down in the college zone). Our show is free and appropriate for all ages, but we're happy to accept donations and invitations for private parties!

Roaring Twenties Hot Club Dance

V-Tones of Charleston
Roaring Twenties Hot Club Dance Party!
Friday Feb. 18th
Spirit Moves Dance Studio
7:30 (lesson)
8:30 (live music...)
$8

Warm up with the V-Tones and dance the night away at Spirit Moves! We'll provide Swing, Jugband and Jazz tunes and you can provide the movement. The door fee includes a lesson from local dance maestro Stephen Duane, and of course, la musique antique from the 'Tones. Shake off those Winter blues and put some Spring into your step with a special evening of music from the V-Tones! Viva La V-Tone!

AND TONIGHT (Friday11): You can catch Eden and Noodle at the Cupcake shop, 433 King street, from 7-9pm, for an evening of romantic ukulele music. It's the Amazing Mittens in a free concert! Stop in with your sweetheart for an early Valentine's Day sugar overload.

Amazing Mittens present: Love Songs

The lovely and talented Mrs. Eden Fonvielle and I will be performing at the good ol' Cupcake shop down on King Street this Friday night. We'll be playing our romantic Swing set and once again bringing life into the antiques! Stop in for a cupcake or coffee at this cozy spot. we'll be there from 7-9pm, on Friday the 11th of February. Don't miss it!

Ukenews: Here's what I'm up to these days:

Tuesday-Feb. 8, 2011
South Carolina Broadcasters with the V-tones!
Pourhouse
free

Join the V-tones as they celebrate the release of a new South Carolina Broadcasters CD! The Broadcasters specialize in Old timey, Country and Bluegrass music, and the V-Tones are into the Swing, Jazz, and Vaudeville vein. Check it out, it's free! Yippie!