The Ragtimers ukulele group took part in the Ukulele Blast competition last Saturday, along with groups from Mangawhai to Cambridge.
Host club Hamilton Cossie Ukes were overall winners (Most Entertaining Group). The Ragtimers were second with the trophy for Best Performance. Brian Wilson, who started the ukulele group said “We had a blast at the Ukulele Blast hearing all the other groups. We’re very pleased to have come second on our first time entering!”.
The group began with four people in 2019 at Delwyn and Brian Wilson’s home. They had two rules: Rule 1, to have some fun and Rule 2 – refer to rule 1. The group now numbers twenty or more and has moved to the Old School Arts Centre. Brian, Betty and Ray Diprose and Penni Bousfield work as a team to support players at all levels.
Brian heard about the competition last year and the group were enthusiastic to give it a go for the experience and for fun. They started practicing in preparation, then Covid forced several postponements of the event. Fifteen of the Ragtimers were able to put that extra time to good use polishing the songs and coming up with ideas for performance.
The Ragtimers have played at ‘Live and Local’, the markets, Raglan Area School, and open mics. They were also filmed earlier this year for the Raglan episode of ‘Nanakia’ on Maori TV (screened last week). They occasionally run beginners sessions, from which some people have gone on to join the regular Wednesday sessions.
Ragtimers meet on Wednesday afternoons at 4pm at the Old School. “Anyone is welcome. We have some who are very new to playing, and some who have been playing a while. We have an open door policy, people can attend when it suits” says Brian.
