In this interview for the Mariposa Talks series, ukulele maestro James Hill tells us why he chose the ukulele over the violin (it was more fun), talks about some exciting new directions he’s taken in his latest album, and addresses the question of whether the name of his instrument should be pronounced “yuke-a-laylee” or “ook-oo-laylee.”
Here’s some live performance videos of James Hill for your enjoyment:
Last week, a moose was discovered capering around Tudhope Park, the site of Mariposa Folk Festival. See the Orillia Packet and Times article, with photo, here. It is not a complete surprise to see moose in that area since the park is on the shores of Lake Couchiching whose islands and significant stretches of shoreline are forested, but it is rare. In the past, deer have been spotted on the festival site, and other creatures such as turtles, geese, ducks, a large variety of other birds, as well as amphibians and fish, can be seen any day of the week. In fact, many are in plain view during Mariposa Folk Festival. But it is special to see a moose on the festival site and, to mark the occasion, here’s a poem by Arlo Guthrie called Mooses Come Walking. Arlo is a wonderful storyteller, singer, songwriter and performer. Come see him in person at Mariposa Folk Festival, where he will close the Festival as the Sunday Evening Main Stage Headliner.
Mooses Come Walking
by Arlo Guthrie
Mooses come walking over the hill
Mooses come walking, they rarely stand still
When mooses come walking they go where they will
When mooses come walking over the hill
Mooses look into your window at night
They look to the left and they look to the right
The mooses are smiling, they think it’s a zoo
And that’s why the mooses like looking at you
So, if you see mooses while lying in bed
It’s best to just stay there pretending you’re dead
The mooses will leave and you’ll get the thrill
Of seeing the mooses go over the hill
