South Cheshire Branch George Formby Society

May Concert 2026

A big welcome to a young member!

MC Rob enjoying egg, sausage, chips and beans.

An enjoyable concert with players aged 6 to 89! Many thanks to MC Rob and Concert Organiser Nigel.

April Concert 2026

A Great Springtime Concert

A Triple Birthday Bash for Graham, Richard (93) and Gail (60), with best wishes from MC Nigel.

Another lovely concert, with superb MC Nigel and Concert Organiser Gabriella, not to mention Gail’s cakes!

From Noticeboard to Noir: Part 2

Special moments: when the poster becomes a programme

Every now and then, a poster does more than advertise the monthly night — it marks a special moment in the branch calendar. A great example is the June 2025 “George Formby: A Lancashire Lad and His Uke” event with Jonathan Baddeley. It’s the perfect pairing: a focused celebration of Formby’s story and songs, followed immediately by the community space where that inspiration was rewarded with a fish & chip supper then June’s Ukulele Fun Night.
[2506 GEORG…LLU Poster | PDF]

January 2026: the noir poster that made us look twice

And then we tried the January 2026 poster — the one many people mention first when browsing the gallery. You can feel the experimental creative playfulness in it. The film‑noir overtones give it a cinematic mood, and the subtle call back to “Leaning on a Lamppost” is exactly the kind of inside‑smile detail that fits our branch: affectionate, intelligent, and we hope never heavy‑handed.
[2601 Jan 2601 Poster | Image],

It’s also a reminder that George Formby doesn’t have to mean “old‑fashioned”. Formby’s world was full of character, storytelling, wit and visual flair — and that poster finds a modern way to echo it.

What the whole gallery shows

Overall, the poster collection charts a quiet artistic journey: from early minimal clarity to a mature series with the confidence to play with mood and reference — without ever losing readability or warmth. In other words, the posters have grown in the same way the nights have grown: more established, more recognisable, and still proudly welcoming. More importantly it shows a journey from simple messaging to having fun with the process.

If you haven’t been yet, take this as your invitation. Bring a uke, bring a voice, bring a song you love — Formby or otherwise — or simply bring yourself and enjoy the music. That’s what Ukulele Fun Night has always been about, and the posters have been telling that story all along.

See the poster gallery here: https://southcheshiregeorgeformby.com/posters/

From Noticeboard to Noir: Part 1

From Noticeboard to Noir: Part 1
What our Ukulele Fun Night posters say about who we are

If you’ve ever designed a poster for a community event, you’ll know the strange truth about them: they’re created to be temporary, yet they often become the best record of what a group is really like. Our Ukulele Fun Night poster gallery — starting in October 2024 — is proof. Seen one‑by‑one, each poster is a simple invitation to a date in the diary. Seen together, they tell a bigger story: a branch that honours George Formby’s legacy while opening the door wide to a whole world of uke music and the people who love it.

That balance matters. We’re proudly part of The George Formby Society, and Formby is absolutely at the heart of what we do — his humour, his warmth, his banjolele sparkle and the way his songs still bring people together. But Ukulele Fun Night has never been a museum display. It’s an open‑mic evening designed for real people: beginners, regulars, confident performers, shy first‑timers, and anyone who simply fancies a cheerful night out. The local press has captured this again and again: a relaxed atmosphere, an enthusiastic audience, and a stage where the point is shared enjoyment rather than perfection. We have assembled our posters since 2024 into a gallery here: https://southcheshiregeorgeformby.com/posters/

The early posters: information first, welcome always

The earliest posters from late 2024 are wonderfully direct. They lead with the essentials and a plain‑spoken message that still feels like our motto: come play, come watch, come clap & sing‑along — all music types welcome. That’s not just copywriting. It’s an ethos. Those posters aren’t trying to impress you; they’re trying to include you.

And that inclusivity isn’t accidental. Ukulele Fun Nights are set up to be welcoming by design — an open mic with space for different levels and styles, where the ukulele (and banjolele) is celebrated but the repertoire isn’t boxed in. The Chronicle’s coverage describes exactly that kind of evening: live entertainment, an open‑mic feel, and a musical mix that includes but isn’t limited to Formby.

A recognisable series emerges

By early 2025 the posters develop a more settled “series” identity. The recurring language (“with stage and sound”, open‑mic friendliness, sing‑along invitation) becomes familiar — a reassuring signal that the event is dependable, regular, and easy to join.

That consistency does something important: it builds trust. If you’ve never attended before, you can glance at the poster and immediately know what kind of night it is. If you have attended before, the poster feels like a friendly tap on the shoulder: same place, same spirit, see you there.

Tags: cheshire, George Formby, live-music, music, Open Mic, posters, ukulele, ukulele-fun-nights

March Concert 2026

An Evening of Musical Felicity

Many thanks to MC Jonathan and Concert Organiser Pamela for a splendid concert to welcome Spring.

February Concert 2026

A great concert, with a splendid audience, a player improvement award, and two birthday boys.

A lovely concert, many thanks to MC Gabriella and organiser Simon.

Brian Edge Award 2025

At the February 26 concert we were proud to give the Brian Edge Award to Joyce Latham.

Simon and Gail Kinrade present Joyce Latham with the Brian Edge Award at the February 26 Concert.
(With apologies to Joyce for the picture … even AI could not successfully remove the microphone stand).

The Brian Edge Award commemorates the legacy of founder member and long-time leader of the South Cheshire Branch, Brian Edge who passed away in 2016. It consists of a trophy and a gift provided annually by Brian’s daughter Diane Edge-Robinson.

Joyce joined the branch just over a year ago as a relatively new ukulele player and has since been working hard to learn the instrument, playing both wooden ukulele and banjo ukulele. Joyce is now a regular in our ‘Thrashes’ and has performed several duets on our concert nights. In addition, from very early on, Joyce volunteered to help the branch run. Joyce is often found on the front desk and has provided key catering support for special events. Congratulations Joyce … this is well-deserved.

Brian was a well-known and loved banjolele player and promoter of George Formby’s considerable body of work. He also founded the Crewe and District Coin and Medal Society. He is much-missed by many who played with him and often features in reminiscences. We are proud that this award continues to keep his memory alive.

Brian Edge sporting the classic George Formby Society Lamppost pin on his lapel.

A photograph of the Brian Edge Award. It is curved glass stating: "South Cheshire Branch, George Formby Society. Brian Edge Award, Outstanding Contribution." — The Brian Edge Award for Outstanding Contributions as performers or supporters of the branch.

Love Hearts, Pancakes, Chocs, Noir and Hare. Next?

Yep, Feb rolls on – the time of love hearts, flowers and chocolate moving to sugar, lemon, Nutella or maple syrup before the March hare arrives. All these things have been in mind for posters this year. January saw our praised film noir lamppost edition, Feb on of our stars singing her heart out on shocking pink and then the mad March hare. Every month I aim to make the poster just a touch different rather than just changing the date. Posters should capture uke open-mic with a hint of seasonal and a hint of nostalgia and a huge dollop of fun.

So what should be the design seeds for April and May?