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/

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