I wasn’t there, but those who were said it was a great fun day with excellent organisation, workshops and concert by The Spice Boys. Around 150 people attended from near and far! Well done to Ukumania for organising this.
Category Archives: Festivals & Events
Katikati Ukulele Festival 2012
Katikati Ukulele Festival, 2012, April 20, 21 and 22.
Further festival news on http://tinyurl.com/86xepch
Participation is the theme of our second ukulele festival and there will be plenty of opportunities for visiting ukulele players to branch out and perform, busking in the street, in the open mike session, or at the music jams.
Also, Lynne Roberts and her local troupe of Turkish Delight dancers, who will be dancing along with ukulele music from around the world by some of our Ukes-A-Plenty members, the Turkish Delights Band
“Strumming off” the festival on Friday night, April 20, the FREE music jam at Katikati RSA will feature the release of a new CD, by Mr Ukulele, Kevin Fogarty. The Ukulele Allstarz Band will join Kevin to perform songs from the CD. All musicians and music lovers welcome.
Meals are available from 5.30 pm. Music starts at 7 pm.
On Saturday afternoon, in Katikati Memorial Hall, 12.30 till 5 pm (with gold coin entry) the Katikati Ukulele festival includes a sing and play along, workshops, open mike session and plenty of ukulele excitement.
The Festival Tea Room will be organised by the volunteers from the historic Athenree Homestead. Funds raised from the sale of their delicious goodies and afternoon teas will go to towards the restoration of Adela’s Kitchen Wing at the Homestead, see www.athenreehomestead.org.nz
They will also be selling tickets, only $10, to the Sunday morning, musical morning tea and tours of the homestead. Here is your chance to support a worthy local cause and help with the restoration project. http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2012/ukes-a-plenty/katikati
Children will be well catered for at the festival on Saturday, with a local face painter and a move-to-the-beat workshop with Nana Gaye. They will be kept busy, playing and singing along, joining in the workshops, and performing in the open mike session. Hopefully their parents and grandparents will also grab a uke and join them.
The Saturday early evening concert, in the Memorial Hall from 5.30 pm is open to all, tickets at door, adults $5, and features the Tangaroa Trio, Turkish Delight Dancers and Band, and the Ukulele Allstarz band led by Kevin Fogarty.Ukes-A-Plenty will wind up the festival with the musical morning tea at Athenree Homestead at 10 am till 12 on Sunday, April 22.
Tickets available in the tea rooms on Saturday or at the door, $10, with morning tea and homestead tour included. Bring your uke along.
There is plenty of accommodation available in the centre of town, or in the beautiful countryside around Katikati, Athenree or Waihi Beach. Sapphire Springs has cabins, motel units and campsites AND HOT POOLS surrounded by bush. It’s just out of town in Hot Springs Road.
Fundraisng is ongoing: Ukes-A-Plenty appeared at the Tauranga Earth Day at Sulphur Point and at Pahoia School Foodfest on March 31.
The ukulele raffle is underway. Thanks to Waihi Music Oasis for the beautiful red ukulele and electronic tuner. The prize includes a designer uke bag and a book and CD from Kevin Fogarty. All you need to get started.
Please contact Christine Donehue, phone 0274 809 261 or (07) 549 5827 or camellia@pcconnect.co.nz if you would like to help, or for further information.
Further festival news is available at http://tinyurl.com/86xepch
See also
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2012/katikati-ukulele-jam/katikati/bay-of-plenty
http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2012/katikati-ukulele-festival/katikati
We plan to have a World Music flavour to our festival, i.e. music from cultures other than mainstream North America or England. WOMUS! World of Music Ukulele Style! This is in keeping with our guests, Tangaroa Trio, a Cook Island band, who will be doing a workshop on island strumming on Saturday afternoon and appearing at the early evening concert.
Coromandel Ukulele Festival 2012
This year, again at Coromandel Town, on 19 May 2012. Workshops, singing, open mic and a concert by The Old Spice Boys from Australia.
New Zealand Ukulele Festival 2011
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The provisional date for the 2011 New Zealand Ukulele Festival is 26 November 2011. It is scheduled to be at the Trust Stadium in Henderson West Auckland again.
If the organisers do as great a job as they have in previous years, it wil again be a great event for families, kids of all ages and especially those school kids who participate in the massed “Kiwileles”
More info will be posted here as it comes to hand.
For info and reviews of the 2010 festival see http://www.culturevulture.co.nz/blog/ukulele/ukesinschools/nz-ukulele-festival-auckland-2010-review/
and
NZ Ukulele Festival Auckland 2010 review
Another great day organised by the NZ Ukulele Trust with a primary aim of encouraging Ukulele playing amongst school children. Over 200 children from about 100 schools came and played. Schools from Auckland, Northland and the Waikato attended as well as some from as far away as Dunedin and Palmerston North.
Held in perfect weather at Waitakere Stadium in Henderson, Auckland on 27th November 2010, a great day was had by the thousands who attended. All for free too!
The Kiwileles massed schools playalong and also a “Kiwi Ukealong” where everyone could play together created a great atmosphere and stimulation for many.
Songwriting contests and a Ukequest to find the best Youth ukulele act added interest. Main stage performers like Azo Bell & Ukelele Bart from USA filled out the day of performances, workshops, open mic sessions and fun.
Well done to the organisers.
Final words from some who attended:
It was cool for my granddaughter who played in it
Absolutely brilliant. They get better every year.
absolutely loved it – totally magical – the sun was shining and it took me away from the TV for a few hours – it gave me hope
A really fun day for all ages!
I thought the Uke Fest was fantastic, i came down from Mangawhai on my own and stayed for hours, you did a gr8 job! Thank you.
It was a beautiful day and my daughter and school friends enjoyed the Uke Fest alot. Thank you.
NZ Ukulele Festival Strum Raiser review
The Ukefest Strum Raiser was a great night with an amazing variety of music.
Everything from originals of Kevin Fogarty, The Nukes and the Flying Bisons to classic Uke numbers like 5 foot 2 by Jennifer Ward Leyland, to covers of Eurythmics (Sweet Dreams performed by Marmaduke), Talking Heads and country rock.
From solo artists like Silke Hartung to the The Teachukes with about 30 members (and great arrangements). Flying Bison, the winners of last years Ukefest songwriting contest especially impressed, as did Marmaduke and of course the Nukes for their talented perfomances and arrangements.
Well organised and a great sign that the upcoming NZ Ukulele Festival at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland on 27th November 2010 will also be a great event.
New Zealand Ukulele Festival – Band line up
Here is a list of the main stage acts scheduled for the 2010 New Zealand Ukulele Festival at Waitakere Stadium, Henderson, Auckland on 27th November.
- Ukulele Bartt
- Azo Bell
- Trio of Tangaroa
- Tribute to the late Sione Aleki
- 2POUZ FYNIST
- The Nukes
- The Kiwileles
- The Teachukes
- Junior Comp Winners
- APRA Uke-Can-Do-It winners
- The Winner of UKEQUEST 2010
Plus an open mic session, Uke Quest, UkeArt contest, songwriting contest and much more.
See http://www.nzukulelefestival.org.nz/nzukulelefestival/NZ_Ukulele_Festival.html for more info.
NZ Ukefest Strum Raiser
A fundraiser for the upcoming New Zealand Ukulele festival will be held at the Windsor Castle in Parnell on 16th October 8pm. $10/$15 at the door.
featuring
The Nukes, Flying Bisons, Grey Lynn Ukuladies, Ukulele Family Band, Marmaduke, Silke Hartung, The Teachukes, Kevin Fogarty and Jennifer Ward Leyland.
See http://www.nzukulelefestival.org.nz/nzukulelefestival/Strum-Raiser.html
Hawkes Bay Ukefest
November 20-24th 2010
Concerts, jam sessions, workshops, Ukeart contest, world record attempt and more. More info on the website here
New Zealand Ukulele Festival (Ukefest) Auckland 2010
To be held at Waitakere Stadium in Henderson, Auckland on 27th November 2010. See http://www.nzukulelefestival.org.nz/nzukulelefestival/NZ_Ukulele_Festival.html
Several thousand people attended the 2009 festival and broke the world record for massed Ukulele playing. A great free day out for all! Bring your Uke! Expect to have fun and be enthused!
Great on stage line up, UkeArt contest, Songwriting contest, and Ukequest to find the best NZ youth Uke group.
