New York Uke Fest 2007

Following a smash inaugural outing last year, the New York Uke Fest, a four day uke-apalooza of concerts, workshops, talks, jams and ukulele merchandise, returns to Theater for the New City (TNC).

Over 50 acts from all over the world grace three of TNC’s stages, representing styles as diverse as jazz, country, bluegrass, classical, punk, and traditional Hawaiian folk music — demonstrating the broad range and resurging popularity of everyone’s favorite 4-string musical instrument.

New York performers scheduled to appear are: The J. Walter Hawkes Trio, The Moonlighters, John King, Hot Time Harv and his Roller Coaster of Kicks, The Aloha Boys, Yoo Sun Choi and the E-String Band, Kelli Rae Powell, the Ukuladies, the East River String Band, and, of course, the NY Ukulele Ensemble, led by the NY Uke Fest’s founder and producer, Uke Jackson.

Regional and international acts include: Victoria Vox (Baltimore), The Mad Tea Party (Ashville, NC), The Fabulous Heftones (Michigan), Tim Sweeney (Boston), The Strum Bums (California), Dr. Sparkles and his Mystic Nomads (Virginia), Sazerac and his Genial Orleanians (New Orleans), Steven Sproat (England), Eilidh MacAskill (Scotland), Yalego (France), and Bosko & Honey’s Ukulele Love In (Queensland, Australia).

Special performances include a Saturday afternoon matinee presentation by the George Fox Middle School Ukulele Ensemble, and, on Sunday, a seminar led by Uke Jackson about the legendary recording and radio personality Ukulele Ike (best known to modern audiences as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in the Walt Disney film Pinocchio).

For those interested in learning to play the uke themselves (or improve their existing uke skills), workshops and seminars are held all day Friday and Saturday. One of TNC’s four theaters will be devoted entirely to vendors selling a wide variety of ukes, uke supplies and info, and souvenirs.

Refreshments are available, including free beer from Samuel Adams, the NY Uke Fest 2007 sponsor.

DOOR PRIZES ALL FOUR DAYS! DON’T MISS IT!

Additional Price Information:

A Full Festival Pass is available for $175.00 through April 1. After April 1, the Full Pass is $200.00. At the door, Full Festival Passes may be purchased for $225.00.

Saturday Daytime: Buy a uke and get your $5.00 Admission Fee refunded!

Cash only at the door.