This year, we have a jam-packed daytime program full of wonderful performers from all over the country. 2024 brings lots of familiar faces along with a few new ones to entertain and delight over two wonderful days of fun and music.
Listed below is the complete lineup of our Saturday and Sunday daytime performers, in alphabetical order.
Bad Benny Owens
Bad Benny Owens is a solo ukulelist, duelist, raconteur, entrepreneur, philosopher, MD, JP and semi-professional barber-surgeon.
He lives in Katoomba, by way of Cessnock, Newcastle and the Inner West of Sydney. Hopefully more than 50% of the audience are family and friends.
These are his songs, based on life, love and far too many craft beers.
Bayz
A group of five from The Bay, who play an eclectic mix of music and instruments.
Blue Uke Guy
Bruno, aka Blue Uke Guy, is a singer-songwriter who combines pop music with his Brazilian roots, creating an original fusion that reflects his rich musical background.
His setlist balances high-energy tunes with relaxed, laid-back melodies. Including covers, original compositions and imaginative mashups. You can count on him to deliver a musical experience.
Bullied Into Happiness
Bullied Into Happiness is a band made up of three mates, good vibes and our many ukuleles. We play an upbeat mix of originals and acoustic covers - and you can always count on us to pull out a mashup or three.
Singalongs are always welcome – if you come along as a stranger, we promise you’ll leave as a friend.
Canada Bay City Strummers
Formed under our previous name, the Five Dock Strummers, we are a friendly bunch of ukulele enthusiasts who jam every Friday at Abbottsford Quarantine Reserve.
We enjoy performing at festivals and community events.
Central Coast Ukulele Club
The CCUC is an enthusiastic group of community musicians who love to perform, have fun and deliver a great performance.
Chantelle & the Cat Cartel
Chantelle can make a loud room go suddenly quiet, eager to hear what comes next. Her rich jazzy vocals captivate while she dazzles with her beautiful ukulele technique.
Based in Melbourne, she has performed at most major ukulele festivals and events throughout Australia. She will be accompanied by Ricardo Vaveliuk on bass and Mark Jackson on trumpet.
Coolibah Coolective
Canberricana’s indie uke band released their debut studio album ‘Teacup In A Storm’ last year. Winners of the Australian National Busking Championships, Community Music Award, the band seamlessly blends rhythm, melody and harmony into a diverse repertoire of original songwriting and storytelling.
Coolibah Coolective is uke, folky fun at its most entertaining!
Craigie Marsh
Singer-songwriters Craigie Marsh combine sweet harmonies and honest lyricism with a repertoire that ranges from a laid-back vibe, to lively performances on acoustic and electric instruments.
Four Craigie Marsh songs made the finals at last year's Tamworth Country Music Festival.
CUBE
We are the performance band from the Nambucca Valley U3A.We are older than Tay Tay and younger than The Rolling Stones.
We'll play some old favorites to get you singing along, something new from our "Blue Tour" and finish off with a song to sing all the way home.
Darken
Darken are Darcy and Ken. Coming from different generations but sharing an interest in music that is moody, melancholic, poignant or dark.
Darken play music from varied genres and styles using voice and various ukes. Covers of songs by artists such as Gaby Moreno, Hozea, the Cranberries, the Smiths and Saint Jacques as well as originals.
Down River Ukes Yamba
Community Ukulele Group from Yamba Northern Rivers NSW who meet regularly and learn from one another their love of Music.
Dunobeats
A whirlwind of musical styles, grooves and melodies played with the mastery, confidence and pizzaz that only over 30 years of live music playing can give you.
As well as a bit of energy, imagination and creativity. It’s all about the music.
Exposure therapy
We are a group of friends who just want to play sweet sweet music together (and nothing more!).
The Ferny Groovers
The Ferny Groovers are from Brisbane Qld and have ukulele and baritone players, djembe and percussion, vocalists, clarinet & flute. We play a variety of tunes from 50's, 60's, 70's to the present day and have a lot fun doing it.
So, put on your dancing shoes and be transported through the ages one song at a time.
Flat Foot Floozy
The talented musicians of Flat Foot Floozy came together at the Balmain Ukulele Klub.
Over the years since its formation the group has performed its eclectic mix of songs from many genres at Festivals and Institutions up and down the East Coast.
Giddy
Giddy is a singer-songwriter who is inspired by the various ways we connect and struggle to connect with each other. Her songs explore the kinds of small moments and big feelings that are commonplace, but hard to articulate.
Expect intimate, poetic storytelling, delicate baritone ukulele instrumentals and ethereal vocals.
The Gospel-ele Sisters
The Gospel-ele Sisters are a Gospel / Ukelele trio comprised of Ruth McCrae, Sacha Kilgour, and Jo Maunsell.
Veterans of gospel harmony (think the Café of the Gate of Salvation choir), they have joined forces to celebrate 20-odd years of friendship, soul-stirring harmonies and uplifting gospel tunes.
In Salt
In Salt will present a menu with both feet firmly planted in the sea. The deck will be the shanty form but there will be plenty of gangplank exits.
A cabin fevered mixture of shanty, ballad, parody and performance, mixed in with shanghaied landlubber participation.
Jane Cameron
Jane Cameron is a contemporary folk storyteller who blends folk, blues and jazz influences to create a sound that warms your heart and draws comparisons with the likes of Natalie Merchant, Janis Ian and Margret Roadknight.
Jane released her Landlocked album in 2023 with tours in NZ and Victoria and a new batch of songs is on the way!
John Wallace
Local bearded uke teacher and performer playing and singing his eclectic collection of original music.
Come and watch if you enjoy anything from sad folk to prog metal.
J-ukebox
J-ukebox has been playing together since mid 2023, performing instrumental music in bass / rhythm / Llad format. All three performers have been playing ukes for a number of years, and lead their own social ukulele groups.
Their repertoire includes popular tunes, often from the 60s, as well as their own arrangements of unusually medleys.
LakeMac Ukestra
One of the longest running community uke groups in Newcastle and a recent offshoot from the greater Sum of The Parts collective.
Led by local musician and teacher John Wallace. They perform tricky ukulele arrangements of popular songs from a variety of eras.
Little Cents
Led by Melissa on tenor uke, Little Cents play eclectic music for eclectic souls. Magpie vocals and fine fingerpicking acoustic guitar of Jason Winn, backed with Paul's gospel keys and David's precise drum rhythms.
Recently at St Albans Folk Festival, be smitten by their poignant human stories and hopeful songs.
Los Quatros
Playing Ukulele and other musical instruments (Accordion, Mandolin) and singing known, Parody and original songs.
Lynt
Lynt is a newly formed performance group made up of Graham Harmon (singer), Geoff Ellacott (U-bass), and Yvonne Poels (ukulele). Lynt is based in Canberra and has performed at open mic sessions in Canberra clubs and bars.
Their performance background includes rock bands, choirs, piano and recorder eisteddfods. They enjoy an eclectic range of music.
Maitland Pluckers
A free and independent group having fun playing ukulele on Monday nights at the Lorn Park Bowling Club. We play originals and covers that span from the 1920’s to today.
Our musical direction is driven by the players but occasionally influenced by listening to 2NURFM.
Nicholas Loveridge
Singer-songwriter Nicholas Loveridge presents to the world his quirky, independent style of Indie-Folk, fusing high-energy moments with gentle nuances. A new year brings a new perspective, new songs and a new chapter for Loveridge as he explores the profound in the mundane.
This is Loveridge. Don't get too comfortable.
Old Hat
They say the good die young, which explains why all three members of Old Hat are still kicking! Despite being doddery, decrepit and in their dotage, these ancient Aussie artistes have a long history of stirring their indomitable spirits to sing, strum and sip strong spirits.
They have fun with their eclectic style of originals and covers, and so will you.
Original Cyn and Co
Cynthia was introduced to the uke through the Ukastle Ukestra and for several years performed in a duo. 3 years ago she joined the Australian Ukulele Orchestra and also began exploring writing her own songs. Cyn attends regular songwriter forums and last year recorded an album of her easy-listening originals.
Today Cyn is joined by Mick Rippon on bass.
Sally's Ukulele
Sally performs on her high and low G tenor ukuleles. Her music flows from beautiful Campanella tunes and gentle songs to upbeat bluegrass, Celtic, gypsy jazz, jazz and old favourites.
Sally's performances are unique and draw any audience in to the fun of the moment as she showcases her flair for big, bold and brilliant musical manoeuvres.
Slightly Plucked Up
Be prepared for a totally plucking good time with the usual shenanigans from Janine, Owen, Anne, Jenny & Janet in this uke-crazy quintet fuelled by friendship and a shared passion for playing the ukulele.
Their delicate and delicious arrangements guaranteed to delight!
Spare Parts
Instrumental Ukulele.
String Sisters
From Donovan to Mumford and Sons, String Sisters' five part harmonies blend blues and folk with a touch of funk.
Threepence
Threepence formed approximately 7 years ago and consists of Penny Creighton, Anne Cowper and Gail Walsh. The band draws its repertoire from an eclectic mix and has a feel-good vibe.
With three voices, 2 ukes and 1 uke bass, Threepence puts a brand new shine on their music - ranging from blues, folk and originals.
Tom the Pom and #1 Son
Ukulele, bass and the harmonies that only a father and son can get.
The lad is heaps good, these days.
Trish Collins
Trish has been writing songs for a few years now , working on her own but with the guidance of an Australian based song writing community where members from all around the world share their work under the umbrella of pro writers and teachers Keppie Coutts & Ben Romalis.
Always working to improve in this skill set, Trish shall present a few of her own songs.
Ukastle Ukestra
The Ukestra Ukestra is a cross between a ukulele orchestra, a choir and a musical theatre experience from "Hair"! We play original arrangements of songs taken from all genres (including pop, folk, world music and jazz) but send them to new places and back again by arranging them for ukulele and voice.
We believe in giving a show, more than just a collection of songs! We are the local ukulele community of Newcastle welcoming you to share our city!
Uke Dirty Rats
Uke Dirty Rats are a Newcastle based trio performing parodies, covers and original songs. They have performed at Ukulele Festivals, clubs and at community and corporate events.
They host an Open Mic Night on the first Tuesday of each month at Club Lambton.
Ukestral Voices
This is a local community choir that enjoys blending vocals with ukulele, bass, and percussion. We put together four to five part harmony arrangements of songs (World Music, Folk, and Contemporary), that are reinvented and reimagined…
Under the leadership of Jane Jelbart and Mark Jackson this choir likes to entertain you; involve you in their gig and entice you to sing along! It’s a rich vocal sound with an underpinning of arpeggios and lead riffs.
Ukulele Republic of Canberra (URoC)
The Ukulele Republic of Canberra is a community music group with an inclusive and democratic philosophy. URoC hosts regular play-along and educational sessions in the Canberra/Queanbeyan region.
The Performance Group is drawn from the general membership and has performed locally and at festivals from Cairns to Newcastle to Melbourne.
Vintage Ukes
A mix of blues, rock and some vintage songs.
Wattas Abridged
Wattas come to you in a smaller package - abridged! Still bringing you a groove both ancient and modern and features, yes, ukulele, bass and percussion.
Same vibe, more fun tunes!