Saturday, January 24, 7:30 pm., Orcas Center
— from Artha Kass —
The first ever Orcas Island Uke-a-palooza is a festival of all things ukulele! An extravaganza of local musicians, young and old, who will be performing at Orcas Center on Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 pm. Ukulele Festivals bring laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout the world through the music of the ukulele. There are hundreds of festivals throughout the nation and Europe attracting players and attendees of all ages.
In 1971, at a time when very few people were interested in the ukulele, Roy Sakuma organized the 1st Annual Ukulele Festival in Hawaii. It was Sakuma’s dream to present a free concert to show people that the ukulele could be played as a solo instrument of sophistication and virtuosity and not just a rhythm instrument for background music.
Today, the annual Ukulele Festival in Waikiki is now a summer tradition in Hawaii. It has grown internationally and is by far the largest ukulele festival of its kind in the world, with crowds of thousands, guest artists from around the world and a ukulele orchestra of over 800 students, mostly children.
And now we have Orcas Island’s contribution to the world of ukuleles, Uke-a-palooza!
Come and join us at Uke-a-palooza where the magic is in the music. There will be big ensemble
numbers and many island (Orcas, Shaw, Crane, Guernsey) musicians including: Carl Berger, Jim
Heller, Anita Orne, Gordon Koenig, Girls with Ukes, and the Ukulele Kids.
Tickets for Uke-a-palooza are $10, $5 for students and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon – 4 pm. For more information about the Orcas Center 2015 season visit www.orcascenter.org.
A, D, F#, B or C, G, E, A, or D, G, B, E, or whatever, ukes rule, and we’re looking forward to an energetic evening at Orcas Center. “Uku” is Hawaiian for “flea.” “lele” is “to hop,” so, watch for some animated musicianship as ukulele enthusiasts take the stage. This is gonna be fun!