THE LINE UP
Honoka & Azita (Hawaii)
Performing: at the Saturday Night Concert
Internet sensations and ‘ukulele phenoms, Honoka & Azita are taking the world by storm with their dynamic and energetic performances. These social media superstars have amassed millions of views and have a growing fan base across the globe.
These young ladies are the 2013 International ‘Ukulele Contest Grand Champions and were awarded the prestigious title of MVP. In 2015, the girls recorded on the Island Style ʻUkulele 2 album, which received the 2015 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Compilation Album of the Year. The dynamic duo released their self-entitled EP album in 2016, which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Top 100 World Music Albums Chart and are currently in the studio recording their highly anticipated full-length album
Internet sensations and ‘ukulele phenoms, Honoka & Azita are taking the world by storm with their dynamic and energetic performances. These social media superstars have amassed millions of views and have a growing fan base across the globe.
These young ladies are the 2013 International ‘Ukulele Contest Grand Champions and were awarded the prestigious title of MVP. In 2015, the girls recorded on the Island Style ʻUkulele 2 album, which received the 2015 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Compilation Album of the Year. The dynamic duo released their self-entitled EP album in 2016, which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Top 100 World Music Albums Chart and are currently in the studio recording their highly anticipated full-length album
Ukulele Death Squad (SA)
Performing: at the Friday Night Concert
The Ukulele Death Squad strives to entertain and wow their audiences by pushing the boundaries of the small four stringed instrument– the Ukulele.
Exploding onto the scene in February 2017 at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, they blend their own ukulele style with Flamenco, Mexican, rap and Folk, with an energetic performance that goes beyond anything audiences have ever seen.
The Death Squad have already managed to achieve sold-out Adelaide & Edinburgh Fringe Festival Seasons in 2017. In fact they have sold out every single show to this day. The UDS will warp your perceptions of ukuleles one nylon string at a time With stage-craft, mad thumping rhythms and outrageous solos, they will quite literally blow your minds. Enter at your own risk
The Ukulele Death Squad strives to entertain and wow their audiences by pushing the boundaries of the small four stringed instrument– the Ukulele.
Exploding onto the scene in February 2017 at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, they blend their own ukulele style with Flamenco, Mexican, rap and Folk, with an energetic performance that goes beyond anything audiences have ever seen.
The Death Squad have already managed to achieve sold-out Adelaide & Edinburgh Fringe Festival Seasons in 2017. In fact they have sold out every single show to this day. The UDS will warp your perceptions of ukuleles one nylon string at a time With stage-craft, mad thumping rhythms and outrageous solos, they will quite literally blow your minds. Enter at your own risk
The Montgomery Brothers (VIC)
Performing: at the Saturday Night Concert
The best young Blues band in Australia!
The Montgomery Brothers are an exciting, frightening, gorgeous Blues Band.
Exciting, because they hold an audience in the palm of their hand. Frightening, because two of them are under 18 and one of them 20, and they must be gorgeous because the audience stands transfixed as they perform on stage.
Led by Guitar & Ukulele virtuoso, Ryo Montgomery, they play with a maturity that is usually associated with artists who have decades of experience.
This will simply leave you breathless… a must see.
The best young Blues band in Australia!
The Montgomery Brothers are an exciting, frightening, gorgeous Blues Band.
Exciting, because they hold an audience in the palm of their hand. Frightening, because two of them are under 18 and one of them 20, and they must be gorgeous because the audience stands transfixed as they perform on stage.
Led by Guitar & Ukulele virtuoso, Ryo Montgomery, they play with a maturity that is usually associated with artists who have decades of experience.
This will simply leave you breathless… a must see.
The Coconut Kids (SA)
Performing: at the Saturday Night Concert
Infectiously fun and outrageously different, The Coconut Kids are an eclectic group that defy genres and styles. They've been wooing audiences across Australia and beyond with their own blend of French-influenced world folk using ukulele, brass, bass, keys, violin, mandolin and powerful vocals.
The kids' unique sound will have you dancing one minute and in tears the next.
They've cemented themselves as festival favourites playing across Australia and sharing the
stage with festival greats such as The Cat Empire & Michael Franti, playing festivals across Australia and showcasing at the globally renowned music festival South By South West in Austin, Texas earlier this year.
Downright catchy and heartfelt, and having a laugh along the way, they are riding a wave of
buzz this year as they gear up for our 2018 European tour. They released their debut EP in June 2016, followed by their acclaimed single "Un De
Plus"in September 2017. Their music has been played on national radio, as well as receiving
airplay in Europe, America, Canada & The Philippines with their video clip featuring on MTV
in both Europe & Australia.
Infectiously fun and outrageously different, The Coconut Kids are an eclectic group that defy genres and styles. They've been wooing audiences across Australia and beyond with their own blend of French-influenced world folk using ukulele, brass, bass, keys, violin, mandolin and powerful vocals.
The kids' unique sound will have you dancing one minute and in tears the next.
They've cemented themselves as festival favourites playing across Australia and sharing the
stage with festival greats such as The Cat Empire & Michael Franti, playing festivals across Australia and showcasing at the globally renowned music festival South By South West in Austin, Texas earlier this year.
Downright catchy and heartfelt, and having a laugh along the way, they are riding a wave of
buzz this year as they gear up for our 2018 European tour. They released their debut EP in June 2016, followed by their acclaimed single "Un De
Plus"in September 2017. Their music has been played on national radio, as well as receiving
airplay in Europe, America, Canada & The Philippines with their video clip featuring on MTV
in both Europe & Australia.
Lucy Wise (VIC)
Performing: At the Friday Night Concert
Hailing from the far South Western corner of Australia, singer-songwriter Lucy Wise has delighted audiences across Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK with her unique blend of folk, chamber and pop music combined with masterful storytelling.
Having toured two albums and two EPs to music festivals in Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK over the past 8 years, Lucy Wise has developed a great reputation for her songwriting, which weaves together traditional folk and pop influences with a strong focus on storytelling
Hailing from the far South Western corner of Australia, singer-songwriter Lucy Wise has delighted audiences across Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK with her unique blend of folk, chamber and pop music combined with masterful storytelling.
Having toured two albums and two EPs to music festivals in Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK over the past 8 years, Lucy Wise has developed a great reputation for her songwriting, which weaves together traditional folk and pop influences with a strong focus on storytelling
Manitoba Hal (Canada)
Performing: at the Friday Night Concert
Manitoba Hal is a consummate blues man, having toured Canada extensively with a ukulele.
Picturing him in his 100 year old cottage in Nova Scotia, one can’t help wonder how someone can sound like he grew up in the Deep South of the States and play raw, swamp, delta, Cajun and zydeco style blues.
Hal developed the blues sound when he lived in Winnipeg Manitoba (where he also got his name). “Winnipeg, often referred to as the Chicago of the north, is situated in a delta between the Red and Assiniboine rivers. "I was born at the blues and when I found that music inside me, I came alive and my soul started expressing itself in songs that flowed with that music. The blues is where my soul came
into this world. Where it will end up I don’t know but I’m ready for the journey”
Manitoba Hal is a consummate blues man, having toured Canada extensively with a ukulele.
Picturing him in his 100 year old cottage in Nova Scotia, one can’t help wonder how someone can sound like he grew up in the Deep South of the States and play raw, swamp, delta, Cajun and zydeco style blues.
Hal developed the blues sound when he lived in Winnipeg Manitoba (where he also got his name). “Winnipeg, often referred to as the Chicago of the north, is situated in a delta between the Red and Assiniboine rivers. "I was born at the blues and when I found that music inside me, I came alive and my soul started expressing itself in songs that flowed with that music. The blues is where my soul came
into this world. Where it will end up I don’t know but I’m ready for the journey”
Tyrone & Lesley (QLD)
Performing: at the Saturday Night Concert
Tyrone and Lesley create songs on the ukulele, double bass and U-bass, all instruments that must be played close to the heart. First meeting in 2000 in the show Ukulele Mekulele which took them to the Sydney Opera House, they’ve made music ever since, having released five albums: Ukulele Heart (2012) , Bear with Me (2013), the soundtrack to the hit show of the same name, Gentlemen Songsters (2014) Baubles: A Ukulele Christmas (2015) and OPTIMISM (2017). With one foot on the music stage, and the other on the theatrical stage, they’ve performed to many audiences of the large and little kind.
Finalists in the 2012 and 2013 Queensland Music Awards for their songwriting, they’ve played the Sydney Opera House, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre, The Adelaide Festival Centre and many events including the New Zealand International Ukulele Festival, Melbourne Ukulele Festival, Cairns Ukulele Festival, Spruke, Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival, the Brisbane Festival, Perth’s Awesome Festival, the UK’s Grand Northern Ukulele Festival and many others
Tyrone and Lesley create songs on the ukulele, double bass and U-bass, all instruments that must be played close to the heart. First meeting in 2000 in the show Ukulele Mekulele which took them to the Sydney Opera House, they’ve made music ever since, having released five albums: Ukulele Heart (2012) , Bear with Me (2013), the soundtrack to the hit show of the same name, Gentlemen Songsters (2014) Baubles: A Ukulele Christmas (2015) and OPTIMISM (2017). With one foot on the music stage, and the other on the theatrical stage, they’ve performed to many audiences of the large and little kind.
Finalists in the 2012 and 2013 Queensland Music Awards for their songwriting, they’ve played the Sydney Opera House, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre, The Adelaide Festival Centre and many events including the New Zealand International Ukulele Festival, Melbourne Ukulele Festival, Cairns Ukulele Festival, Spruke, Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival, the Brisbane Festival, Perth’s Awesome Festival, the UK’s Grand Northern Ukulele Festival and many others
The Loveys (NSW)
Performing: at the Friday Night Concert
The Loveys is a five piece multi-instrumental originals band known for its humour and sassiness. Their story-telling is showcased by fabulous harmonies, exciting arrangements, unusual percussion, and ravishing style.
Nailing the piss-take on all things modern circa 2017, from transgender marital departures to personality disorders – even the pursuit of happiness isn’t spared from their material. But they’re not popular just for their good humour, they’re a festival highlight because they’re absolutely gorgeous and very bloody good
The Loveys is a five piece multi-instrumental originals band known for its humour and sassiness. Their story-telling is showcased by fabulous harmonies, exciting arrangements, unusual percussion, and ravishing style.
Nailing the piss-take on all things modern circa 2017, from transgender marital departures to personality disorders – even the pursuit of happiness isn’t spared from their material. But they’re not popular just for their good humour, they’re a festival highlight because they’re absolutely gorgeous and very bloody good
Mal Webb & Kylie Morrigan (VIC)
Performing: Saturday 12.15pm
Mal Webb plays too many instruments in too many styles to too many people. He gives solo performance a bad name, and that's Mal, whatever your language. Music that stomps all over stylistic boundaries. It's as grittily human as it is other worldly, as clever as it is stupid, as playful as it is ponderous. Ballads, beatbox and beyond. A jolly jaw dropping journeyman. Eclectic, ebullient and even educational. A founding member of the Oxo Cubans, Sock and Totally Gourdgeous, Mal did all the music for the Lano and Woodley TV show and Wogs Out of Work, played mbira and sang "Eagle Rock" with Ross Wilson on John Safran's Music Jamboree on SBS and has done a few spots on Spicks and Specks (ABCTV).
At Newkulele he is teaming up with Kylie Morrigan and Jack n Jel to bring us an afternoon of amazing musical entertainment.
Mal Webb plays too many instruments in too many styles to too many people. He gives solo performance a bad name, and that's Mal, whatever your language. Music that stomps all over stylistic boundaries. It's as grittily human as it is other worldly, as clever as it is stupid, as playful as it is ponderous. Ballads, beatbox and beyond. A jolly jaw dropping journeyman. Eclectic, ebullient and even educational. A founding member of the Oxo Cubans, Sock and Totally Gourdgeous, Mal did all the music for the Lano and Woodley TV show and Wogs Out of Work, played mbira and sang "Eagle Rock" with Ross Wilson on John Safran's Music Jamboree on SBS and has done a few spots on Spicks and Specks (ABCTV).
At Newkulele he is teaming up with Kylie Morrigan and Jack n Jel to bring us an afternoon of amazing musical entertainment.
Jack 'n Jel (NSW)
Performing: Saturday 12.15pm
Jack N Jel's music is influenced by the rich tradition of story telling and banjo, guitar and ukulele folk music from USA and Hawaii. Their originals are alt-country, bluesy, and a little bit surprising. The duo album released last year really showcases their song writing that makes you swoon or tap your feet … and the on stage banter is always funny.
At Newkulele they are teaming up with Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan to bring us an afternoon of amazing musical entertainment not to be missed.
Jack N Jel's music is influenced by the rich tradition of story telling and banjo, guitar and ukulele folk music from USA and Hawaii. Their originals are alt-country, bluesy, and a little bit surprising. The duo album released last year really showcases their song writing that makes you swoon or tap your feet … and the on stage banter is always funny.
At Newkulele they are teaming up with Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan to bring us an afternoon of amazing musical entertainment not to be missed.
Shelly Brown (NSW)
Performing: Saturday 2.50pm
Shelly Brown has been a performing singer, songwriter and singing teacher for over a decade on the North Coast of NSW, and has performed around the world in various line-ups including a jazz duo and her own original soul band. The set will build, from intimate and poetic, to a powerfully heartfelt alchemy of soul music.
She has independently produced albums and EP's, and when she’s not promoting them, or featuring at the Mullumbimby Ukulele Night with Stukulele and Miss Amber; she’s the PR manager for her family business, (which, incidentally, hand crafts Australia's safest light sport ultralight aircraft, the Australian LightWing).
Shelly Brown has been a performing singer, songwriter and singing teacher for over a decade on the North Coast of NSW, and has performed around the world in various line-ups including a jazz duo and her own original soul band. The set will build, from intimate and poetic, to a powerfully heartfelt alchemy of soul music.
She has independently produced albums and EP's, and when she’s not promoting them, or featuring at the Mullumbimby Ukulele Night with Stukulele and Miss Amber; she’s the PR manager for her family business, (which, incidentally, hand crafts Australia's safest light sport ultralight aircraft, the Australian LightWing).
Sparrow Folk (NSW)
Performing: At the Finale, Sunday 2.20pm
Late Night Nesting Show! Featuring festival acts as you have never seen them before. (Line up yet to be announced). But get there early ... you won't want to miss it!!"
Aussie ‘sirens of satire’ Sparrow Folk crack open their most hilarious show to date. Best friends FOX and LARK test their friendship in their most daring show yet, revealing what keeps these funny birds from going cuckoo. The award winning pair are queens of the overshare, serving up hilarious moments with their heavenly harmonies.
Late Night Nesting Show! Featuring festival acts as you have never seen them before. (Line up yet to be announced). But get there early ... you won't want to miss it!!"
Aussie ‘sirens of satire’ Sparrow Folk crack open their most hilarious show to date. Best friends FOX and LARK test their friendship in their most daring show yet, revealing what keeps these funny birds from going cuckoo. The award winning pair are queens of the overshare, serving up hilarious moments with their heavenly harmonies.
Ukastle Ukestra (NSW)
The Local Ukastle Ukestra will open the Festival at the Friday Night Concert.
The Ukastle Ukestra plays original arrangements of songs taken from all genres but send them to new places and back again by arranging them for ukulele and voice. This motley group of performers have been entertaining audiences from Melbourne, Brisbane, New Zealand and even Hawaii for over seven years.
We believe in giving a show, more than just a collection of songs!
Ukastle Ukestra A: performing Friday night 6.30pm
Ukastle Ukestra B: performing Sunday 10.10am
The Ukastle Ukestra plays original arrangements of songs taken from all genres but send them to new places and back again by arranging them for ukulele and voice. This motley group of performers have been entertaining audiences from Melbourne, Brisbane, New Zealand and even Hawaii for over seven years.
We believe in giving a show, more than just a collection of songs!
Ukastle Ukestra A: performing Friday night 6.30pm
Ukastle Ukestra B: performing Sunday 10.10am
Ukestral Voices (NSW)
Performing: at the Finale, Sunday 3.30pm
A Newcastle community choir with a little difference — a ukulele difference.
Ukestral Voices present three- to four-part harmony arrangements of world music, blues, pop, and traditional gospel, but accompanied and performed on the uke.
It’s a rich vocal sound with an underpinning of ukulele arpeggios and lead riffs.
Check out what happens when you put it all together — it soars!
A Newcastle community choir with a little difference — a ukulele difference.
Ukestral Voices present three- to four-part harmony arrangements of world music, blues, pop, and traditional gospel, but accompanied and performed on the uke.
It’s a rich vocal sound with an underpinning of ukulele arpeggios and lead riffs.
Check out what happens when you put it all together — it soars!
One Song Sing - An Event
A BIG Finale Event: Sunday 4.10pm
Newcastle’s Very Own Pop Up Choir.
You get the lyrics at the door
You're taught an arrangement (in parts)
We all sing it together
Its video recorded
It's a huge amount of fun
And it's all done in an hour(ish).
Newcastle’s Very Own Pop Up Choir.
You get the lyrics at the door
You're taught an arrangement (in parts)
We all sing it together
Its video recorded
It's a huge amount of fun
And it's all done in an hour(ish).
Featured Artists |Concert Performers | Finale Events
Other Wonderful Acts Across the Festival Weekend
Amie Brûlée
Bleeding Gums Murphy
Bravo, Charlie
BUMS Festival Group
Cameron Murray
Chantelle Riordan
Christabelle and Papworth
Connor Wink & Shawn O'Friel
Cyprian
Duplicity
Flat Foot Floozy
Foggy Foggy Duo
Fok Rok
Girt by C
Grace Kendall
Hypnotonics
Ian Porter
Khristina Joy TribUKE
Khristina Joy and the Z Chords
Maitland Pluckers
Marlowe
Mirrabooka Band
Nick Paisley
NukeM
Old School
Original Cyn & Co
The Outlaws Big Ukulele Band
Patrick Evans
Port Macquarie Ukestra
Redland City Ukes
Sid & Christian Ravoi (The Ukulele Brothers)
Small Hat Big Country
Solo Mojo
Sue Stenning
Susie and the Birdman
Teresa Hughes
Tom the Pom
The Blue Notes
The Daisy Chains
The Lightly Strung Orchestra
The Mother Pluckers
Threepence
Tomaree Ukestra
Uke 'n Harp
Ukenjamit
Ukulele Republic of Canberra
Ukulele Saints
Very Thought of Uke
Vintage Ukes
Wattas