The Central Coast Ukulele Festival is nearly here 20^th-22^nd September 2024

The Central Coast Ukulele Club has been hosting ukulele festivals on the Central Coast since 2012.

Our mission is to bring you laughter, love, to entertain you and help leave your troubles behind. It’s always been a popular event and has attracted music lovers and families from around Australia and overseas since 2012.

In a world that often feels chaotic, hurried and covid, there’s something undeniably soothing about the gentle plucking, picking and strumming of the ukulele strings.

Our festival is where this calming sound will fill the air accompanied by laughter, music and a sense of community.

This festival is inclusive of all genres of music, all cultural backgrounds, ages and musical expertise. From an absolute beginner to a seasoned player this festival welcomes all.

Music has the ability to bring people together and inspire you. You can’t help but smile when you pick up a ukulele.

The Central Coast Ukulele festival satisfies all tastes of music and with headlining acts The Nukes from New Zealand with their humour, original quirky brilliant songs to the amazing Connor Wink and Shawn O’Friel a blind ukulele player that will mesmerise you and entertsain you, plus Paul Jonson and his smooth blues, Mirrabooka beats and Rhymers and poets there is something for everyone.

It’s a chance to witness performances by talented musicians, community groups, sing-longs, jams, or feast your senses at the many workshops available all weekend.

A song writing competition on Sunday afternoon and an open mic is awaiting you.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of something special and make unforgettable memories after the final chord has been played

Tickets are available for $12 for two days st

https://trybooking.com/CRIVM

or for further information pleas email

info@centralcoastukuleleclub.com

The Program

Workshops

See you there!

Our Dinner Show please call The Diggers to book a table on (02) 43323399

Our workshops are run by talented musicians who like to share their knowledge.

The workshops will be $20-$25 and in the Pavillion room.

Where:  Diggers (RSL ) at The Entrance, Central Coast Hwy, Long Jetty NSW

When:  Saturday Sunday 20th – 22nd September 2024

Thursday  19^th we have a pre-festival party at the FunHaus Gosford with Dom Diaz and Nicky Bomba.  6 – 9.30pm

Program is online

A little taste of what’s to come……..

The Nukes from New Zealand

We have had the pleasure of booking this amazing trio plus “Snapper” a few times and they always deliver and never disappoint.

The Nukes – New Zealand’s original ukulele trio was founded on a crazy whim way back in 2008, by musical desperadoes David Parker, Ben Collier and Dave Thiele.

And what began as a trickle of original tunes soon turned into a musical torrent of biblical proportions – 4 albums and hundreds of shows later here they are celebrating over 13 years together.

The past decade has seen The Nukes play their special blend of alt folk/country/roots up and down Aotearoa and beyond, taking in festivals in NZ and Australia and theatres, schools and venues up and down the country; No place is safe from The Nukes!

Now, as part of their reunion celebrations The Nukes are returning to the Central Coast (Yeah for us) and audiences will be both amazed by the rare feats of musicality forced upon these innocent wee instruments, slayed by the humour and scandalised by the scat.

Connor Wink

Meet Connor, a remarkable individual who defies expectations and embraces the extraordinary. Born with Leber congenital amaurosis, a condition causing blindness since birth, Connor has turned his unique perception of light and dark into a canvas for an inspiring journey. At the tender age of two, Connor astounded his parents by playing tunes he had heard and loved on his toy piano. In 2010, serendipity struck when Connor crossed paths with the legendary Cher backstage in Las Vegas. Their connection flourished, and Cher became a guiding force in Connor’s life, A reunion with Cher in 2018 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre marked another highlight in Connor’s musical journey. He had found his place as an artist.

Shawn O’Friel

A  musician and shipwright originally from Hollywood beach California and now Newcastle.  Shawn is by far an incredible talented musician.. His style of music is brilliant and he is a star in his own right. He does not want any fuss he is here to perform for Connor Wink. Thank you Shawn.

Mirrabooka

Mirrabooka a quartet of experienced musicians. Collectively each member has been involved in the music industry for many decades and are singer songwriters have performed with many artists/musicians and genres of music in that time. The band is two couples, Rob and Liz /Rosie and Glenn and formed over 10 years ago. Mirrabooka are popular around their hometown as well as national and international regions.

Be inspired by their beautiful original melodies, rhymical dance songs or their catchy covers and harmonies.

Mirrabooka are unique acoustic group with sounds from acoustic guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, drums, djembe drums and bass. Mirrabooka meaning The Milky Way /River of Life.

Cameron Murray

It is our pleasure to invite Cameron back to our festival.

Cameron Murray has been playing ukulele and uke-banjo for more than half his life, his granddad teaching him ukulele when he was too small for a guitar.   He started playing in folk clubs with his father as a youngster.

A proponent of the George Formby strumming style, Cameron enjoys performing classic tunes from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as Hawaiian hits and originals.  Cameron is also a keen collector of vintage instruments and the publisher and editor of international ukulele magazine Kamuke (kamuke.com).

Look out for his new Album

 Flat Foot Floozies

Macleay Valley Ukulele Players

This group from the Mid North Coast have seen flood and fire over the past few years..

The Macleay Uke Players, part of the Macleay Valley Arts Council, have been together as a group for around ten years. They meet on Monday nights, enjoying each other’ s company as well as strumming their Ukes and constantly discovering what sounds can be created from such a small 4-stringed instrument!

Not only playing but also very enthusiastic about some serious singing!

The Macleay Uke Players have always mixed their song choice, playing an eclectic mix of old as well as not so old songs; from songs about freight trains to ballerinas, from songs about very bad boys to songs about boats called “John”!

Whilst the group has performed at a number of public events, it has been fairly quiet of late. So, they’re very keen to help lift the roof off, here at this Central Coast Ukulele Festival!

Ukelles

Indie folk pop blending ukuleles , acoustic instruments and sweet harmonies . Caroline West and Jodie Young are singer songwriters joining forces with acoustic virtuoso Don Miller Robinson .

URoC

Established in 2007, the Ukulele Republic of Canberra (URoC) 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 URoC Performance Group is drawn from the general membership and has performed locally and at festivals from Cairns to Melbourne. For the past 10 years, URoC led the well-attended morning Uke Sing-alongs at the National Folk Festival.

Darlo Street

Darlo Street Band is a new group hailing from Balmain Uke Klub, along with some special guests. The band features experienced players with catchy beats and harmonies and a repertoire which is a mash-up of blues, Americana, pop and folk styles.

Clyde Street

After 8 Years of performing together, within and far beyond its hometown of Newcastle, ClydeStreet is known for its creative interpretations of classic and contemporary numbers, 4 musicians who provide a musical experience honed over the years of working closely together and in addition, the band includes original songs, each indicative to the individual style of each song writer. ClydeStreet delights in sharing with you their love of harmony, rhythm, and musical magic.

Playing creatively crafted covers, ensemble style with flamboyant instrumentals and lively rhythms in a variety of genres we share our music with audiences at a wide range of events.

John, Rosalie , Trish and Gail look forward to performing today for their Central Coast Ukulele community neighbours. Don’t forget to say “Hi” afterwards

The festival is all indoors at The Diggers at The Entrance with views over our beautiful Tuggerah Lakes.

Come and spend some time with us. You can enjoy our festival and enjoy the beautiful Central Coast The Entrance with beautiful beaches and lakes across The Central Coast..

Accommodation is plentiful around the Entrance from 5-star rating resorts and hotels to camping ground and caravans parks our on the beaches or lakes.

There is also accommodation at the Diggers (Ibis) however you will have to get in early as it gets booked out quickly

See you soon!