Central Coast Ukulele Festival

Our Central Coast Ukulele Festival 26 is 25 days away!

The program is undergoing slight changes as it reaches everyone, and these updates will be posted on our website each week.

A huge thank you to our supports and sponsors

CCUC, Bendigo Bank, Diggers at The Entrance, Arthurs Fund, Dr Caroline West, Lions Club East Gosford, Terry Hyland, Tonkin, Christian Joy and Ukulele Therapy, Jacks Music.

The Diggers RSL at The Entrance is ready, and everything is in place for a fabulous festival rain, hail, or shine.

We have over 40 ukulele collectives/acts with 350 performers There will be educational workshops, raffles, merchandise and to kick start the events our signature Dinner Show featuring fabulous entertainers.

We also negotiated and dropped the price to $60 per person for a two-course meal plus tea, coffee, cookies and an incredible night of entertainment and dining. 

Contact the Diggers to book on (02) 433233992 or book online on their website or code https://www.diggers.club/event/ccuf26/

Our featured lineup of artists for Friday night Dinner Show includes:

Wii: Two dynamic ladies to open the show for you.

Campbel Fry:  Campbel has recently returned to Australia from the UK. He has a long list of credits and is an amazing performer/singer-songwriter whose composing and songwriting are remarkable. You’re guaranteed to enjoy and love his beautiful voice and smooth playing.

West & Young: Dr Caroline West, an ABC celebrity, and writer for Woman’s Day amongst a million other things, is a very talented lady. Caroline is an accredited singer/songwriter along with Jody Young, also a singer-songwriter. They perform at gigs and festivals in Sydney with their unique style of indie-folk, known for their rich harmonies and a unique blend of alt-country and blues. Their sound and voices will create a connection with you. Enjoy these lovely ladies, their storytelling and music.

Mirrabooka Band: Mirrabooka band is live and local, popular at festivals and local venues around Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, and the mid-north coast. They are an extremely versatile group who enjoy and perform many genres of music. They are in demand for many Ukulele and Folk Festivals because of their musical diversity, original songs, catchy covers and vocal harmonies. They are band winners for the “Girakool” blues festival, and their original songs are award-winning compositions. They will be your house band on Friday/Saturday night, they will either get you dancing or simply entertain you. Mirrabooka will also have the pleasure of featuring two guest artists.

Lisa Cernicchi: An incredibly popular artist in her own right. Lisa is an amazing powerhouse of a singer and brings her heart and soul to all songs.  Lisa by trade is an accredited Naturopath and Medicine Practitioner who balances her love of all things natural with music. 

Jeremy Brennan: Jeremy Brennan is an actor, composer and award-winning creative producer and music director. Born in New Zealand to a musical pedigree, at the age of 11 he composed a full-length operetta for his school production and by 14 had performed in Japan, Australia and the USA.

Jeremy Brennan is now based on the Central Coast. (yeah for us) He is a winner of many awards for his arrangement and songs plus the inaugural Nordoff-Robbins Songwriting Competition. His powerfully expressive style and shoot-from-the-hip vocal delivery heralds the arrival of an unmistakable voice that is amazing and a pleasure to listen to. Enjoy.

Gazukes: From the mid-north coast, they have survived fires, floods, and drought only to be hit by more fires and floods than any of us have seen in our lifetime. They’ve pulled themselves from the ashes to form a group built on great friendships through music and experience. Their songs and harmonies are warm and organic and with their strong reputation performing at festivals and gigs is gaining a wonderful reputation with their memorable performances. Led by Garry Haigh the other half of the Haigh brothers, leads his group of singers and players with dynamic precision. Garry’s musical talents shine through in his community and are a blessing for all.

Audrey Andjic and Band: Audrey is emerging as a popular singer/songwriter from Camden. Known for her melodic compositions that uniquely blend indie alternative pop rock, she is a rising star. We first discovered Audrey and her 3-piece band at our festival last year and had to ask her/them back by popular demand. They are young, dynamic and great songwriters. Can’t wait to see them again. You’ve not heard a uke like this before.

A great way to start an amazing festival for 2026.

Saturday features a huge lineup of artists.

The Hummingsong Choirs are more than just a choir; they are a community of warm and welcoming woman from across Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane who come together to sing, laugh and grow. Enjoy their breathtaking arrangements and voices. These amazing singers are world class.

Saturday assures to entertain you with a huge variety of acts and collectives on two stages at the Diggers. 

We will have an evening jam from the jam booklets, and the day will go on with more talent and good times with the Groove4+ band who will rock your socks off so you can dance the night away until late! Groove 4+ is a dynamic five-piece cover band from the Central Coast delivering an energetic mix of danceable rock, soul, funk, and blues classics spanning the ’60s through the 2000s. Seasoned musicians combine to create a tight, entertaining band that knows how to work a room playing with feel, punch, and plenty of groove. 

Such a full day, then get some sleep as it happens all over again on Sunday!

Sunday is filled with another day of incredible acts, concerts and collectives plus our educational workshops.

Our audio technicians are professional, and we will have stagehands and volunteers to assist you.

Workshops

Workshop tickets are available for sale on Friday night along with raffles, t-shirts.  The Program will also be available.

Djembe/Drum & Rhythm” workshop with Rob Kitney master of drums. Will present to you “Latin” rhythms. Coast $20

“Find Your Voice” with the amazing talented Jeremy Brennan. Cost is $20

“6 Sexy Strums for 6 Sassy Songs”: Wild Woman from Anywhere Beach. Cost $20

Cameron Murray 3 chords 6 techniques

Please support our festival by purchasing a ticket from try booking.

$15 for Saturday and Sunday

https://www.trybooking.com/DKDRM

Thank you for supporting our festival

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Kind regards

Liz Kitney

CCUF25

Central Coast Ukulele Festival Sept 12-14 2025

Only two weeks to go to the happiest festival around The Central Coast Ukulele Festival. Come and see what all the fuss is about. with over 51 bands and 400 performers it is bigger than Ben Hur.

There is something for everyone. Merchandise, rock, jazz, foreign languages, fun, folk, indie, rock, rhythm and blues, country, old songs, new songs, creative, colourful and entertaining!

With the Thin White Ukes with their brilliant harmonies and Bowie style will captivate you. Come along to their workshops and learn a few tricks on your ukulele.

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Tickets on sale now only $15 or at the door

Try Booking for CCUF 2025

https://www.trybooking.com/CZORH

Live music at its best by the best

Dinner show tickets available by calling the Diggers

 on (02) 4332 3399

3 course meal plus great entertainment.

Johnny Devilseed and Old Man Rubes

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The very Talented Denise Hanlon with Jeremy Brennan

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Plus we have some sensation uke bands from around the country

Cameron Murray

With the Mirrabooka Band, Lisa Cernicchi, Ukulele Dave and more…

Join us for an evening of first class entertainment and music. Some of these acts will NOT be appearing at our festival over the weekend only exclusive to Friday night. Please join us and celebrate the opening of our festival.

Please find attached Final Program

and Workshops available.

Prices listed for workshops on the program.

Doors open at the Diggers on Friday 4.00pm for early show entertainment. Come in and enjoy a refreshment and the view of beautiful Tuggerah lakes. Show starts at 5pm!

Doors open on Saturday at 10am and runs until late Saturday night. All workshop tickets may be purchased at our merchandise stall either on Friday evening or from Saturday.

Workshops start at the “Clam Hall” at 10.30am and again on Sunday at 10.30m (in Allambie room)

Sunday doors open at 10am.

Please join us with “One Song Sing” on Sunday afternoon, a terrific pop up choir, run by The Sum of the Parts.

The Song we shall be singing is Pompeii by Bastille, more info on this soon.

We have our Photographer – James Begg available all weekend.

Fantastic Raffles

Money Tree – winner takes all

Merchandise available 

Raffles Prizes

1 x Leho Tenor resonator ukulele, case, stand, strap , tuner

1 x Makala Tenor Ukulele with Case

1 x Riptide concert ukulele with case

1 x Enya soprano round special edition ukulele with case

1 x Lanaki concert with original artwork by indigenous artist Kylie Cassidy

1 x Soprano ukulele with original artwork by indigenous Jodie Taylor

1 x Beautiful artwork by local Central Coast Artist

And more…

We are running two stages at the Diggers Club.

stage 1 – Lounge

stage 2 – Allambie room

The third stage is for workshops at “the Clam” a white building diagonally across the road from the Diggers. You can’t miss it. We will have volunteers to help direct you. It’s a building that looks like a Clam (no kidding)  The venue is actually at the hall behind. They both are beautiful rooms with a garden which has outdoor seating that you are welcome to use, tune, jam or take a break in the sunshine (hopefully) from the amazing lineup of artists we have ready to entertain you. There is parking if you need to drive, however, it’s an easy 1 minute walk from the front door of the Diggers.

We will rock into the night with Mirrabooka Band, Lindy and the Losse units, West and young and The Thin White Ukes..

with over 400 performers you’ll just have to come and see

support live music

There is an open mic on Sunday and our merchandise desk will have the performers list.

We look forward to another great Central Coast Festival and thank you for your music and support.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Cheers

Liz

Central Coast Ukulele Festival

The Central Coast Ukulele Festival is nearly here 20th-22nd 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  19th 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!

Ukulele Festival, May 26 2012 The Entrance Central Coast

Exciting news
The Central Coast will be presenting our very first Ukulele Festival at The Entrance. May 26th 2012
Clubs from far and wide are invited to join us on one big day of ukulele madness.
Great acts from around Australia, ukulele clubs and groups, markets, art craft and workshops!
Open mic’s and blackboard performances.
There is something for everyone at The Central Coast Ukulele Festival at the Beautiful Entrance.
The Best part is it’s all FREE.

We will be holding a dinner show at the Diggers, The Entrance on Saturday night May 26
Fabulous show from Johnny Balance and Jonas Jost. The very entertaining Bosko and Honey . The incredible talents of Terry Murray and the beautiful voices and music from Mirrabooka.
The cost for all this amazing show is $45 Pp for dinner and show.
Contact The Entrance Town Centre Managemenr or Diggers for bookings. Don’t miss our limited seats available.
Come all ages and enjoy our day
May 26 The Entrance, Central Coast