Chance to try wonderful yet weird ukuleles

Feb 27 2010 by Jack Maidment, The Journal

WHAT can you do with a uke? More than you might imagine, as JACK MAIDMENT finds out.

A UKULELE may be forever associated with George Formby and his cleaning windows song, but a Newcastle festival is aiming to show this versatile instrument is capable of so much more.

The third annual Ukelear Meltdown, dedicated to extreme ukulele, will take place this weekend at the Star & Shadow Cinema at the top of Stepney Bank, Newcastle, and it promises to be a diverse experience.

The festival, which kicks off tonight, prides itself on the weird and wonderful, with the line-up this year ranging from a 1930s-inspired artist called Lady K to the sonic maelstrom of American performer Williwaw who uses amplifiers and all his limbs to produce a truly unique sound.

A wide selection of interesting and thought-provoking performers will showcase their music, which festival founder and director Craig Wilson hopes will inspire people.

“My hope is that people who come will pick up a ukulele and discover some of their creativity,” he says.

“It’s not a festival where you just sit about and watch. We try to encourage people to get involved.”

Workshops will be held over the weekend.

Craig, who lives in Byker, says the festival tries to “find people who do unusual things with the ukulele”.

Lady K and her Kooky Kitchen are one such group.