One Day in Maui...

Local Maui uker covers Matisyahu's "One Day", not realizing Matisyahu is standing right in front of him. 

http://uproxx.com/music/matisyahu-surprises-ukulele-player-covering-matisyahu/

UPDATE

Matisyahu invited him to come play with him in LA. This involved getting some special permission from the DA's office. Weird! Link

UPDATE DEUX

Here's a link to a video clip of the performance! Link

And...he's back in jail. As he promised the DA. Nice to know he's a man of his word. Link

Meet Jake. Amateur Instrument Repairman

Check out this great project to restore 100 Kamaka ukuleles for Hawaiian schools. I think you'll recognize the repairman. 

https://www.facebook.com/jakeshimabukuromusic/videos/10154321939923430/

Chase Shimabukuro Shreds!

Remember: no matter how hard you try, you will never be Jake Shimabukuro's son. Unless you're this kid. 

https://youtu.be/02HgF2MJw4U

Warren Buffet Plays Uke in VR

With some guy named Bill Gates. 

Get out your Google Cardboard!

https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/25-Years-of-Learning-and-Laughter

Could You Play the Uke for 25 Hours Straight?

Julian Ruck did; and it's a new world record. 

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/07/04/port-huron-native-ukulele-record/86668574/

Sorry Jake...

Her Majesty is a Formby fan. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/06/07/right-royal-ukulele/

Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome Visualized

3D medical animator John Liebler has rendered the UAS virus for the benefit of mankind in general, and ukulele players in particular. 

http://www.artofthecell.com/animation/ukulele-acquisition-syndrome

Tiny Tim by Diane Arbus

We'd not seen this portrait of Tiny Tim that Diane Arbus shot around 1966. Looks like he's holding a Maccaferri Mastro banjo ukulele. 

https://theartstack.com/artist/diane-arbus/tiny-tim-circa-1966

Na Hoku for Tolentino and Ohta

Bryan Tolentino and Herb Ohta, Jr. won Ukulele Album of the Year for "Ukulele Friends" last night at the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts' 39th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

Congratulations, Bryan and Herb!

http://www.staradvertiser.com/features/borges-wins-big-at-39th-na-hoku-hanohano-awards/

http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/blog/album/ukulele-friends/

Grand Northern Ukulele Festival

Should be grand!

May 27 to 29, across The Pond. 

http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/grand-northern-ukulele-festival-2016-11377000

Lil' Rev's Scatter the Ashes Tour

Lil' Rev will be heading to the West Coast for several weeks in what he's dubbed the Scatter the Ashes Tour. Try and make one of his many dates in Washington, Oregon, and California as he brings his joyful love of the ukulele and celebrates the life of his beloved wife, Carol. Info on workshops and concerts is at the link.

UUOGB in 1988

h/t to Hester Goodman for this one from the vault. Here's the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on the BBC from 1988.

CNC Milled Ukuleles

At Maker Faire this weekend, the CNC Router Parts team was demonstrating their equipment and technology by crafting ukuleles. The bodies were milled out of solid blocks of maple. The faces were plate steel. Fingerboards milled aluminum. Kind of a National meets the Dixie Banjolele Akulele. 

I've put out feelers to see if anyone played one. Or scored one. Let me know if you did. 

http://makezine.com/2016/05/22/cnc-router-parts/

Jerk Organist Trolls Uke-Playing Bishop

In Uke-umenical news (Crisis in the Church Edition), Roman Catholic Bishop Donald Hanchon found himself shut down by an organist who didn't appreciate his performance of This Little Light of Mine from the pulpit during a Confirmation Mass in Detroit on Tuesday.

Video at the link. Link

William H. Macy Self-Soothes With the Uke

If you read Ukulelia, you probably know that William H. Macy plays the uke. Here's an interview in which he talks about the importance of music and the ukulele in his life. His wife, Felicity Huffman, says he uses it to "self-soothe".



A little bittersweet anecdote about Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson, too.

Link