Strummin' Up to Boston! is BACK — Bigger, Better, and More Fun Than Ever!
Saturday, June 20th | Newton Community Stage at The Lincoln-Eliot School
A free afternoon of fun — all are welcome! You don't need to be a uke player to have a great time.
We are beyond thrilled to be moving this year's celebration to the newly completed, state-of-the-art Newton Community Stage at The Lincoln-Eliot School, a stunning new venue worthy of our best event yet!
Join us for a spectacular day featuring some of the finest, most fun-loving ukulele instructors and performers around, all gathered to share the joy and beauty of our favorite humble little instrument!
Workshops (1:00–3:00pm) Drop in for expert-led workshops from our amazing instructors! No pre-registration necessary.
Six workshops, two sessions — see descriptions below.
Heather Mumford with Harris Kendrick — Amy Kucharik — Nick Howarth — Eric Guerin
Strum-Along & Concert (3:30–6:00pm) Grab your uke and join Nick and John for a big ol' community Strum-Along! Songs will be projected and easy to follow. (Song sheets will be made available closer to the event for those who'd like to download them.) Then sit back and enjoy a fantastic afternoon of live performances.
Performers
The Heather Mumford Project — Heather Mumford and her all-star band bring a soulful Americana blend of country, bluegrass, folk, blues, and even a little Taylor Swift — all anchored by her spellbinding voice and ukulele.
The After Jam — Born from late-night sessions, these seasoned strummers take the ukulele boldly into jazz, blues, rock, and bluegrass territory with fresh, unexpected results.
The Strummerville Ukulele Club Allstars — Boston's beloved, WBUR-featured ukulele crew on a joyful mission to spread the love of four strings across Greater Boston, one strum at a time.
Your Hosts — Erin Ash Sullivan & Danno Sullivan — Award-winning singer-songwriter Erin (hailed as a "special talent" by WFUV) and comedian-musician Danno join forces as your masters of ceremonies for a show that's as warm and entertaining as the music itself.
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Also on Site - Stewart's Uke Consignment Table returns — the most anticipated uke sale of the year, open once a year and only right here. Bring your ukuleles, accessories, books, CDs, and music items, and let Stewart handle display, promotion, and sales on your behalf. (It's like a pawn shop without the commission…) Cash and Venmo only. Please ask before handling instruments.
Artist merchandise and event tees, stickers and crafts will be available on the day.
Workshop Descriptions
Session 1 (1:15–2:00pm)
Amy Kucharik — Absolute Beginner: Ukulele No experience? No problem. The ukulele might just be the friendliest instrument on the planet — easy to hold, easy on the fingers, and capable of making real music faster than you'd believe. In this workshop, you'll start from zero: how to tune your uke, how to hold it, and how to play your first chords. By the end, you'll be strumming actual songs. Seriously. This one's for absolute beginners only, so leave your intimidation at the door and bring your enthusiasm.
Eric Guerin — Crack the Code: Reading Ukulele Tab Ever seen those mysterious numbers and lines that unlock your favorite songs? That's tablature — and once you learn to read it, a whole world of music opens up. In this workshop, you'll decode the secret language of "tab" and discover how those simple numbers on a string diagram tell you exactly where to put your fingers, no music degree required. Whether you're a total beginner or just never learned to read tab, you'll walk away with a superpower that lets you learn virtually any song on your own. Grab your uke — it's time to crack the code.
Nick Howarth — Up the Neck: Exploring the Fretboard Most players never leave the first few frets — and they're missing half the instrument. Venture past the fifth fret and your ukulele opens up into new chord voicings, fresh sounds, and a whole different feel. In this workshop, you'll break free from the headstock and start treating the entire fretboard as your playground. Same chords, new positions, way more interesting. It's time to take a walk up the neck.
Session 2 (2:15–3:00pm)
Amy Kucharik — Making the Song Work for You (and Uke!): Playing solo, working with a small ensemble, or leading a local uke group, most ukulele musicians encounter songs they'd like to play but feel limited by some element — whether it's challenging chords, difficult vocal ranges, or needing a particular riff to make the song sound just right. In this workshop, we'll tackle many of those elements with the goal of empowering you to arrange songs and make them work for you! You'll learn how to figure out the best key and how to transpose a song, what to do with tricky chords, basic song forms and sections, and what to do with instrumentals, intros, and outros. We'll also explore considerations for arranging songs across different performance scenarios. All levels welcome. Baritone-friendly.
Eric Guerin — Island Strum: Close your eyes and you can almost feel the breeze. The Island Strum is the signature rhythm of the ukulele — that irresistible, sun-soaked pattern that makes everything sound like a vacation. In this workshop, you'll get that groove under your fingers and into your bones, turning a simple strum into something that actually swings. Fair warning: this one's contagious.
Heather Mumford & Harris Kendrick — Play Well With Others: Ukulele Ensemble Skills: The ukulele is a blast solo — but put it in a room with other instruments and something magic happens. In this workshop, you'll explore what it means to truly play together: when to lead, when to lay back, how to listen as much as you strum. You'll experiment with different strumming and picking patterns, trade off between lead and rhythm roles, and discover how a simple song like "You Are My Sunshine" can sound completely different depending on who's driving and who's supporting. No prior ensemble experience needed — just an open ear and a willingness to share the spotlight.
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Tell your friends, The more the merrier!
We are proud to be part of the Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts, supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local council supported by the Mass Cultural Council and the City of Newton.
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