UkePop 2010 - Ukulele Bizarro Action!

Well after all the blood, sweat and a few fears, the UKEPOP festival came off without a hitch. What a beautiful, inspirational and often hilarious night! They said it couldn't be done...6 back-to-back ukulele acts without switchover time...but we clocked in exactly at one hour fifty minutes. A feat!

All of the performers rocked the stage in their many-splendored styles - Ukulele Club de Montreal (their first ever show - what a treat), NIVE (Greenlandic bliss - see photo), Beaver (fresh off the 5-day uke boat), Erin Lang & The Foundlings (beautifully arranged), MEB (a voice like honey - photo below), and Krista Muir & The Enhancers (ELO tribute was harmonic bliss!). Only Miss Dynamite was missed - she fell ill and couldn't perform but next year she'll be back in full force!

Tony and Margaret stopped off on their 3-month tour of uke festivals and happenings with their documentary "Mighty Uke" which was hilarious and inspirational and caused a few watery eyes to be sure.

Krista hosted a one-hour play-along that was well-attended and some classics were learned ("You Are My Sunshine," "Mr. Tambourine Man"...). At the end of the night we had a draw for the brand new uke (photo: Krista pulling the winning ticket!) courtesy of "www.ukejunky.com" - a local Montreal distributor of all things uke!

Thanks to everyone for making this years UkePop such a wonderful event! We're looking forward to UkePop 2011 so if you are interested in participating please email your EPK/website with a short note about you and your uke to kristamuir *at* gmail *dot* com!

And watch out...there may be a special showcase at PopMontreal in the fall...

Spring is Springing with UkePop!

UkePop is the first ever ukulele-centric festival combining the forces of local composer/performer Krista Muir and PopMontreal. "UkePop" will appeal to uke novices, seasoned veterans and everyone in between. "Uke Hero" (16h) is a ukulele strum and sing-a-long hosted by Muir so bring your uke along and learn a tune or two! The "Mighty Uke" (19h) documentary by Tony Coleman and Margaret Meagher, pays tribute to the powerful and inspirational global uke movement. The Ukulele Bizarro Cabaret (21h) reveals just how versatile the tiny axe is with performances by six local uke acts including MEB, Erin Lang, Miss Dynamite, Ukulele Club de Montreal, Krista Muir, Beaver Sheppard and our international guest from Greenland NIVE.

There will also be a Uke Booth at Puces pop where you can browse through a selection of gorgeous ukes or sign up for beginner uke classes. We will also be raffling off a ukulele courtesy of local acoustic instrument distibutor Ukejunky.

Tickets $8/10 (Phonopolis, Atom Heart, Cheap Thrills & l'Oblique)

Ukulele Bizarro 2010 - "UkePop" Here We Come!

It looks like the jumping flea has finally started making Montreal residents excited and itchin' for more ukulele action. With groups like Krista's Ukulele Bizarro jam or Ukulele Club de Montreal, you can bring your own ukulele and join in strumming and singing.

If you attended last years 1st Annual Ukulele Bizarro Festival, you got to enjoy a surreal cabaret with local acts Caracole, MEB, Risa Dickens, Miss Dynamite, Lederhosen Lucil, NIVE (from Greenland!) and Krista Muir (me!). We also had a ukulele giveaway courtesy of Italmelodie and Magnum PI Lookalike contest. Many raffle prizes were given away and local baker Cupcake Fairy provided tropical themed treats. The lovely local micro-brasserie St. Ambroise helped sponsor the event as well. What a night!

This years "Ukulele Bizarro" will be a part of the first "UkePop" festival produced with local promoters PopMontreal. :) More exciting details to come as the line-up is just about confirmed and we have some special surprises in store...