Festival Season is here and in full swing in Florida!
Hurricanes be damned, Floridians love their festivals, and the little UKE is holding it’s own in a world of Rock, Blues, Bluegrass and Jazz.
30s Uke Girl here, and though I post sparingly, I’m going to ramp up the blog cause it’s time to take it to a whole new level! There are so many festivals for ukulele all over the world, and Florida actually has so many that folks are coming from far and wide to experience this epic phenomenon,
October kicks off with the Pinellas County Country Jubilee, and though not exclusive to uke, it will again feature a beginner uke workshop, and our band, The Mungos, will be kicking off the day at 10am. Yes, with Uke’s! And yes, it’s the same band as Reenee and The Rollers, except this is our originals and it’s country. Lol. October 26th!
Next is The Getaway, Tampa Bay’s Ukulele Society Fundraiser, bigger, better, and SOLD OUT. Held the 1st weekend in November each year, and for the last five it’s been at the Sirata Beach Resort! This year the headliners for our 10th Anniversary are; Craig Chee and Sarah Jo, Victoria Vox, Ukulele Russ , The Barnkickers, and Luna Artist, Jessica Rose. Our Host is the indomitable Mim! Also featuring jams and workshops with Petey Mack and Devon Scott. This year the festival sports a dual track for workshops, including a beginner track and an intermediate to advanced track. It kicks off Friday November 1st with the wild Rock Costume Theme Party Jam hosted by none other than 30s Uke Girl (aka Norine Mungo) and Vinny Mungo. With our band in tow, this years theme is Sock Hop. The festival ends on Sunday with a luau and music provided by Hawaiian Band Ty Olopai and Maupuana, Bobby, and T J Wedger. Vendors include Loprinzi, UKE Republic, Mainland Uke’s, Gulf Bait and Tackle, and our sponsor, LUNA GUITAR AND UKULELE!
As if that weren’t enough, December 7th kicks off the 5th Anniversary of WMNF’s UKE IT OUT! This festival is held in downtown St Pete at Cage Brewing, and sees crowds up to 700 ukemaniacs. Beginner workshop , Rock Jam with the Crowd, then over six hours of music by Bands including Junction 27, Reenee and The Rollers (aka 30s Uke Girl Norine Mungo), Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons, a Luna Artist tab, and many more tba. Sponsored by WMNF, Tampa Bay Ukulele Society, Luna Guitar’s and Ukuleles, and vendor Gulf Bait and Tackle. Many IPAs and always great street food! Advance tickets available at WMNF 88.5 Radio, Tampa Bays Community Radio Station.
Not done Yet! February 2nd is World Ukulele Day, and we celebrate it on the 1st Saturday in February. This year it’s Feb 1st. World Ukulele Day Festival III. Downtown Dunedin, and I do mean downtown! In its third year, this free concert in the park is literally encompassing the whole street, with multiple performances going on simultaneously in the restaurants, clubs, and store fronts up and down Main Street. Starting at 11am, with children’s performance at the railroad museum, and buskers up and down main, till 3pm when clubs and performers gather into a sidewalk flash mob parade up aato Pioneer Park. Then the Dunedin UKE Club will lead a massive Jam followed by Headliners, Ty Olopai Band, Lil Rev, and finale The Super UKE Dance Band. Then the after jam party continues at the Honu Tiki Bar! Lil Rev will conduct 2 workshops at a venue during the day.
Bands so far during the street part are The Mungos, Tom Hood, Junction 27, Luna Artists TBA, and about 30 other acts. Vetting is going on now, so start applying! Sponsored by Tampa Bay Ukulele Society, Luna Guitar’s and Ukuleles, The Downtown Merchants of Dunedin, with vendors Gulf Bait and Tackle, and Replay Guitar Exchange. Food vendors include Bayou Bistro Bites. Others tba.
But wait, there’s even more!! If that wasn’t enough, activities are planned in venues all week including workshops and concerts throughout Tampa culminating in the UkeApalooza Extravaganza at the Florida State Fair in Tampa Dec 8th! Whaaaaat? Yes, one whole week of a UKE in Tampa Bay Florida!!! Who’s ready for a Florida Vacay??? More to come on artists but headliner is Lil Rev and it’s going to be inside with AC so get ready to have an amazing week long celebration of the Ukulele!
PS: March will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society ‘s Ukulele Open Mic at the famous Whistle Stop Bar and Grill in Safety Harbour. This will be a night to remember, as Steve Boisen , founder of TBUS, joins The Mungos to cohost this party. This night will start earlier at 5 pm instead of 7. We will be getting EVERYONE up and many surprises as well!
April marks our annual TBUS Picnic, always well attended, followed by May, National Play you Ukulele Day, in which we incorporate a twist, and party down dudes, another festival, UKE O De Mayo, date tba. Many performers, including Hispanic Ukulele, Art, Crafts, Children’s Performance, Contests, and workshops. Stay tuned!
I’ll be announcing more as it comes in, like the workshop on Feb 22nd given by, shut the front door, ONSONG CREW!!! YES!
Ever Strumming,
Norine Mungo (aka 30s Uke Girl)
Tampa Bay Ukulele Society
Board of Directors
Event and Performance Coordinator
Every Day, It’s An Ukulele Day
Https://www.itsaukuleleday.comu
A place where you can find all things Ukulele. Sites with songs and chords, Local Jams, Ukulele Product Sites, Festivals and Venues
What is a 30's Uke Girl up to these days??
- 30s Uke Girl
- I’m a lifelong musician, been writing songs since I was 16. And, they got better with time and practice. Everything gets better with practice! As a wise man once said, “Don’t practice till you get it right, practice till you can’t get it wrong!” I love teaching ukulele, and also teaching voice and of course, songwriting. A song is nothing more than a story, and if you sing it as if it were a play, then you are using your voice correctly. If you write it as if it were a play, you engage the listeners. And bonus, if you use an instrument as an extension of your feelings, you can make the song soar. I intend to use this blog for the promotion of my ukulele passion, to introduce performers, review instruments, luthiers, and give links to great UKE websites. I also will keep links to festivals, events, and clubs. My other passion is biographical content, and I’ll be adding many of those, especially about the early artists from the 20s 30s 40s. A lost treasure trove of talent. Hope you enjoy the varied content. It will be eclectic, like me!
