This year, we have added a new festival component to the Friday night, a show dinner before the Australian Ukulele Showcase. Dinner or show tickets can be purchased separately or at a discounted price as a dinner and show package.
The showcase dinner, which takes place before the concerts in the Tiki Ukulele Lounge, will be hosted in the Hilton Six Degrees Bar, with a sumptuous buffet dinner and a line-up of three wonderful ukulele acts from around the country:
Hallelujah Baby (Townsville, Queensland)
Swinging on a ukulele with a tattoo and a bass ukulele, Anu and Laurie from Halelujah Baby sing driving soul songs-jazzy folk with harmonies and a touch of steam punk sass. They have just released an album, a 13 track CD, “Love from Woodfordia”. Anu will be performing with band member Lauie during the show dinner on Friday July 5th. Anu is also a seasoned children’s entertainer with even a dedicated ukulele kids album, “Dragon Uke”, which she made following 5 year’s of kid’s music education in her native New Zealand. “Dragon Uke” is a simple progressive method of teaching Ukulele to groups pitched for children 5-10 years. Catch Anu’s kids (and parents) on Saturday at Fogarty Park.
Hundred Acre Woods (Ovens Valley, Victoria)
Hundred Acre Woods write contemporary folk songs about life and love – lessons learned, mother earth, journeys, dreams, aspirations and contemplations! Multi-instrumentalist Joe Davis on guitar, bass, keyboards and harmonica, with a rich, soulful voice has been likened to John Mayer, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. Katie Murray with ukelele, percussion and an enchanting, mesmerising voice has been influenced by female singer songwriters such as Katie Noonan, Missy Higgins, Eva Cassidy and The Waifs. Together they compliment to deliver sweet vocal harmonies and leave you uplifted. Joe and Katie formed in early 2012 and finished their first studio recording in Melbourne in March 2013.
Cameron Murray (Sydney, NSW)
Cameron Murray has been playing ukulele and uke-banjo for more than half his life. A keen collector of vintage instruments and a proponent of the George Formby strumming style, he also enjoys performing classic tunes from the 1920s, Hawaiian hapa-haole hits and old-time country songs, as well as the odd original. Anyone who attended last year’s Australian Ukulele Showcase, will tell you what a skilful and engaging performer he is and we look forward to having him back this year!
Australian Ukulele Showcase
The Australian Ukulele Showcase, launched during the 2011 festival, has become an integral part of the Cairns Ukulele Festival, aiming to present an exciting line-up of emerging and established artists from around Australia. Held in the Tiki Ukulele Lounge at the Hilton, the night features Canberra based French Connection, Cairns musicians The Montgomery Brothers, stand up comedian and ukulele player George Smilovici as well as the popular Nicky Bomba.
Cairns Ukulele Festival 