Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Hawaiian sounds for Advent: the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is always full of surprises. Founded in 1985 by George Hinchcliffe and Kitty Lux as a counterpoint to hardcore music, their comic interludes became a serious business – but not too serious: since starting out in a London pub, the ensemble has strummed its way ironically around the globe, helping this little cousin of the guitar to worldwide fame. In their elegant suits the musicians deliver both comedy and great musical pleasure, filling albums and concert halls and fully living up to the ukulele’s name (its literal meaning is “jumping flea“): hopping from one genre to the next between jazz, film music, Nirvana and David Bowie to Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries and on to the Sex Pistols. No two shows are ever the same. This time the mood is Christmassy: traditional evergreens, hits from their enormous repertoire and freshly-caught earworms will all be there to applaud. Introspection, good times and a mood of good cheer: the “uke“ can do it all. Just like the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain itself.