Okay uke fans, here’s a little pop quiz: Back in the early 1900s, what did ukuleles have in common with tennis rackets?

This festival is not only a celebration of the instrument, but a way to seriously improve one’s ukulele chops in a short amount of time.

From live video connections to increased availability and quality of affordable instruments, explore evolutions of the past decade.

The music on Haasler’s three releases covers a broad spectrum of styles that showcases his dexterous strumming, deft fingerpicking, and uncanny knack for writing bright, catchy melodies.

Each of these five rising stars is pushing the boundaries of ukulele in performance, songwriting, and teaching.