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New Eddy Finn Cigar Box Uke

There’s a long tradition of upcycling old cigar boxes into musical instruments. Over the decades, many homegrown builders have taken to making ukuleles, guitars, or just about anything else for strings with these lovely leftovers. While this is mostly been…

Letter from Cairns Ukulele Festival

By Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel Just as there are many different styles of ukuleles (and styles of playing them), ukulele festivals also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Every great uke fest includes a mix of workshops…

Picking in the Pines at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop

By Jim D’Ville Imagine six days of music immersion in the beautiful environs of a Pacific Northwest pine forest surrounded by like-minded musicians. That’s the idea behind one of the most prestigious music camps in America, the Puget Sound Guitar…

Dennis Quaid’s Backstage Ukulele Band

By Greg Olwell Cast members on the sets of movies and TV shows are known for bonding together backstage. While some antics are notable for legendary stories of intemperance, the backstage exploits of a British crew sounds a lot more…

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12-Year-Old Grace VanderWaal Wows the Crowd Again

By Greg Olwell The 12-year-old ukulele-playing singer who is wowing the crowd and judges of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, returned to the show’s stage last night. Grace VanderWaal, of Suffern, New York, performed her song, “Beautiful Thing,” live in front…

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First Look at Jake’s Wild New Album!

By Greg Olwell For his new album, living ukulele legend Jake Shimabukuro is jumping in a new direction. Nashville Sessions, which is scheduled for release September 23, features Jake recorded live in the studio with bassist Nolan Verner and drummer…