Celebrating the little four-stringed wonder – the Ukulele – which has been captivating hearts and bringing musical joy into people’s lives for over 100 years, the 2019 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival presented by Kala Koa Entertainment, is an exciting day-long event dedicated to exploring the musical versatility of the ukulele for the experienced ukulele player, the occasional strummer, or simply the curious spectator. This unique, family-friendly Festival includes workshops for all levels of playing ability to work on technique or simply learn to play, and live all-star performances by some of today’s most popular ukulele players (included in admission). The Festival takes place on September 28 at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The 2019 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival also hosts a Ukulele Marketplace, located in the Entry Plaza of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Free and open to the public, attendees can browse boutique Ukulele builders, entry level and budget friendly instruments, fun accessories and ukuleles handcrafted in Hawaii, as well as open mic performances. In addition, authentic island style shave ice and food available for purchase.
WHO:
Artists and Workshop Instructors include: Grammy winner Bakithi Kumalo (bass player for Paul Simon); Jim & Liz Beloff (International ukulele publishers); Herb Ohta, Jr.; Bryan Tolentino; Craig Chee; Sarah Maisel; Mitch Chang; Musical Mama; Uke Adventure Around the World; Christopher Davis-Shannon; and many more.
WHEN:
Saturday, September 28, 2018, 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
WHERE:
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA 90503
TICKETS (includes Workshops & Performances):
$45; $20 students with ID at the door; free for kids 12 & under
HOW/INFORMATION:
Full festival lineup, artist & workshop info, vendors and schedule:
- www.losangelesukulelefestival.com; (800) 595-4849
- https://www.facebook.com/laukulelefestival
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Artist Bios
- Bakithi Kumalo is a bassist from South Africa who came to international attention in 1985 for his work on Paul Simon’s Graceland. His Signature California U-Bass (a hybrid acoustic-electric instrument. It's a combination of a Baritone Ukulele and a Bass Guitar) model is a 4-string, fretless, Swamp Ash Solid Body, with a tone and sound that seamlessly fit his style. His distinct style combines African rhythms and melodies with American pop music. He got his start playing bass as a seven-year-old filling in with his uncle’s band. He has released four albums as a solo artist, as well as three award-winning children’s albums with his wife. Bakithi continues to write music and tour the world, having performed or recorded with Sting, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, and many others.
- Finding a ukulele at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market in 1992 inspired Liz and Jim Beloff to start Flea Market Music, Inc., publisher of the popular Jumpin' Jim's series of ukulele songbooks. This series is sold worldwide and includes The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living and The Daily Ukulele: Leap Year Edition, two of the biggest and best-selling ukulele songbooks ever published.
Jim Beloff is the author of The Ukulele—A Visual History (Backbeat Books), producer of Legends of Ukulele, a CD compilation for Rhino Records and has made three how-to-play DVDs for Homespun. Jim is also an active songwriter. His 2014 two-CD set, Dreams I Left in Pockets, features 33 songs he wrote or co-wrote with uke legends Herb "Ohta-san" Ohta and Lyle Ritz.
In 1999, Jim composed and premiered "Uke Can't Be Serious," a concerto for solo ukulele and symphony orchestra. Since then the piece has been performed many times, most recently with the Choate School orchestra in Germany and Austria and also with the Michigan Philharmonic. In 2017, Jim premiered a new work entitled "The Dovetale" commissioned and performed by the Wallingford (CT) Symphony Orchestra. In 2018 he released a recording of both pieces entitled "Two Ukulele Concertos."
Liz Maihock Beloff, with a background in film and television graphics, designs the covers and art-directs all of FMM's songbooks, CDs and DVDs. She is also a talented singer who, before teaming up with Jim, sang with a cappella groups in college and New York City.
As performers, Liz and Jim have become known for their breezy, close harmonies on standards and Jim's original songs. They perform together regularly throughout the USA, playing their family-made Fluke, Flea and Firefly ukuleles. They have also toured Japan, Australia and Canada and believe in their company's motto, "Uke Can Change the World."
- International recording artist Herb Ohta, Jr., is considered to be one of today’s most prolific `ukulele masters. Influenced by Jazz, R&B, Latin and Brazilian music, he puts his stamp on Hawaiian music by pushing the limits of tone and technique on this beautiful instrument. The son of `ukulele legend "Ohta-san," he started playing at the age of three, and teaching at the age of nine. He now shares the music of Hawai‘i and the beauty of the ‘ukulele with people around the world, performing and conducting instructional workshops.
His recording debut was in 1990 on his father’s recording. Since then, Herb has recorded on over 50 recordings. With fourteen Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominations to his credit, he won a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for "ʻUkulele Nahenahe” in 2011, “Pure ʻUkulele” in 2013, Instrumental Song of the Year in 2013, and “’Ukulele Friends” in 2015. Herb is also a four-time Hawai‘i Music Award Winner as well. Herb has released 3 national releases in Japan, 1 in Taiwan, and co-authored two ‘ukulele instructional books with Grammy Award artist Daniel Ho that was released in Japan and the United States. In 2015 Herb published a songbook of his arrangements in Korea. Herb is well on his way to matching his Father’s legacy.