The Mighty Uke plus Q&A + strum-along!
United States 2011, 150 mins
MIGHTY UKE: The Amazing Comeback of a Musical Underdog is an award-winning documentary that travels the world to discover why so many people of different nations, cultures and ages are turning to the ukulele. From the redwoods of California to the gritty streets of New York, from swinging London to Tokyo’s high-rise canyons to Hawaii, MIGHTY UKE tells the story of the people's instrument.
Think of a 'ukulele' and grass skirts, slide guitar and kitchy lyrics come to mind, but far from being just a Hawaiian novelty instrument, the uke has a rich history and has profoundly affected music around the world.
Originally brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants, the tiny instrument first captured musical imaginations in the Hawaiian royal court in the 1880s. With the dawn of the radio broadcasting age, ukulele music owned the airwaves. Broadway produced ukulele musicals. Hollywood produced ukulele movie stars. The little instrument was so inexpensive and easy to play that by the early 1920s it was the most popular instrument in the American home and the first musical voice for millions of children. Over the next 30 years the uke was number one, but then, with the rise of the rock 'n' roll guitar, it faded into nerdy obscurity... until now.
Following the screening, ukulele virtuoso James Hill, regularly cited as 'the best ukulele player in the world', will take to the stage. The special appearance will then turn into a giant ukulele strum-along, as he leads the audience in a mass ukulele performance.
Don't forget to bring your uke!
www.mightyukemovie.com.
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