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Ukulele Union of Boston Presents Fourth Annual Ukulele Melee on May 3

Victoria Vox 2014 Ukulele Melee at MWCC
Victoria Vox

Do you uke? If so, or want to learn, don’t miss the Ukulele Union of Boston’s fourth annual Ukulele Melee, taking place Saturday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green Street, Gardner.

The festival will feature a variety of workshops, including two led by singer-songwriter and featured performer Victoria Vox, a ukulele flea market, sing-alongs, and an open mic. Pop-up jam sessions and performances are encouraged at anytime, anywhere, as long as they don’t interrupt other activities.

Each May brings National Play Your Ukulele Day, a chance to change the world four strings at a time by playing a ukulele, teaching others to play and enjoying ukulele fellowship. The cheery, budget-friendly instrument continues to grow in popularity among beginners and seasoned musicians of all ages, said Danno Sullivan of Harvard, one of the UUoB’s founding members and a ukulele instructor at MWCC.

Workshops include: songwriting and strum along, both led by Vox; songs of the British ukulele and banjolele comedic performer George Formby; hula; the 1920s; right hand strumming techniques; movable chords; singing; and harmonies. Seating is limited in some  workshops. An open mic will run from 2:45 to 3:45, followed by Vox’s performance at 3:45.

Vox has performed in Australia, Europe and Canada, and across the U.S. Originally from Green Bay, WI and now a resident of Baltimore, MD, she began writing songs at age 10 and earned a degree in songwriting from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Advance registration is recommended. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased through MWCC’s Division of Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development at http://mwcc.3dcartstores.com/, by calling 978-630-9525, or at the door.