Liverpool to play host to singalong led by more than 100 ukulele players
Musicians from 10 Merseyside ukulele bands will join together for the biggest open air ‘uke jam’ the city centre has ever seen, on Saturday February 2, with their rendition of You Are My Sunshine
More than 100 ukulele players are set to get Liverpool smiling with a mass singalong of the classic lullaby You Are My Sunshine, to celebrate World Ukulele Day.
Musicians from 10 Merseyside ukulele bands will join together for the biggest open air ‘uke jam’ the city centre has ever seen, on Saturday February 2. It comes 80 years after You Are My Sunshine was first recorded in 1939, and will be the highlight to a day of free ukulele gigs in aid of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’s Go Green appeal.
Performances will take place at six busking locations in and around the Liverpool One shopping and leisure complex, from 1pm until 5pm, at South John Street, the John Lewis steps, the Bierkeller, Key Court, the Galleria, and Paradise Street.
Among the bands that have joined together to organise the day are Splintered Ukes, D’Ukes of Hazzard, the Secret Ukulele Band, Ukulele Club Liverpool, and Wirral band Broken Strings. Also signed up to take part on the day are Ormskirk Ukulele Band, Wirral Ukulele Fanatics, the YinYanBand, Uke n Dream and the Travelling Wannabes.
All 10 bands will join together for the singalong, on the John Lewis steps leading down from Chavasse Park, at 3pm. It‘s set to be one of the biggest open-air gatherings of ukulele players Liverpool city centre has seen.
The idea to get the city smiling with a singalong was inspired by George Harrisons’ love of the ukulele. The Beatle wrote: “Everybody should have and play a ‘uke’ it’s so simple to carry with you and it is one instrument you can’t play and not laugh.”
As well as raising money for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’s Go Green Appeal, the bands involved in Liverpool’s World Ukulele event hope to encourage more people to pick up the instrument, enjoy music and maybe join one of Merseyside’s growing number of ukulele clubs and bands.
They also hope to raise awareness of other ukulele events happening in the region including the annual Summer Strum, which will celebrate its 5th anniversary at Hoylake rugby club in July.