| What features four strings, boundless joy, and turns 16 this year? Why it’s Denver UkeFest from Swallow Hill Music. UkeFest is a day-long celebration of all things ukulele, consisting of concerts, workshops, jams, and community. This year’s Denver UkeFest – the 16th Annual – takes place on Saturday, May 10. Grammy Award winner Daniel Ho headlines this year’s concert. He’s supported by UkeFest favorite Danielle Ate The Sandwich and teenage Taiwanese music sensation Feng E. The concert also features a performance by longtime UkeFest hosts and Swallow Hill instructors Casey Cormier & Daniella Katzir. TICKETS: Get your tickets to the 16th Annual Denver UkeKest here All performers will host daytime workshops, covering a wide range of topics for beginners and more advanced players alike. Workshop topics include transposing chords for the uke, focusing on rhythm, learning new picking patterns, and more. With a ubiquitous presence in American pop culture, the ukulele traces its roots back to 19th Century Hawaii, where it evolved from small stringed instruments introduced by Portuguese immigrants. While most recognizable in its modest, acoustic, four-stringed form, the instrument continues to evolve into a variety of shapes and sizes, unplugged or electric. Sprinkled throughout the day are more performances and a chance to play along. Uke ensemble Joyful Ruckus is ready to serenade the lunchtime crowd as they take a break. Later in the afternoon, the Denver Uke Community will host a strum along, and there will be an Open Mic so everyone can have a chance to shine. There’s even an afternoon nature walk to help folks refresh and recharge before the evening’s concert. “I love the cross section of people that come to Denver UkeFest,” uke enthusiast and Swallow Hill Music’s Volunteer Manager Patty Jackson said. “My favorite part of the ‘fest is the openness of the more experienced players in workshops who help out the beginning players who might need it.” Jackson, who also plays in the aforementioned Joyful Ruckus, estimates that she has attended Denver UkeFest seven or eight times over the years. “Every year I look forward to meeting and learning about the new performers and headliners,” she said. “You can pick up a lot of little things from each player because playing the ukulele is so different from one artist to another.”That means each Denver UkeFest stands alone as a unique event even as it adds to a greater tradition. “There is such excitement about discovering a musical community, it is such a rush!” Jackson said. “When you are sitting in a room with a hundred people all playing ukulele, it’s just a joyous sound!” Get complete details below. Thank you for supporting 16 years of what just might be the happiest festival of them all with Swallow Hill Music! |
| DENVER UKEFEST 2025 Saturday, May 10 at Swallow Hill Music 9:30am Doors 10am Workshops 6:15pm Concert FESTIVAL PASS PRICES Early Bird pricing: $45 Concert / $40 Workshops / $75 All Day ($5 Off for Members)May 1st: $50 Concert / $45 Workshops / $80 All Day ($5 Off for Members)Day of Show: $55 Concert / $50 Workshops / $85 All Day ($5 Off for Members) ABOUT THE ARTISTS Daniel Ho Originally from Honolulu and based in Los Angeles, Daniel Ho is an ʻukulele pioneer, Hawaiian slack key guitarist, pianist, composer, singer-songwriter, producer, audio engineer, and record company owner. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner, twelve-time Grammy Nominee, six-time Taiwanese Golden Melody Award winner, and recipient of multiple Hawaiian music honors. As an artist and clinician, Daniel performs concerts and teaches workshops in North America and abroad. He has toured as a cultural ambassador and arts envoy for the U.S. Department of State to Asia, Australia, Greenland, Mexico, and Brazil. He is the co-designer of the Romero Creations Tiny Tenor ‘ukulele, and Ohana Bongolele and Shakerlele percussion instruments. Daniel’s Spalted Mango Tiny Tenor ‘ukulele is currently on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Danielle Ate the Sandwich Combining soft, lilting vocals with poignant honesty and wit, Danielle Ate the Sandwich (Danielle Anderson), writes songs for the biggest and smallest moments of life. A songwriter, ukulele and guitar player, and performer, Danielle first found her place at open mic nights and coffee shops in Fort Collins, and is now based in Kansas City, MO. Growing a fan base through her homemade videos on YouTube, Danielle performed and toured extensively from 2009-2018, leaving an impression on audiences across the country, and fans around the world. Danielle Ate the Sandwich releases her 8th studio album, Fumbling, in March 2025. Feng E Teenage Taiwanese music sensation Feng E came to worldwide attention when a video of his ukulele performance at age ten went viral. That video led to his two appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres show, as well as both Asia and America’s Got Talent shows. Since then, Feng E has become a star in the world of ukulele music, performing and winning competitions around the world, in places like Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China, and Hawaii. His recent historic tour of the USA west coast saw him wowing thousands at the prestigious Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival, as well as numerous television and radio appearances. Casey Cormier & Daniella Katzir Casey Cormier and Daniella Katzir have been performing together for ten years along the Colorado front range. They first met as ukulele teachers at Swallow Hill Music, found shared musical influences in their past and present, and soon were accompanying one another on gigs ranging from Americana, funk, and even Hawaiian in style. Their duo sets blend original works with a variety of creative covers, and are sure to fill their audiences with happiness and inspiration. |