Get ready to strum along and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of ukuleles at the Launceston Ukulele Jamboree 2025! This year’s program is packed with a diverse range of activities, from exciting workshops where you can learn from the best teachers from around Australia, to fun jam sessions with fellow ukesters, and jawdropping performances by top ukulele performers from around the country. No matter your age or skill level, there’s something for everyone! Dive into the full programme details to find out about all events we have in store for you.
Showcasing some of the best artists from across the country at 2 feature concerts.
These will be held on the evenings of Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March
Workshops galore to suit every uketastic skill needed to take your playing to the next level
Workshops will be running ALL day on Saturday 23rd and in the morning of Sunday 24th March.
No uke festival would be complete without plenty of audience participation!
Get involved with our singalong concerts, open mic, ukulele flashmob and the raucous Uke Jam on Sunday.
Thurs, 20 Mar @ 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
Du Cane Brewery
Free – bookings essential
Performing Workshop
So you want to perform at an open mic or a festival?
We’ll tell you what to expect and then show you how to nail that performance. Everything you want to know about performing on stage, but were afraid to ask.
Topics covered include: microphone technique for dynamic and condenser mics, foldback (the good, the bad and the ugly), stage lighting (blinded by the light), getting you and your instrument stage ready, where to stand, audience fatigue, “what if I make a mistake?”, and many other things related to getting up and performing on stage and enjoying the experience. Applicable to all on-stage performing.
Fri, 21 Mar @ 9:30AM-3:30PM
Pilgrim Uniting Church Hall
$70
Ukulele Workshop
Five hours of immersion in ukulele ensemble playing
Minimum pre-requisite: You will need to be confident with easy TAB reading, but the day will also provide a challenge for the skilled player.
This day is not suitable for beginner ukulele players.
You will need both a High G and Low G ukulele for these workshops.
All music supplied for you to keep.
9.30 am – 12.00 pm
Start your ukulele ensemble experience with newly arranged
Campanella ensemble pieces by Sally Carter for High G ukuleles
When playing in campanella style notes are fingered in such a way that playing consecutive notes on a string is avoided or minimised, allowing the notes to ring over each other. Open string notes are frequently used when playing campanella melodies. You will play traditional Scottish and Irish tunes with both melody and harmony parts arranged in the campanella style, and accompanied by chords. Plucking and fretting hand-fingering techniques will be discussed.
1.00 pm – 3.30 pm
Complete your ukulele ensemble experience with a trio of quirky, contemporary ukulele ensemble pieces from Cathy Welsford’s Valla Beach Weather Suite. These three short ensemble pieces, Rain, Wind and Blue, incorporate some easy but quirky techniques including picking the strings on the headstock, creating howling wind noises using slides up and down the fretboard, and detuning your ukulele to create lush chords.
Both High and Low G ukuleles are used.
Friday Insitute is not included with Pineapple Pass
Sat, 22 Mar @ 9:20AM-10:20AM
Pilgrim Uniting Church
$20
Ukulele Workshop
Written For Low G – But High G is ok
Do you want to learn how to individualise your tunes?
Stand out in Open Mics, or when playing with a friend.
Transforming the tune is taking it from its basic form and adding layers as we progress through the tune.
Bring Music Stand and Pencil for your own notes
Sat, 22 Mar @ 10:30AM-11:30AM
Pilgrim Uniting Church
$20
Performing Workshop
In this workshop, Graeme “The Scotsman” McColgan will lead you to captivating stage performances with your uke. This workshop focuses on building confidence through simple techniques, engaging your audience, and enhancing your overall stage presence. Learn techniques to express yourself, connect with your listeners, and deliver memorable performances.
Perfect for ukulele enthusiasts of all levels, this workshop will help you shine on stage and make your music truly resonate
Sat, 22 Mar @ 11:15AM-12:15PM
Pilgrim Uniting Church Hall
$20
Ukulele Workshop
Like to get a bit more funky in your playing? It’s not about complicated chords, it’s all about what you don’t play. Join Nick for some tools that are useful for funk, reggae and New Orleans-styles.
ABC Illawarra’s Nick Rheinberger is presenting a fun, interactive workshop on Reggae and Funk strumming styles set to the iconic sounds of James Brown!
Sat, 22 Mar @ 1:40PM-2:40PM
Pilgrim Uniting Church
$20
Ukulele Workshop
This workshop will teach blues strumming and playing riffs. Everyone can do it!
Learn to play a 12 bar blues pattern with a walking G string. Let’s learn some easy riffs in C as well. You can add them to any C blues.
Play the Seaside Blues with walking bass and riffs.
Play a walking bass line in other keys: G and E Jam along to some fabulous blues classics adding riffs as you go.
Sat, 22 Mar @ 1:40PM-2:40PM
Pilgrim Uniting Church Hall
$20
Ukulele Workshop
A regular on the Aussie uke scene, Cameron Murray is a George Formby-like strummer who enjoys performing original songs, as well as classics from the 1920s and ’30s. Endorsed by Romero Creations Ukuleles in California, he’s also an enthusiastic teacher, the publisher of KAMUKE Ukulele Magazine and the host of new podcast Ukulele Stories.
Cameron will present a wide-ranging workshop that features something for all skill levels, including versatile Formby-esque strums and simple picking patterns that can be incorporated into almost any song. He’ll also perform a few tunes so you can hear the techniques in context and pass on some tips for performing in public and getting the most out of your ukulele.
Play the Seaside Blues with walking bass and riffs.
Play a walking bass line in other keys: G and E Jam along to some fabulous blues classics adding riffs as you go.
Sat, 22 Mar @ 2:50PM-3:50PM
Pilgrim Uniting Church Hall
$20
Ukulele Workshop
Fun with creating medleys
Enjoy the fun of pulling this 60s medley apart and putting the pieces back together in an interactive workshop on how to theme and arrange a medley of songs for ukulele.
There is a place for everyone in this workshop with multiple parts.
From beginners who can strum basic chords in “the peoples key of C” (C, F, G7, Am), to riffs in tab for more experienced players.
This workshop covers rhythms, timing, strumming patterns and solos. Plus, singing– including harmony in parts, intervals, call and response. So, bring your voices and your ukes to learn, sing and jam this medley with the whole band!
Sat, 22 Mar @ 2:50PM-3:50PM
Pilgrim Uniting Church Hall
$20
Ukulele Workshop
Simple steps to superb strumming and fantastic fingerpicking.
If you struggle with strum patterns, if you get all fumbly with fingerpicking, if you don’t know what works where, this could be the workshop for you!
We’ll break down – or work up – some strum patterns and test some picking patterns using well known songs. We’ll look at what’s specific to some songs and what can be all purpose.
Learn how to divide and conquer in your group and add depth and texture to a group performance
Thursday 20th March - 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Du Cane Brewing in Elizabeth St
It can be a big decision to travel to a festival, we get it.
Our FAQs should cover everything you’ll need to know to have the very best experience possible at our 2024 Launceston Ukulele Jamboree but please feel free to reach out if you have any questions at all.
Can’t wait to see you all there!
The festival will take place across 3 venues in Launceston, TAS
See maps below for more info
There’s loads of B&Bs, Pubs and hotels in Launceston and surrounding area so check those out.
Reach our if you need more info
Of course, you can!
We have workshops all day Sat and Sun morning.
These are hosted by our professional performers.
The workshops are designed for everyone to take part whether you are an expert or brand new to the uke.
Tickets are required for all concerts and workshops details of which can be found on the ticketing page – https://theatrenorth.com.au/whats-on
The Sunday UkeJam and Mall Stage are free to attend
We have performances from some of the best ukulele artists in the country including The Stovies, Don’t Tell Bruce, Duplicity, Green Fieldz and many more
More info on our artists can be found in the line-up section of the page
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We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community as the traditional and continuing custodians of Lutruwita. We honour Elders, past and present, and pay our respects to
all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Together we live, work, play and learn on what always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
Launceston Ukulele Jamboree
We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community as the traditional and continuing custodians of Lutruwita. We honour Elders, past and present, and pay our respects to
all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Together we live, work, play and learn on what always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.