Germans in Grass Skirts?: A history of Martin ukuleles (Via @UkeTeeCee). David’s official uke rules. Including: – Don’t say you play the ukulele if you just own one and don’t touch it. – Don’t be an overly happy asshole – Don’t constantly flit around reminding everyone you play the ukulele… – …Unless you’re James Hill. [...]

100 ukulele players help to open the Rugby World Cup. Charlie McDonnell has become the first UK vlogger to cross the million subscribers mark and the press coverage has really focussed on his uke playing. Including on ITV’s Daybreak (another video here if you’re outside the UK). Ukulele for Dummies has picked up its first [...]

Never trust a tattoo artist that doesn’t know how to play D7. You can listen to four tracks from James Hill’s new long player Man with a Love Song. The emphasis on this one is shifted away from virtuoso ukuleling and towards songwriting. And it really shows – they’re the best songs he’s ever written. [...]

Singapore’s ukulele-playing presidential candidate, Tan Cheng Bock, came within a whisker of winning the election. After a recount he lost by 0.34% of the vote. And he consoled himself and his supporters with a song. Ukulele shortbread including recipe (via aloha joy!). The Ukulele Helper is a new chord and scale website that looks very [...]

There seems to be a lot of confusion over exactly who holds the record for ‘largest ukulele ensemble’. The attempt at the Strathmore Uke Fest was declared a success with 944 apparently trying to beat the London Uke Fest‘s 841. But that record had already been lost to the 1,000 Canadians who strummed with Lucky [...]

Chris Martin discusses the history of Martin ukuleles. Some fascinating stuff in there – like the iterations they had to go through when moving from guitars to ukuleles. Bossarocker is looking for some tunes for her triumphant return to the Uke Hunt podcast. If you’ve got any (original) songs you’d like to submit you can [...]

One of the many victims of this week’s riots was the UK’s independent record industry. The Sony/PIAS warehouse was burnt to the ground taking with it many labels’ stock. That included Sophie Madeleine’s label Xtra Mile. So if you were considering shelling out for it (and it is well worth it) now would be a [...]

Great news: musicguymic is on the mend and back selling ukuleles. But not on eBay. You can only buy if you contact him directly. Ukulele auction in New Zealand with ukes signed/decorated by Rhys Darby, Katy Perry, All Blacks captains and others. Michihiro Matsuda’s experimental ukulele on Fretboard Journal. Cyclops dobro ukulele Photos: Ukulele clown, [...]

Podcasts: Jessica ‘Miss Jess‘ Graves spanks the dirty blues on the Bedpost Confessional (not suitable for minors – and anyone who can’t handle awesome-overload). Kate Micucci discuss her life, career and how her acting teacher told her to never play ukulele in public on Riki Lindhome’s podcast. In the Studio talk ukuleles with, Corktown Ukulele [...]

If anyone suggests to you that ukuleles aren’t sexy, send them Ramon Novarro’s ukulele seduction (via Ukulele Porn) from the equally steamy film The Pagan. Pictures: Uke, I am your father (via @mytvisevil), Chameleon Ukulele (via ukuleles.tumblr.com. Two ukulele playing ducks: this one who is adorable. And this one who is a badass mother funker. [...]