{"id":89886,"date":"2026-09-17T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/?p=89886"},"modified":"2026-09-16T19:11:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T02:11:18","slug":"the-rich-history-and-deep-joy-of-the-ukulele-will-be-on-display-at-this-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/eat-see-do-2\/do\/the-rich-history-and-deep-joy-of-the-ukulele-will-be-on-display-at-this-festival","title":{"rendered":"The rich history and deep joy of the ukulele will be on display at this festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
The Legacy Ukulele Ensemble performs at the 2025 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival. Photo by Sari Makki Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival<\/a> is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary during the weekend of Sept. 18 to 20 at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr. in neighboring Torrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musician Mitch Chang \u2014 a University of Hawaii music major, who moved to Southern California in 2000 and studied jazz ukulele with legendary player Bill Tapia \u2014 founded the Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival so fans of all ages could \u201cdiscover the joy of making music together,\u201d according to the festival\u2019s website, Ukulele.LA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival invites ukulele lovers or newcomers to attend live performances, hands-on workshops, jam sessions and connect. Its mission is to grow and nurture the ukulele community by making music accessible, joyful and inclusive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chang\u00a0told the Long Beach Post that the festival is family-friendly and there\u2019s something for everyone, even if you just go for the food, which includes Hawaiian, Malaysian and Japanese treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But most people come for the music, he said, as the festival showcases the \u201cdiversity and accessibility\u201d of the ukulele, which he says has grown beyond its Hawaiian roots, with musicians internationally doing \u201cvery sophisticated things with the instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ukulele, which roughly translates to \u201cjumping flea,\u201d is a small, four-stringed guitar-type instrument developed by Portuguese immigrants to Hawaii in the 1880s. It became integral to Hawaiian music and culture after being championed by the last king of Hawaii, David Kal\u0101kaua, who died in 1891.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the international performers at the festival is Zo\u00eb Bestel<\/a> from Scotland, whom Chang says he met at a Berlin festival and whose music he describes as \u201cethereal and very thoughtful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n Link<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The two are scheduled to appear with other ukulele artists on KXLU 88.9\u2019s \u201cWildwood Flower Radio Hour\u201d<\/a> on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m., ahead of the festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chang also highlighted the youthful Langley Ukulele Ensemble<\/a> from Canada performing at the festival on Sunday, who play a wide range of musical styles, including classical, jazz, swing, global folk traditions and contemporary favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ensemble musicians are not only wonderful ukulele performers, Chang said, but know more about music than he ever did growing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou’ll be shocked at how good they are,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are not just kids playing and strumming a few songs. It’s really sophisticated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival will also feature music from Hawaii with its rhythms and \u201cauthentic harmonies,\u201d according to Chang, and songs in the Hawaiian language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday\u2019s performers include Abe Lagrimas Jr., Cali Rose and the CC Strummers, Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel, Conrad Cayman, Ian O\u2019Sullivan<\/a> \u2014 the first Hawaiian guitarist accepted to the Yale School of Music \u2014 Karlie Goya, Sho Humphries and Ukulele Bartt Warburton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chang called each of these musicians a \u201cheadliner,\u201d and to experience them all on one stage is a unique experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Spanish musician Dani Usero performing at the 2025 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival. Photo by Sari Makki Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Creating community is one of Chang\u2019s main goals with the festival, he said, hoping the workshops not only foster music but allow people to connect later where they live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media has helped make ukulele music accessible, Chang said, but he wants to bring younger people \u201cused to hiding behind screens\u201d to live events.\u00a0 A social-media influencer who attended the festival in 2019 \u2014 before the pandemic shut it down for a couple of years \u2014 drew followers, but it was the in-person community that truly \u201cshocked\u201d them, Chang said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s very different,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you record a video on your channel, someone might say, \u2018Oh, it sounds so good.\u2019 But \u2029the difference between just putting out something that’s been edited as opposed to playing along with people \u2014 live, in person \u2014 is a whole different energy, and then people feel a whole different kind of a connection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival\u2019s opening night on Friday, Sept. 18 features a solo concert by acclaimed Taiwanese ukulele sensation Feng E<\/a>., beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40, including fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main day of the festival is Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring the all-star lineup of performers for $29, or an all-access pass for $59 that includes ukulele workshops for all skill levels. Children 17 and younger attend free with a paid adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday also features a Ukulele Marketplace that is free and open to the public, with sellers \u2014 including Signal Hill\u2019s Ohana Music<\/a> \u2014 offering instruments, accessories, an open mic, food and Hawaiian \u201cshave ice,\u201d plus free introductory ukulele classes for total beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Schedule for the 2026 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19. Courtesy of the festival’s website.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The festival wraps up Sunday, Sept. 20, with a brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $69, including food, small-group workshops and jam sessions led by festival artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then at 2 p.m., the Langley Ukulele Ensemble brings the weekend to a \u201cspectacular\u201d close, according to the festival, with tickets from $25 to $35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really want people to come out and rediscover the ukulele, rediscover music,\u201d Chang said. \u201cAnd all the things that go along with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For tickets and information, visit<\/em> Ukelele.LA<\/em><\/a> and its<\/em> FAQ<\/em><\/a> page. Parking at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center is free throughout the weekend.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World-renowned ukulele musicians will perform during the festival. Workshops, jam sessions and cuisine from Asia and the Pacific Islands will welcome ukulele fans and novices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29035,"featured_media":89889,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"hidden","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"World-renowned ukulele musicians will perform during the festival. Workshops, jam sessions and cuisine from Asia and the Pacific Islands will welcome ukulele fans and novices.","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32367],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[32310],"class_list":["post-89886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-do","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29035"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89886"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89895,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89886\/revisions\/89895"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89886"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=89886"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=89886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}