Where to Play and Listen
Sons of the Beach
Every Saturday, 10am-12pm. Sing and play along. On the sand at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor near the Crow’s Nest.
Capitola Ukulele Player’s Acoustic String Ensemble
Every Sunday, 10-11:30am. Sing and play along. At the Bandstand in Capitola’s Esplanade Park.
Third Wednesday Club Meeting
Third Wednesday of the month,
5:30 – 7:45pm
A new leader and new surprises every month. June-September at Abbott Square Market, October-May at VFW 2259 7th Ave. Sign up for details sent by email below.
Ukulele Club First Thursday Sing and Strum Along
First Thursday of the month, 5:45-7:15ish. Jug Band Music sing along
September 3 & October 1: meeting at Shanty Shack Brewing, 138 Fern St. Santa Cruz.
November 5 & December 3: meeting at the Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz.
Cork & Fork Ukulele Night
Second Thursday of the month, 6-8pm. Open mics and Sing Alongs
Cork and Fork
1955 41st Avenue Suite B-8 Capitola
Even More Places to Play and Listen
Smouldering Uke
TBA
Making Music With Our Friends
One Saturday in June and August, dates to be announced
Eat, Sing Dance and be Merry. Potluck, dance band, and a sing along.
Burning Uke
TBA
Classes
Marty Carlson
Group lessons:
Highland Park: Fridays 11-12
Scotts Valley Senior Center: Tuesday 9-10
Email Marty
Michelle Kiba
Group lessons at the Santa Cruz Art League 5 nights a week.
Michelle Kiba’s website
Barbara Sonnenshine
Private lessons or small group lessons.
Email Barbara
Peter Thomas
Group Lessons:
Email Peter
Rhan Wilson
Private and small group lessons on uke, guitar, bass, and percussion
Email
About The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz
A short review by Stanley Sokolow
In January of 2002, when Andy Andrews and Peter Thomas first invited folks to meet at Peter’s house in Santa Cruz, California, to start a ukulele club, they expected only a handful to appear, but to their surprise and delight, 20 to 30 showed up. Thus the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz was born. Named with an acronym matching that of the local university, they claimed the club was the “UCSC where you could get a real (ukulele) education,” the first monthly Third Thursday meetings consisted of everyone playing a few songs together following the chord and lyrics on song sheets they handed out, entertainment by accomplished ukulele musicians, a little ukulele education, and of course good company, while eating and drinking at the pub where they held the meetings.
And from those humble beginnings the club has grown over the years to claim hundreds, maybe even thousands, of fun-loving ukulele players in its ranks, meeting on various days, for various reasons, in various venues all over Santa Cruz County. And there is always room for more: if you want to get more involved, start up a new ukulele band, a new weekly sing along, or just host a party, go for it! We will help you let everyone know about your ideas and plans.
The first rule of Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz is, “there are no rules,” and that rule has served the club well. There’s no formality, no dues, no by-laws, no roster, you just show up with your ukulele at any of the places ukulele players gather in Santa Cruz, join in the fun, and you are a member. (That said, you can signup for the email newsletter at the bottom of the page, or join the Facebook groups.). Beginners need not feel unworthy – the volume of the many ukuleles strumming along will mask any little mistakes you make. Peter Thomas said to me the other day, “The club has lasted much longer than Andy or I ever imagined in our wildest dreams.” It’s still going strong, like a big family with lots of siblings, there are more ukulele things happening in Santa Cruz than anywhere in the world (at least per capita.) So if you’re anywhere nearby, or even far away but yearning for the fun, come to Santa Cruz, to one of the events listed on this web site, and join in the fun.
PS. After the 20 year anniversary we decided it was time to change up the format for the Third Thursday Club Meeting. Moving forward each meeting will have a different leader, and what happens at the meeting will be up to that leader, so we have some fun to look forward to. If you want to lead a meeting let us know by sending a message using the form below. The only requirement is that you set up a sound system so everyone can hear you and anyone you invite to do anything at the meeting.
News & Events
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz —
Uke News September 2026
⸻
Weekly Gatherings
Saturdays — 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Yacht Harbor Beach (in front of the Crow’s Nest)
Facebook group: Sons and Daughters of the Beach
Sundays — 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Capitola Esplanade Bandstand
Facebook group: Capitola Ukulele Players
Most Mondays — 3:00–4:30 p.m.
Bonny Doon gathering
For address and weekly confirmation contact Becca Moeller: becca@cruzio.com
Fridays — 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Mid County Senior Center, Bay Avenue, Capitola
All levels welcome, especially beginners. The group plays from its own songbook.
Cost: $4 (members) / $6 (non-members)
Contact Gigi: 831-662-8728
⸻
Club Announcements
Ukulele Club Songbooks
Brian Schutz is selling the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz songbooks. Books 1–6 are all in stock and available. The price remains $35. We cannot mail books, so they must be purchased locally.
Brian also has clip-on chromatic tuners available for $10.
You can contact Brian via Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bdschutz
Subscribing to the Newsletter
We now have a self-service form for subscribing to the newsletter. If you know someone who would like to subscribe, direct them to the bottom of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz web page:
ukuleleclubofsantacruz.com/#contactform
Ukes4Peace (Northern California)
There is a growing Northern California “Ukes4Peace” community organizing musical outreach events supporting peace, love, and harmony.
For more information and upcoming events, join the Facebook group “Ukes4Peace Uke Jam.” If you are interested in hosting a Ukes4Peace gathering in the Santa Cruz area, contact Rachelle Chong at:
ukes4peaceca@gmail.com
⸻
Monthly Events
Ukulele Night (On the Other Side of the Hill)
Tuesday, September 1 — coming very soon!
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Ludwig’s Biergarten
383 Castro Street, Mountain View
Our monthly gathering continues on the first Tuesday of each month, and we just keep having a ton of fun. If you find yourself on the other side of the hill, stop by and join in. Songs from the 21st century are a common feature!
⸻
Jug Band Sing & Strum Along
Thursday, September 3
5:45–7:30 p.m.
Shanty Shack Brewing
138 Fern Street, Santa Cruz
Note the new venue! We think Shanty Shack is going to be a better venue for a jam session. The bench seating will leave more room for guitars and larger instruments. Bring a music stand, and a chair if you would rather have a seat with a back.
Songbooks will be passed out at the meeting. The songs we play are hokum blues, folk jazz, and novelty tunes from the 1920s and ’30s. That’s jug band music!
Everyone is encouraged to bring your voice, ukes, jugs, kazoos, washboards, guitars, fiddles, and good humor, and to sing and play along. You are invited to lead a song if it fits the genre.
Street parking is available nearby. Grab a parking permit from the bar.
Beer, wine, cider, sodas, and food from the SC Eatery food truck are available.
⸻
Cork & Fork Ukulele Night
Thursday, September 10
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Cork and Fork
1955 41st Avenue, Suite B-8, Capitola
Buddy, John, Lew, Pat, Johnny G, and Mary will once again lead an exploration of some of the 1,000+ songs in the club songbooks. There are still plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Books 5 and 6.
Open mic opportunities and chances to lead songs are always welcome. This intimate and supportive venue is a wonderful place to experiment and try out new material.
Optional items to bring include your ukulele (or other stringed instrument) and a tablet with charts or songbooks. Charts will be projected. A big thanks to Gary Steed!
Enjoy delicious wine (including a sparkling rosé), beer, wonderful company, and great food—not necessarily in that order.
⸻
Ukulele Club Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 16
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Abbott Square Market
Santa Cruz
Join us for another summer evening of ukulele at Abbott Square. The sun will be setting earlier, so we are starting earlier too. This will give you time to eat while Peter and his opening band play some entertaining background music that you can play along with if you choose.
Band Scramble Battle of the Bands
We will pass out slips of paper for everyone to write their names on and then draw names from a hat to form bands. Each band will be given a choice of songs to perform and 10–15 minutes to practice. Then each band will have the opportunity to perform the song it has practiced.
Abbott Square management asks that we encourage everyone to purchase meals and drinks from the market vendors rather than bring their own. That is how we give back to the market for hosting our meetings at no charge.
⸻
Mountain Ukers Gathering
Thursday, September 24
Location TBD
We will be singing songs from UCSC Books 1–6. If you have the books on a tablet, consider bringing them to share. Hopefully we can find a location that allows us to project songs.
Bring your ukes, voices, and song requests. You may also want to bring a music stand and a chair if you prefer not to stand.
⸻
Special Appearances and Outings
Our very own Grammy Award-winning slack key guitarist and ukulele player, George Kahumoku Jr., has two charity fundraising events coming up in September.
Aloha in the Redwoods
Saturday, September 5
Doors: 3:00 p.m. | Music: 4:00 p.m. | Dinner: 6:00 p.m.
La Honda Gardens
8865 La Honda Road
La Honda, CA 94020
This fundraiser for La Honda Elementary School is hosted by the La Honda Educational Foundation.
The event also features a hula performance by Hālau Nāpuaokaleimaoliola, directed by Kumu Kamaolipua Grace.
Tickets and more information:
www.lahondakids.org/aloha
⸻
Ten Years of Ohana with the Cali Project
Sunday, September 13
4:00–9:00 p.m.
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union Street, Santa Cruz
George Kahumoku Jr. will be playing with Dave Abrahams, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter.
There are no tickets and no cover charge. Fifteen percent of the evening’s proceeds will support The Cali Project, which empowers differently-abled adults to live independently in Santa Cruz.
For more information about The Cali Project:
thecaliproject.org
⸻
Burning Uke 2026
Sunday, October 25 – Tuesday, October 27
Sweet Water Farms
848 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville
Once again, the popular Burning Uke event is taking place, this time at nearby Sweet Water Farms in Watsonville. The event begins on Sunday, October 25, runs all day Monday, October 26, and wraps up Tuesday morning, October 27.
Sweet Water Farms is an attractive U-pick farm with plenty of oak trees for shade. The location supports basic tent camping and has ample parking for smaller camper vans.
This will be a bring-your-own event, so plan to bring your own food, chairs, and other supplies. Camping is $50; day use is $25.
Contact Sue Andre or Lynne Van Der Kamp to reserve a spot. More details will follow as the date approaches. Save the dates!
⸻
Community Outreach Invitation
George Kahumoku Jr. invites club members to consider sharing their ukulele skills with younger generations and the broader community.
Opportunities include helping start ukulele programs in local schools and bringing music to senior centers and retirement communities.
Contact George:
Georgekahumoku@gmail.com
808-280-9948
⸻
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
⸻
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz —
Uke News August 2026
⸻
Weekly Gatherings
Saturdays — 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Yacht Harbor Beach (in front of the Crow’s Nest)
Facebook group: Sons and Daughters of the Beach
Sundays — 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Capitola Esplanade Bandstand
Facebook group: Capitola Ukulele Players
Most Mondays — 3:00–4:30 p.m.
Bonny Doon gathering
For address and weekly confirmation contact Becca Moeller: becca@cruzio.com
Fridays — 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Mid County Senior Center, Bay Avenue, Capitola
All levels welcome, especially beginners. The group plays from its own songbook.
Cost: $4 (members) / $6 (non-members)
Contact Gigi: 831-662-8728
⸻
Club Announcements
Ukulele Club Songbooks
Brian Schutz is selling the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz songbooks. Books 1–6 are all in stock and available. The price remains $35. We cannot mail books, so they must be purchased locally.
Brian also has clip-on chromatic tuners available for $10.
You can contact Brian via Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bdschutz
Subscribing to the Newsletter
We now have a self-service form for subscribing to the newsletter. If you know someone who would like to subscribe, direct them to the bottom of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz web page:
ukuleleclubofsantacruz.com/#contactform
Ukes4Peace (Northern California)
There is a growing Northern California “Ukes4Peace” community organizing musical outreach events supporting peace, love, and harmony.
For more information and upcoming events, join the Facebook group “Ukes4Peace Uke Jam.” If you are interested in hosting a Ukes4Peace gathering in the Santa Cruz area, contact Rachelle Chong at:
ukes4peaceca@gmail.com
⸻
Monthly Events
Jug Band Sing & Strum Along
Thursday, August 6
5:45–7:15 p.m.
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union Street, Santa Cruz
This month's Jug Band Sing Along will kick off the four-day Second Annual Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival.
Come help us give festival visitors a warm Santa Cruz welcome and show them how much fun it is to play ukulele and kazoo together! Bring your ukulele, kazoo, harmonica—or all three—and join the fun.
The songs will be simple jug band standards with great sing-along choruses. Gary Steed will project the chords and lyrics, and songbooks will be available for anyone who needs one.
Full bar and Hawaiian barbecue available — please support the venue.
⸻
Cork & Fork Ukulele Night
Thursday, August 13
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Cork and Fork
1955 41st Avenue, Suite B-8, Capitola
Buddy, John, Lew, Pat, Johnny G, and Mary will once again lead an exploration of some of the 1,000+ songs in the club songbooks. There are still plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Books 5 and 6.
Open mic opportunities and chances to lead songs are always welcome. This intimate and supportive venue is a wonderful place to experiment and try out new material.
Optional items to bring include your ukulele (or other stringed instrument) and a tablet with charts or songbooks. Charts will be projected. A big thanks to Gary Steed!
Enjoy delicious wine (including a sparkling rosé), beer, wonderful company, and great food—not necessarily in that order.
⸻
Ukulele Club Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, August 19
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Abbott Square Market
Santa Cruz
Join us for another summer evening of music at Abbott Square.
We'll open with a star-studded lineup as Vince Tuzzi and Bob Burnett perform a set of favorites, followed by Mick Marlar performing several of his beautiful original songs.
Linda Baker will then lead everyone in a joyful sing-along to round out the evening.
Abbott Square offers plenty of food and drink options and a wonderful outdoor atmosphere. We hope you'll join us!
⸻
Mountain Ukers Gathering
Thursday, August 27 — 6:00 p.m.
Covered Bridge (inside), Felton — weather permitting
We will be singing songs from UCSC Books 1–6. If you have the books on a tablet, consider bringing them to share.
Bring your ukes, voices, and song requests. You may also want to bring a music stand and a chair if you prefer not to stand.
Evenings near the river can be chilly, so dress accordingly.
⸻
Special Appearances and Outings
International Play Music on the Porch Day
Saturday, August 29
Time: TBD
Brady's Yacht Club
413 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz
Tom Clark and Mary Heeney are planning our second annual International Play Music on the Porch Day at Brady's Yacht Club. We will once again gather on the back patio for an afternoon of music in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Plans are still being finalized and additional details will be announced in the coming weeks. All instruments are welcome. If you'd like to help organize the event or lead a song or two, your help is most welcome.
⸻
Community Outreach Invitation
George Kahumoku Jr. invites club members to consider sharing their ukulele skills with younger generations and the broader community.
Opportunities include helping start ukulele programs in local schools and bringing music to senior centers and retirement communities.
Contact George:
Georgekahumoku@gmail.com
808-280-9948
⸻
You are receiving this email because you asked to be included on the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz mailing list at a gathering or by contacting a list organizer.
⸻
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
ukuleleclubofsantacruz@gmail.com
facebook
You received this email because you signed up on our website or at one of our local events. We hope you appreciate our efforts to keep our community in
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Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz —
Uke News June 2026
⸻
Weekly Gatherings
Saturdays — 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Yacht Harbor Beach (in front of the Crow’s Nest)
Facebook group: Sons and Daughters of the Beach
Sundays — 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Capitola Esplanade Bandstand
Facebook group: Capitola Ukulele Players
Most Mondays — 3:00–4:30 p.m.
Bonny Doon gathering
For address and weekly confirmation contact Becca Moeller: becca@cruzio.com
Fridays — 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Mid County Senior Center, Bay Avenue, Capitola
All levels welcome, especially beginners. The group plays from its own songbook.
Cost: $4 (members) / $6 (non-members)
Contact Gigi: 831-662-8728
⸻
Club Announcements
Ukulele Club Songbooks
Brian Schutz is selling the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz songbooks. Books 1–6 are all in stock and available. The price remains $35. We cannot mail books, so they must be purchased locally.
Brian also has clip-on chromatic tuners available for $10.
You can contact Brian via Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bdschutz
Subscribing to the Newsletter
We now have a self-service form for subscribing to the newsletter. If you know someone who would like to subscribe, direct them to the bottom of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz web page:
ukuleleclubofsantacruz.com/#contactform
Ukes4Peace (Northern California)
There is a growing Northern California “Ukes4Peace” community organizing musical outreach events supporting peace, love, and harmony.
For more information and upcoming events, join the Facebook group “Ukes4Peace Uke Jam.” If you are interested in hosting a Ukes4Peace gathering in the Santa Cruz area, contact Rachelle Chong at:
ukes4peaceca@gmail.com
⸻
Monthly Events
Jug Band Sing & Strum Along
Thursday, June 4
5:45–7:15 p.m.
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union Street, Santa Cruz
This month we’ll give special attention to the contribution of the washtub bass to the jug band tradition. A few special guests will be bringing theirs along, and if you have one, bring it too.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to sing and play along. The chords are simple and the songs are fun. Bring your voices, ukes, jugs, kazoos, washboards, guitars, fiddles, and good humor. Chord and lyric charts will be projected or available in books. Lots of nearby parking. It’s fun and it’s free.
Full bar and Hawaiian barbecue available — please support the venue.
⸻
Cork & Fork Ukulele Night
Thursday, June 11
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Cork and Fork
1955 41st Avenue, Suite B-8, Capitola
Buddy, John, Lew, Mary, and Pat will once again lead an exploration of some of the 1,000+ songs in the club songbooks. The West Side Serenaders — Debra, Amanda, Linda, Nancy, Tim, and Kathie — will join us to lead a few songs. Jeff and his sound bowls may also make an appearance.
Open mic opportunities and chances to lead songs are always welcome. This intimate and supportive venue is a wonderful place to experiment and try out new material.
Optional items to bring include your ukulele (or other stringed instrument) and a tablet with charts or songbooks. Charts will be projected. Thanks Gary Steed!
We had a wonderful time at our May gathering at this welcoming venue — thanks to Cathy and her terrific staff for making the “ukers” feel at home.
⸻
Ukulele Club Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, June 17
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Abbott Square Market
Santa Cruz
Our June meeting moves to Abbott Square for a special evening of music and sing-alongs.
We are fortunate to have four-time Grammy winner George Kahumoku Jr. and founding club member Vince Tuzzi opening the evening with a delightful selection of songs.
The sing-along begins at 6:30 p.m., featuring songs from Books 1, 3, 4, and 5. George and Vince will close out the evening with a final song at 8:00 p.m.
Abbott Square offers many food options, lots of space, and a wonderful atmosphere. We hope you’ll join us.
⸻
Mountain Ukers Gathering
Thursday, June 25 — 6:00 p.m.
Covered Bridge (inside), Felton — weather permitting
We will be singing songs from UCSC books 1–6. If you have the books on a tablet, consider bringing them to share.
Bring your ukes, voices, and song requests. You may also want to bring a music stand and a chair if you prefer not to stand.
⸻
Special Appearances and Outings
Hawaiian Weekend at Chaminade
Friday, May 29 – Sunday, May 31
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Santa Cruz
Join Chaminade Resort & Spa for a family-friendly Hawaiian celebration featuring a luau and dinner buffet, live music by Grammy winner George Kahumoku Jr., hula dancing, ukulele lessons, cooking demonstrations, movie screenings, and more.
Open to resort guests and non-guests.
www.chaminade.com/santa-cruz-restaurants/hawaiian-weekend/
⸻
Ukulele Night (On the Other Side of the Hill)
Tuesday, June 2 (Election Night)
5:30–8:00 p.m.
Ludwig’s
383 Castro Street, Mountain View
This monthly gathering continues on the first Tuesday of each month. If you find yourself on the other side of the hill, stop by and join in.
⸻
Kanekoa String Trio Workshop & Concert
Sunday, June 7
Pono Hawaiian Grill, Santa Cruz
Workshop: 3:00–4:00 p.m. — $35
Concert: 5:00–7:00 p.m. — $35
Both: $60
The award-winning Kanekoa String Trio from Maui brings its high-energy blend of Hawaiian, roots, and jam-inspired ukulele music to Santa Cruz for a special workshop and mini-concert. Players of all skill levels are welcome — bring your ukulele and join the fun.
Information or tickets:
kanekoasounds@gmail.com
www.kanekoasounds.com
⸻
World’s Shortest Parade — Ukulele Brigade
Friday, July 4
Aptos Village
Save the date to join the annual ukulele brigade in Aptos’s famous “World’s Shortest Parade.”
Details, including song selections, will be included in next month’s newsletter.
⸻
Community Outreach Invitation
George Kahumoku Jr. invites club members to consider sharing their ukulele skills with younger generations and the broader community.
Opportunities include helping start ukulele programs in local schools and bringing music to senior centers and retirement communities.
Contact George:
Georgekahumoku@gmail.com
808-280-9948
⸻
You are receiving this email because you asked to be included on the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz mailing list at a gathering or by contacting a list organizer.
⸻
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
ukuleleclubofsantacruz@gmail.com
facebook
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Ukulele Club Monthly Meeting — Open Mic Night
Wednesday, May 20
5:30–7:30 p.m.
VFW Post 2259
7th Avenue, Santa Cruz
The evening begins with Marilyn Norberg, Brian Schutz, Marc Moss, and Robin Meyers-Colleen leading songs from Book 6. Songs will be projected.
After the sing-along, sign-ups for the open mic will begin. We encourage everyone to perform — you may never have a more appreciative and supportive audience!
The potluck and sing-along begin at 5:30 p.m. Please bring a dish to share. Plates and utensils will be provided. We ask members to purchase drinks from the bar as the VFW generously hosts us. A tip jar helps cover facility costs.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thursday, May 7, 2026
5:45 - 7:15 pm…ish
Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC
120 Union Street, Santa Cruz
Support the venue. Full bar & Hawaiian barbecue and more. Eat, drink and be merry.
Come join Santa Cruz’s other Jug Band - The Paradise Park Ramblers - as they lead this month’s ukulele jug band sing along. Join in the fun: the Trolley Drops will be sitting, singing, and smiling in the audience along with you. The Ramblers have a whole bunch of different songs or new takes on the same old songs, so it is going to be a super fun night. Lyrics and chords sheets projected on the wall. Bring your ukuleles, your kazoos, your what-ever, or just your voice. Everyone is encouraged to sing and play along with the band. Lots of parking nearby. It’s fun and it’s free, and plan to buy a meal or a drink to support the venue.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sing and/or play along with Jug Band songs with the Trolley Drops. Thursday April 2, 5:45 at Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC Santa Cruz. Everyone is welcome and it is free. Bring your Pat Tracy Kazoos and play them proud.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz —
Uke News September 2026
⸻
Weekly Gatherings
Saturdays — 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Yacht Harbor Beach (in front of the Crow’s Nest)
Facebook group: Sons and Daughters of the Beach
Sundays — 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Capitola Esplanade Bandstand
Facebook group: Capitola Ukulele Players
Most Mondays — 3:00–4:30 p.m.
Bonny Doon gathering
For address and weekly confirmation contact Becca Moeller: becca@cruzio.com
Fridays — 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Mid County Senior Center, Bay Avenue, Capitola
All levels welcome, especially beginners. The group plays from its own songbook.
Cost: $4 (members) / $6 (non-members)
Contact Gigi: 831-662-8728
⸻
Club Announcements
Ukulele Club Songbooks
Brian Schutz is selling the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz songbooks. Books 1–6 are all in stock and available. The price remains $35. We cannot mail books, so they must be purchased locally.
Brian also has clip-on chromatic tuners available for $10.
You can contact Brian via Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bdschutz
Subscribing to the Newsletter
We now have a self-service form for subscribing to the newsletter. If you know someone who would like to subscribe, direct them to the bottom of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz web page:
ukuleleclubofsantacruz.com/#contactform
Ukes4Peace (Northern California)
There is a growing Northern California “Ukes4Peace” community organizing musical outreach events supporting peace, love, and harmony.
For more information and upcoming events, join the Facebook group “Ukes4Peace Uke Jam.” If you are interested in hosting a Ukes4Peace gathering in the Santa Cruz area, contact Rachelle Chong at:
ukes4peaceca@gmail.com
⸻
Monthly Events
Ukulele Night (On the Other Side of the Hill)
Tuesday, September 1 — coming very soon!
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Ludwig’s Biergarten
383 Castro Street, Mountain View
Our monthly gathering continues on the first Tuesday of each month, and we just keep having a ton of fun. If you find yourself on the other side of the hill, stop by and join in. Songs from the 21st century are a common feature!
⸻
Jug Band Sing & Strum Along
Thursday, September 3
5:45–7:30 p.m.
Shanty Shack Brewing
138 Fern Street, Santa Cruz
Note the new venue! We think Shanty Shack is going to be a better venue for a jam session. The bench seating will leave more room for guitars and larger instruments. Bring a music stand, and a chair if you would rather have a seat with a back.
Songbooks will be passed out at the meeting. The songs we play are hokum blues, folk jazz, and novelty tunes from the 1920s and ’30s. That’s jug band music!
Everyone is encouraged to bring your voice, ukes, jugs, kazoos, washboards, guitars, fiddles, and good humor, and to sing and play along. You are invited to lead a song if it fits the genre.
Street parking is available nearby. Grab a parking permit from the bar.
Beer, wine, cider, sodas, and food from the SC Eatery food truck are available.
⸻
Cork & Fork Ukulele Night
Thursday, September 10
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Cork and Fork
1955 41st Avenue, Suite B-8, Capitola
Buddy, John, Lew, Pat, Johnny G, and Mary will once again lead an exploration of some of the 1,000+ songs in the club songbooks. There are still plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Books 5 and 6.
Open mic opportunities and chances to lead songs are always welcome. This intimate and supportive venue is a wonderful place to experiment and try out new material.
Optional items to bring include your ukulele (or other stringed instrument) and a tablet with charts or songbooks. Charts will be projected. A big thanks to Gary Steed!
Enjoy delicious wine (including a sparkling rosé), beer, wonderful company, and great food—not necessarily in that order.
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Ukulele Club Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 16
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Abbott Square Market
Santa Cruz
Join us for another summer evening of ukulele at Abbott Square. The sun will be setting earlier, so we are starting earlier too. This will give you time to eat while Peter and his opening band play some entertaining background music that you can play along with if you choose.
Band Scramble Battle of the Bands
We will pass out slips of paper for everyone to write their names on and then draw names from a hat to form bands. Each band will be given a choice of songs to perform and 10–15 minutes to practice. Then each band will have the opportunity to perform the song it has practiced.
Abbott Square management asks that we encourage everyone to purchase meals and drinks from the market vendors rather than bring their own. That is how we give back to the market for hosting our meetings at no charge.
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Mountain Ukers Gathering
Thursday, September 24
Location TBD
We will be singing songs from UCSC Books 1–6. If you have the books on a tablet, consider bringing them to share. Hopefully we can find a location that allows us to project songs.
Bring your ukes, voices, and song requests. You may also want to bring a music stand and a chair if you prefer not to stand.
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Special Appearances and Outings
Our very own Grammy Award-winning slack key guitarist and ukulele player, George Kahumoku Jr., has two charity fundraising events coming up in September.
Aloha in the Redwoods
Saturday, September 5
Doors: 3:00 p.m. | Music: 4:00 p.m. | Dinner: 6:00 p.m.
La Honda Gardens
8865 La Honda Road
La Honda, CA 94020
This fundraiser for La Honda Elementary School is hosted by the La Honda Educational Foundation.
The event also features a hula performance by Hālau Nāpuaokaleimaoliola, directed by Kumu Kamaolipua Grace.
Tickets and more information:
www.lahondakids.org/aloha
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Ten Years of Ohana with the Cali Project
Sunday, September 13
4:00–9:00 p.m.
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union Street, Santa Cruz
George Kahumoku Jr. will be playing with Dave Abrahams, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter.
There are no tickets and no cover charge. Fifteen percent of the evening’s proceeds will support The Cali Project, which empowers differently-abled adults to live independently in Santa Cruz.
For more information about The Cali Project:
thecaliproject.org
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Burning Uke 2026
Sunday, October 25 – Tuesday, October 27
Sweet Water Farms
848 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville
Once again, the popular Burning Uke event is taking place, this time at nearby Sweet Water Farms in Watsonville. The event begins on Sunday, October 25, runs all day Monday, October 26, and wraps up Tuesday morning, October 27.
Sweet Water Farms is an attractive U-pick farm with plenty of oak trees for shade. The location supports basic tent camping and has ample parking for smaller camper vans.
This will be a bring-your-own event, so plan to bring your own food, chairs, and other supplies. Camping is $50; day use is $25.
Contact Sue Andre or Lynne Van Der Kamp to reserve a spot. More details will follow as the date approaches. Save the dates!
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Community Outreach Invitation
George Kahumoku Jr. invites club members to consider sharing their ukulele skills with younger generations and the broader community.
Opportunities include helping start ukulele programs in local schools and bringing music to senior centers and retirement communities.
Contact George:
Georgekahumoku@gmail.com
808-280-9948
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