The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz
The ukulele scene in Santa Cruz has really grown since Peter and Andy held the first official meeting of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz in January of 2002 in Peter and Donna Thomas’ living room. Today there are gatherings of ukulele players almost every day of the week, as well as annual and semi-annual events. Below you will find the current listing of events. Everyone is welcome to any, and all, of our events regardless of your skill – or even if you don’t yet play the ukulele. Get on our mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page, or join all the Facebook groups for more daily information.
The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz maintains a Facebook page that you can like.
Latest Facebook Post
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, 10-11:30 am. Sing and play along. At the Bandstand in Capitola’s Esplanade Park.
Third Wednesday Club Meeting
Third Wednesday of the month
5ish – 7:45ish depending on month
A new leader and new surprises every month. Location announced via email. Sign up below.
Ukulele Club First Thursday Sing and Strum Along
First Thursday of the month 5:45-7:15ish. Jug Band Music sing along
Pono Hawaiian Grill Downtown
120 Union street, Santa Cruz
Cork & Fork Ukulele Night
Second Thursday of the month, 6-8pm. Open mics and Sing Alongs
Cork and Fork
312-B Capitola Ave. 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
August 8-10, 2025. More info coming soon.
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 email notifications using contact form, or check join the face book 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 March Uke news:
Weekly Happenings:
Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Yacht Harbor beach, in front of the Crow’s Nest (Facebook- Sons and Daughters of the Beach)
Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Capitola Esplanade (Facebook- Capitola Ukulele Players)
“Most” Tuesdays- 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ukulele group meeting in Bonny Doon. For info (address, time) contact: Becca Moeller at becca@cruzio.com
Every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Mid County Senior Center on Bay Avenue in Capitola. They play using their own song book. All levels welcome, especially beginning players. Contact Gigi for more information. 831-662-8728. Cost is $4 for MCSC members and $6 for non-members.
Special event:
The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz is hosting its legendary campout, Burning Uke, from August 8–10, 2025, at KOA Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay in Watsonville, CA. For information or to become involved—contact Susan Andre at 831-266-8570.
Monthly Happenings:
1. Thursday, March 6, 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jug Band Sing and Strum and Kazoo Along with the Trolley Drops at the Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC. 120 Union Street, Santa Cruz.
This month will be another night featuring the one instrument more made fun of than the ukulele, banjo and accordion: the kazoo - so bring yours to show off and take this opportunity to learn a few kazooing tricks from world famous kazoo instructor Captain Ron.
2. Wednesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meeting at the VFW, 2259 7th Ave, Santa Cruz. An evening with special guests and sing alongs hosted by Mary and the Merry Makers.
The meeting will start at 5:30 with a potluck of finger foods, snacks and desserts, so bring something special. Do not bring drinks, rather buy your drinks from the nice folks at VFW’s “cantina”, that is one way we express our thanks for them letting us use their building (we also pass the hat, as each uke meeting there is a fund raiser to support the vets).
With Cork and Fork moving to a new location (larger and more free parking but the same welcoming atmosphere), we will likely not have Cork and Fork Ukulele Night in March — the focus will be to bring the show- for the month of March only- to the VFW.
But what should we do? Mardi Gras will be over, St. Patrick’s day will be over. We will change the clocks on the 9th (spring forward) and will have had ten days to “recover” from that. Please remember March has been the month (weatherwise in the Northern Hemisphere) to “come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. Our charts will be dominated by songs about WEATHER. And like Cork and Fork- folks can come up and lead a song or “open mic” it or just enjoy playing and singing in the audience.
Ain’t no doubt about it… we will have a good time- because we will be playing and singing and laughing together.
As always, I love having a little help from my friends.. so just let me know if you want to assist, Mary Heeney: meheeney@gmail.com
3. Mountain Ukers meeting to be announced
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Wednesday Feb 19, 5:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meeting at the VFW, 2259 7th Ave, Santa Cruz.
This month we have a rare treat! We will have a special guest performer, multi-talented singer/songwriter and instrumental virtuoso Dan Frechette, who will grace the uke club with his vintage Martin ukulele, performing some sweet and familiar ukulele friendly classics, peppered amongst some the strongest songs from his upcoming 129th compilation album. (To be available along with his past ones via Bandcamp.com.)
If you haven’t heard or seen Dan Frechette before (perhaps at one of the Beatles Jams) then here is a link to his music:
linktr.ee/danfrechette?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=69b51373-3a8f-42da-bfca-a0f870aeb9f4
The meeting will start at 5:30 with a potluck of finger foods, snacks and desserts, so bring something special. Do not bring drinks, rather buy your drinks from the nice folks at VFW’s “cantina”, that is one way we express our thanks for them letting us use their building (we also pass the hat, as each uke meeting there is a fund raiser to support the vets).
Before Dan plays Peter Thomas and the Untangled Band will lead a half hour of sing and strum along songs. Gary Steed will be projecting the songs on the wall so you don’t necessarily need to bring your books. Following Dan’s performance, we will play/sing along to some Beatles songs.
So, bring your ukulele, dress up like you were going out to a show, bring something to share for the pot luck, a bit of cash to donate to the VFW, and don’t leave your great outlook on life at home. There will be lots of old and new friends at this event! It is going to be fun.
danfrechette | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
linktr.ee
Human Jukebox Multi Instrumentalist with over 120 albums of original songs.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz March Uke news:
Weekly Happenings:
Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Yacht Harbor beach, in front of the Crow’s Nest (Facebook- Sons and Daughters of the Beach)
Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Capitola Esplanade (Facebook- Capitola Ukulele Players)
“Most” Tuesdays- 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ukulele group meeting in Bonny Doon. For info (address, time) contact: Becca Moeller at becca@cruzio.com
Every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Mid County Senior Center on Bay Avenue in Capitola. They play using their own song book. All levels welcome, especially beginning players. Contact Gigi for more information. 831-662-8728. Cost is $4 for MCSC members and $6 for non-members.
Special event:
The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz is hosting its legendary campout, Burning Uke, from August 8–10, 2025, at KOA Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay in Watsonville, CA. For information or to become involved—contact Susan Andre at 831-266-8570.
Monthly Happenings:
1. Thursday, March 6, 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jug Band Sing and Strum and Kazoo Along with the Trolley Drops at the Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC. 120 Union Street, Santa Cruz.
This month will be another night featuring the one instrument more made fun of than the ukulele, banjo and accordion: the kazoo - so bring yours to show off and take this opportunity to learn a few kazooing tricks from world famous kazoo instructor Captain Ron.
2. Wednesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meeting at the VFW, 2259 7th Ave, Santa Cruz. An evening with special guests and sing alongs hosted by Mary and the Merry Makers.
The meeting will start at 5:30 with a potluck of finger foods, snacks and desserts, so bring something special. Do not bring drinks, rather buy your drinks from the nice folks at VFW’s “cantina”, that is one way we express our thanks for them letting us use their building (we also pass the hat, as each uke meeting there is a fund raiser to support the vets).
With Cork and Fork moving to a new location (larger and more free parking but the same welcoming atmosphere), we will likely not have Cork and Fork Ukulele Night in March — the focus will be to bring the show- for the month of March only- to the VFW.
But what should we do? Mardi Gras will be over, St. Patrick’s day will be over. We will change the clocks on the 9th (spring forward) and will have had ten days to “recover” from that. Please remember March has been the month (weatherwise in the Northern Hemisphere) to “come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. Our charts will be dominated by songs about WEATHER. And like Cork and Fork- folks can come up and lead a song or “open mic” it or just enjoy playing and singing in the audience.
Ain’t no doubt about it… we will have a good time- because we will be playing and singing and laughing together.
As always, I love having a little help from my friends.. so just let me know if you want to assist, Mary Heeney: meheeney@gmail.com
3. Mountain Ukers meeting to be announced ... See MoreSee Less
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