Uke It Out!
This weekend is one of WMNF's signature events, Uke it Out! Our Music Director and Monday afternoon host Flee is the mastermind behind this two-day extravaganza.
Q. Flee, you are known for not only your great radio program but also for putting on some of WMNF's best events like our tribute shows. What gave you the idea for Uke it Out?
A. I stumbled across a CD by a Japanese band Petty Booka where they did ukulele covers of popular bands of the day—like Madonna. Then I caught them live at SXSW and was hooked on the uke. I was never able to book them in Tampa—but found a uke band in Tampa for one of my tribute shows and they told me that this area was full of uke bands—so I said if only I had a name….and JCT 27 singer said Uke It Out and with a name like that I knew it would be great.
Q. Some instruments are fads, but the ukulele seems to be enduring, Why do you think that is?
A. Two things—it’s easy to learn how to play—small and only 4 strings and it has a sweet sound that makes any song beautiful—even a Def Leppard song would put a baby to sleep.
Q. Is it challenging to get contestants for the competitions in Uke it Out?
A. Have you not seen the trophy? It’s the best 10” of fake gold you’ve ever seen. Plus we put together a winner’s prize basket chock full of goodies. And it’s a lot of fun—the ukers love the challenge of turning (this year) a Muddy Waters song into a ukulele song.
Q. What will be different this year? What can WMNF listeners expect?
A. Ukulele attendees like to play as much as watch so this year we are adding a play along with Tom Petty jam, the Muddy Waters of the ukulele contest and about 5 new uke bands and a second night of uke playing in Tampa at a new venue, the new New World Brewery—which has a rock and roll stage and lights—expect to see more than a few broken strings! (Cage Brewing in St Pete is our other location this year)
Q. Do you play the ukulele, or do you plan to learn?
Well, the closest I ever got to playing an instrument is being a 5th grade failed drummer. But we are going to have FREE ukulele lessons at the beginning of both night’s shows.
