Recently Raglan was full of ukulele players from all over the central and upper North Island, here for the inaugural Raglan Ukulele Festival (RUF).
Uke enthusiasts were able to choose from a morning programme of workshops at Raglan Old School Arts Centre, followed by an afternoon of performances from visiting solos, duos and groups.
The one-day festival finished with a public concert at the Raglan Club on the Saturday evening, featuring local groups and guest acts French/American duo Sonia & Nigel (from Auckland) and Hamilton’s Big Muffin Serious Band (celebrating their fortieth year of uke-based humour).
RUF was officially just one day, but as it coincided with Arts Centre monthly events, there was also the opportunity to make a full weekend of it. That Friday’s Live & Local featured Raglan ukulele acts and on Sunday morning there were performance spots at the Raglan Creative Market and in various cafes around town – including the debut of the Raglan Area School ukes.
The festival was a combined effort by Raglan ukulele groups and the Old School Arts Centre, and helmed by the Arts Centre’s music co-ordinator (and leader of The Blister Sisters) Penni Bousfield, and Brian Wilson (Arts Centre committee member and leader of The Ragtimers).
Both the festival and the public concert sold out and comments described RUF as a relaxed, fun, friendly event, with many out-of-town attendees relishing the chance to combine playing the ukulele and spending a weekend in Raglan.
A big thank you to RUF’s funders and sponsors: Waikato District Creative Communities, Waikato Sunrise Rotary, Trek’n’Travel, Julie Hanna – Ray White Real Estate, Raglan Light & Sound, The Raglan Club, Shearer’s Music Works.
