Strummin' up to Boston 2025

Saturday, June 14, 2025
Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave, Newton, MA 02459

Workshops 4-6pm and Concert 7-9pm

We’re back, bigger and better!!

It's a whole different format this year, with just as much learnin' as playin’… A free day of fun!

We are thrilled to our third annual celebration back to Newton City Hall. This year, as part of the Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts program supported by Newton Community Pride in partnership with The City of Newton/Cultural Development.

A gathering of some of the finest, most fun-loving ukulele instructors and performers for miles. Sharing the enjoyment and beauty of our favorite humble little instrument.

Remember to bring your uke for a big ol' Strum-along with Danno and friends! (Songbook coming soon) A great time to see old friends and make new ones.

You don't need to be a uke player to have a great time. All are welcome.

Please spread the word!

RSVP at our Official Meetup Page

Schedule-

4-6pm Workshops: Link to Workshop Schedule and Descriptions No pre-registration necessary.

6-7pm Meal break with Food Trucks No reservation necessary ; )

7-9pm Concert: Link to Performance Schedule and Bios No tickets or reservations necessary.

Instructors-

Amy Kucharik, Danno Sullivan, Erin Ash Sullivan, Nick Howarth

Performers-

Amy Kucharik & Friends With Benefits, play a blend of early blues, jazz, and Americana with a funky edge and an upbeat female-powered message.

Erin Ash Sullivan and Danno Sullivan, are must see laugh-along toe-tapping favorites.

Take 4, exploring their love of jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock, pop and other genres is having them stretch what four strings can do.

City Hall Strummers is devoted to having fun, making new friends and sharing the joy of music throughout the Newton community and beyond.

The Ukulele Game Show Happy Hour- Abridged, What do Nick and John like almost as much as ukuleles? That's right, GAME SHOWS! Grab your uke (tuned, untuned, whatever), and thinking cap (however busted it may be). If you think you know a thing or two about everyone's favorite instrument, then step right up to compete against friends and foes.

Food Trucks include-

Boston Events serving grilled chicken Caesar wraps, bbq chicken sandwiches, hotdogs, cheeseburgers, veggie garden burgers and more. Cash and Venmo only.
Che! Empanada features over 10 different varieties of one of Argentina’s favorite delicacies, the empanada.
Ice Cream!

Vendors include-

Artist's Merch
Event Tees and Stickers
Uke Jewelry & More is just like the name says and elegant too!
Jolly George's Jigsaw Puzzle Jamboree. 300, 500 and 1000 pieces brand new jigsaw puzzles and more.
Stewart good uke stuff cheap consignment table!

Exclusively at “STRUMMING UP TO BOSTON.” Stewart's is only open once a year and that’s here at this festival!

You bring it, he sells it, you get PAID!

Bring your ukuleles, uke accessories, books, cds and other music themed items with you on the day of the event, the earlier the better. No item too big or too small.

This table will be manned for the duration of the event.

Please ask before handling the instruments.

Cash and Venmo only.

Questions? Please contact stewart@clementsphotodesign.com

Join the fun! Be good to your planet! Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Stewart, a long time ukulele enthusiast, was kind enough to volunteer his time at this event to help those who want to sell some of their many ukes, or for those looking for a bargain. He is not associated with a music shop and does not do this on a regular basis. It was a one-time event. All un-sold ukes and uke items should go home with their owners at the end of the event.

Other Links-

Watch and share our Official Promo Video

RSVP at our Official Meetup Page

Add your name to our Official Mailing List

Download our big ol' Strum-along songbook Strummin' Up to Boston 2025 Songbook.pdf

Strummin' up to Boston 2025 Promo LG.mp4

Headlining are the wonderful Amy Kucharik [/kuh-CHAR-ick/] & Friends With Benefits. Their music draws from blues and Vaudeville traditions, musical theatre, 80s pop and world music with a street-smart stagecraft honed in the subways of Boston. Amy was a winner of the Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition in 2015. She teaches ukulele in the Boston area and has performed and taught at multiple regional and national ukulele festivals.

We’re so excited to have Erin Ash Sullivan and Danno Sullivan back on our stage! They’re both terrific entertainers in their own right and together, well this’ll be wonderful. Danno brings his comedy stylings to ukulele events, and his ukulele stylings to comedy events. While Erin is a New England-based, award-winning singer-songwriter. WFUV’s John Platt describes Erin as having “a special talent that reminds me of early Dar Williams.” High praise!

Introducing Take 4! This new group grew out of the “after jams” of the Strummerville Ukulele Club, playing and exploring music not usually played on ukuleles. Their love of pop and jazz, bluegrass, country, smooth pop and other genres is having them stretch what four strings can do. Be prepared to have your ears stretched in new ways.

We are so happy to be bringing back local favs The City Hall Strummers! A community ukulele ensemble with deep roots at Newton City Hall. Devoted to having fun, making new friends and sharing the joy of music throughout the Newton community. This group of strummers has been jamming together for years, and is looking forward to continuing their quest of spreading happiness in their little corner of the world. This year with with special guest performers from Boston Ballroom!

Nick Howarth has been involved in the Boston ukulele scene since 2016. You may know him as the co-leader of the Strummerville Ukulele Club, the smarmy host of the Ukulele Game Show Happy Hour, or that guy who shows up to the holiday party in an inflatable reindeer costume. Nick's ukulele interests include playing songs too fast, singing out of key, and turning every song into a disco anthem. (“Stairway to Heaven”? More like, “Stairway to Dance Floor”!)

John Soares, when he isn’t being Nick’s sidekick at the Ukulele Game Show Happy Hour he’s busy producing Strummin’ up to Boston, and other unique ukulele events around metro Boston. John has been called the "King-Daddy of Inventiveness." Always trying something unexpected and fun!

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