Big sounds sometimes come from small instruments. Mega Uke Tacoma, a musical meet-up of scores of ukulele players, will serenade the Proctor Farmers Market in Tacoma on Saturday.
Organized by WASSUP (Washington Association of South Sound Ukulele Players), it promises “two hours of ukulele fun with 100 of your new best friends!”
WASSUP has been performing at the market annually but this year founder Tom Brooks thought, “Let’s make something big out of this.” He’s hoping more than 100 uke enthusiasts will gather to listen to WASSUP and jam with the group.
Brooks was playing upright bass in jazz combos on the weekends when a friend gave him a ukulele a few years ago. “I started taking it with me everywhere and learned to play many of the same songs I was playing on the weekends with the jazz combos,” he said. The ukulele produces a uniquely joyful sound and appeals to a diverse fan base that enjoys playing together, Brooks said. “This little instrument is easy to learn but offers unlimited complexity for more advanced playing,” he said. Brooks said there has been a ukulele “revolution” lately. “Kids love them, adults love them and they are affordable. Arthur Godfrey used to say, ‘A kid can’t get in too much trouble when he has a ukulele in his hands.’”
craig.sailor@thenewstribune.com
253-597-8541
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.