Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora was alive with the sounds of plucking and strumming over the weekend at the ninth annual Aurora Ukulele Festival, an event that gave participants a chance to bond with others who love the small, four-stringed instrument.
The two-day event included open mic opportunities, visiting performers, a Sunday filled with workshops and more.
This year’s event was scaled back a bit as a vendor component was not offered, something that Montgomery resident Mark Strausberger, co-chair of the event, said was eliminated “as the space really isn’t set up for vendors where we’re at.”
“We have tried before, but we try to stick to the music side of it and not turn to … vendors. It seemed like the ones who did come here really didn’t sell a lot,” he said. “We’ve stayed away from it this year, but we might bring it back next year as we’re already planning our 10-year anniversary, and it’s going to huge.”
Strausberger said the event in Aurora has evolved over the years.
“I’m not surprised this event has reached nearly a decade. It’s kind of a niche community that enjoys the ukulele and there are certain people who come to this. We’ve always had success with it,” Strausberger said. “We used to have this outside at the Water Street Mall but we’ve learned to move it inside and keep it smaller and more localized with smaller groups.”
The open mic opportunity was expanded this year, Strausberger said, and allowed performers “to go up on the main stage with the good microphones and sound system for people to show their talent.”
Those in attendance Saturday spoke enthusiastically about the simple nature of the instrument and the fellowship and camaraderie the ukulele has produced among those who play it.
Ann Kuehnel of Fieldon, Illinois, said she has come to the Ukulele Festival in Aurora almost every year.
“I started playing back in 2019 and I picked the ukulele up because my fingers hurt too much from trying to play the guitar. I couldn’t learn it,” Kuehnel explained. “My son told me the ukulele only has four strings instead of six and I started looking into it and it’s an easy instrument to play.
“You can’t be sad playing the ukulele,” she said. “It’s a happy instrument.”
Kuehnel said the fest in Aurora is “awesome because it’s set up in a way where you can see all the performances and do all of the workshops to get the learning part without anything overlapping.”
Ben Hassenger of East Lansing, Michigan, came to Aurora for the fest.
“I went to Hawaii in 2009 and, believe it or not, there was a ukulele fest going on and I got hooked,” Hassenger said.
“I’ve been lost ever since and have named myself ‘Michigan’s Ukulele Ambassador’ and I host four different ukulele fests myself and run a non-profit that supports ukulele programs in schools and libraries and senior centers,” he said.
According to Hassenger, the ukulele is “the most folk of folk instruments because it brings folks together.”
“You don’t usually see just one person in the corner singing alone,” he said. “You see the whole group of people having fun and making music together.”
Lisa Kljaich of Fairbanks, Alaska, who said she also “maintains a winter home in Louisville, Kentucky,” said she has been playing the ukulele for 10 years and that ukulele players have a strong bond.
“The ukulele community is so accepting and if you can’t play ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ it’s OK,” Kljaich said. “It’s about accepting people at all levels.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
