Strings that bind
Ukulele festival brings together ‘island music’ lovers
Daniel Ward and the guitar were inseparable for a long time.
Seven years ago, Ward said, his ukulele-playing partner, Heidi Swedberg, turned him on to the smaller stringed instrument.
Now the former Albuquerque musician and teacher — he lives in Los Angeles — has both instruments in his life.
Ward and Swedberg will be two of the ukulele performers at tonight’s Albuquerque Ukekopelli Festival at the African American Performing Arts Center.
Other ukulele players in the concert will be Frank Leto, John Bartlit, Andy Andrews from Hawaii, and Gerald Ross from Michigan.
Ward said there’s always a feeling of camaraderie when ukulele players get together.
“You get 20 players in a room and they all have a grand time. We try to play with each other as much as possible,” he said.
Audience members are welcome to bring their ukuleles and play from their seats, Ward said.
“Some of the songs will be play-a-longs and sing-a-longs,’ he said.
The festival theme is “Island Music From Around the World.” According to the festival’s website, “Island Music” should be interpreted broadly — Hawai’i of course, but also greater Polynesia, Japan, the Caribbean … and Manhattan.
“You can play different types of music on the ukulele. You can strum or you can play Bach on it,” Ward said.
Ward, Swedberg and other concert performers will among those giving workshops all day Saturday, Sept. 24. There will also be a hula dance recital, a luau and a Polynesian dance showcase that evening, and a Sunday, Sept. 25, worship and sing-a-long.