Strummin’ Up to Boston, Newton’s beloved annual ukulele festival, is back on Saturday, June 20 at the Newton Community Stage (15 Walnut Park, Nonantum). Workshops will be from 1:00–3:00PM. Strum-Along & Concert will be from 3:30PM–6PM. Admission: Free — no tickets or reservations needed, all ages welcome.
This year the festival will be at the newly completed, state-of-the-art Newton Community Stage — a stunning outdoor space that’s a real upgrade and a story in itself. This is one of the first major public events to call it home.
Headlining the concert is The Heather Mumford Project, whose soulful Americana blend of country, bluegrass, folk, blues — and yes, a little Taylor Swift — is anchored by what fans describe as a spellbinding voice. Also performing: The After Jam, a group born from late-night jam sessions that takes the ukulele boldly into jazz, blues, rock, and bluegrass; and The Strummerville Ukulele Club Allstars, who have been featured on WBUR and are on a joyful mission to spread four-string love across Greater Boston.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Erin Ash Sullivan — hailed as a “special talent” by WFUV — and comedian-musician Danno Sullivan are MCing together.
Workshops for everyone (no uke required). From 1–3pm, drop-in workshops led by instructors Heather Mumford, Harris Kendrick, Amy Kucharik, Nick Howarth, and Eric Guerin. No sign-up, no experience necessary — just show up curious.
The big community strum-along: Songs will be projected on a big screen, the whole crowd playing together. It sounds like it shouldn’t work. It absolutely works.
Stewart’s legendary consignment sale happens once a year, exclusively at this festival. Ukulele enthusiasts plan their year around it. It’s quirky, it’s beloved.
The ukulele has a way of dissolving self-consciousness on contact. This festival draws total beginners alongside seasoned performers, families with kids alongside retirees, and somehow everyone leaves feeling like they’re in on something wonderful. That’s not an easy thing to manufacture and yet Strummin’ Up to Boston does it every single year.