15 Ukulele Clubs Around The World 2024 – Meet Other Uke Fans

Everything is better in a community.

Sure, you can lone wolf it for a while, and you almost need to. But everyone comes to a point in their musical journey where they need a little support, help, or guidance. Perhaps some people to bounce ideas off.

These days, online and offline communities are available in abundance, regardless of what your interest might be. That includes ukulele.

And in this guide, we’ll be looking at several ukulele clubs where you can meet and interact with other uke fans, become a better ukulele player, and even find performance opportunities. Let’s get into it.

Ukulele Clubs In United States

With a population of over 300 million, it should come as no surprise that there is an abundance of ukulele lover pockets across the States. Here’s where to find them!

(And if your town or city isn’t represented here, it’s always worth Googling local gatherings.)

The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective

Altoona, PA

The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective looks like a fun and active Pennsylvania based ukulele club. A quick glance at the photos on their homepage should give you a bit of an idea.

This group has been around since about 2010 and are happy to collaborate with players of all ages and all skill levels. Their website says they meet on the fourth Sunday of the month, but it looks like recent jams have been happening on the second Sunday.

You can also access songbooks on their website, along with plenty of information about their club, and even programs you can take advantage of (jams, workshops, the Virtual Allegheny Ukulele Soireé and more).

The Delta Strummers

Brentwood, CA

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, The Delta Strummers’ performance schedule is currently on hold. It doesn’t seem as though that has stopped them from staying active, though, at least online.

Their calendar features a mix of performance, practice, and social events dates. They have various resources for uke enthusiasts, with songbooks, videos, newsletters, sheet music, and even links to other ukulele clubs.

For those who live in the Brentwood, CA area and would love to perform, this ukulele group is a good one to check out.

Seattle Ukulele Players Association

Seattle, WA

The Seattle Ukulele Players Association (SUPA) is one of the most active ukulele clubs we could find, with a calendar full of (nearly) daily events, like song circles, jams, performances, and more. Many of these, as you can imagine, have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions though.

Their website is simple enough. It doesn’t necessarily feature a lot of resources like some other club websites do, but SUPA might well have one of the most extensive photo galleries archives we’ve ever seen!

If you’re in Seattle, and you love ukulele, this is the group to join.

San Jose Ukulele Club

San Jose, CA

The San Jose Ukulele Club are troopers, even amidst current events, and their calendar includes meetings, performances, and jams. Their meetings are held at Denny’s on Hillsdale Avenue every second Tuesday of the month.

Their website is quite simple, but it does include an extensive songbook PDF library, in case you want to go ahead and learn some songs on your way.

This club offers free half-hour beginner lessons, which is always good to know in case you’re just starting out and want to pick up the uke!

Tulsa Ukulele Club

Tulsa, OK

The Tulsa Ukulele Club is operated by founder Ralph Kelley and music director Rex Powell. The club is mostly dedicated to jamming, but also performs on occasion. Based on their calendar, they meet weekly on Thursdays for jams and rehearsals. They also have a monthly in-house open mic night.

Joining the club is as easy as showing up, which is always good news for those who don’t want to go through an application process of some kind. Players of all skill levels are respected.

Their website comes complete with a standard outlay of content – a blog, gallery, and links to resources where you can learn to play the ukulele and sharpen your skills.

Long Island Ukulele Strummers Club

Long Island, NY

The Long Island Ukulele Strummers Club is made up of an inclusive group of devoted ukulele lovers of all ages and playing levels. There are no requirements for joining the club (but they do recommend bringing your own instrument). Their current schedule includes bi-weekly virtual club jams.

The Long Island Ukulele Strummers Club is obviously made up of those with a sense of humor, as their website is full of personality and character. If you’re looking for uke related comic strips or memes, you’ll certainly find some here! Looks like a fun club to be a part of.

Their site also features an extensive archive of previous club jams, ukulele resources, and fun YouTube uke videos.

Canada Ukulele Clubs

Ukulele lovers live across the world, and the “Great White North” is home to more ukulele clubs than you might think – especially on the east side!

Here we’ll highlight a few Canadian ukulele groups for those looking to join in on the fun in Canada.

Boyne River Ukulele Group

Carman, MB

Prior to the pandemic, the Boyne River Ukulele Group was meeting weekly on Wednesday nights at the Golden Prairie Arts Council building (the old train station) to sing and play.

Like most ukulele clubs, their activity has been limited by current health concerns, but the Boyne River Ukulele Group has still been meeting in person as they are able, and online using Zoom.

These days, their blog is only updated occasionally, but their site links out to a variety of helpful resources as well, like practice videos, chord progressions, song books, and more.

For all the latest relevant information, be sure to reach out to them directly.

Bytown Ukulele Group

Ottawa, ON

The Bytown Ukulele Group hosts monthly online gatherings via Zoom every third Wednesday of the month. The group used to meet at the Clocktower Brew Pub, but for obvious reasons, all their events have moved online.

Their online jams are called BUG PyJAMa Jams, and the Bytown Ukulele Group is an inclusive group, even if you’re a complete beginner. Longtime jammers are more than happy to share their best tips with you to get you up and running fast.

The Bytown Ukulele Group website is also quite the resource, with songs, videos, photos, tips & help, lessons, and more. They even have a Facebook group and merch you can purchase (T-shirts and organic cotton caps).

Seems like the perfect club to develop your skills at!

Southern Ontario Ukulele Players

London, ON

Southern Ontario Ukulele Players (or SOUP for short) is currently in search of a new venue where they can host SOUP events, which are on hold because of COVID-19. That said, it’s clear they are quite active, and their website is home to a mix of resources that can help you get connected and have more fun on your musical journey.

Their website hosts their YouTube tutorials, event calendar, newsletter, and more. SOUP also books themselves out for performances (weddings, retirements, milestone celebrations, and more). If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of a club that also actively performs, then Southern Ontario Ukulele Players could be the right choice for you!

Of course, there are no performances being held right now, but hopefully, soon.

Lively Ukulele Group

Lively, ON

The Lively Ukulele Group meets every Tuesday at the Trinity United Church basement (COVID protocols must be followed) from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. They are family friendly and welcome children under 16, but they request adult accompaniment.

Relevant COVID protocols are posted on their website, along with recommended items to bring with you to their gatherings. Songs, upcoming events, photo gallery, strumming patterns, and other resources are available on their website.

For those who are looking for a regular place to gather on Tuesday nights in Lively, this ukulele club is sure to be a hit!

Ukulele Groupes In The United Kingdom

There are plenty of notable ukulele clubs in the UK, especially in England. Here are a few worth checking out.

People Of Lewisham’s Ukulele Club

Lewisham, London, England

The People Of Lewisham’s Ukulele Club (PLUC) is a friendly and welcoming club whether you’re a complete beginner looking for some help getting started, or an experienced player who wants to join a community of other players. As of now, the club is only hosting remote meetings for existing members, but if you’re interested in finding a community to belong to, this is a good one to keep on your radar.

PLUC has a history of performances, many of which have been documented and uploaded to their website (complete with video and photo galleries). As with most ukulele clubs, they also have songs and songbooks on their website.

The crowning jewel of their site is probably their blog, which is updated semi-regularly with videos, summaries of their gatherings, music theory and tips, and more.

UNPLUGTHEWOOD

Aldershot, England

UNPLUGTHEWOOD is a bit of an outlier in terms of all the content and resources it offers. At its core, it’s a community dedicated to musicians (and noise makers) of every persuasion, with a strong focus on the ukulele. UNPLUGTHEWOOD operates primarily on Facebook and hosts virtual jams on Monday at 8 PM.

Their website, though, also features a podcast, lessons and workshops, resources of beginner ukulele players, and even T-shirts.

It would seem some of their members take their music a little more seriously and their project details can be found on the site as well.

Ukulele communities - online and offline

Worcester Ukulele Club

Worcester, England

The Worcester Ukulele Club (also known as WUC) gathers on Monday evenings (as they note, “in normal times”). The club originally came together in 2010, when a few founding members learned to play the ukulele at The Elgar School of Music. As the group continued to grow, they moved from venue to venue until they eventually settled at the Worcester University St. John’s campus in 2019.

On their website, they’ve kept an archive of past news as well as appearances, dating back to 2011. If you want to get a sense of how the club evolved over time, there are many pictures to view and videos to watch.

You will also find a gig calendar, as well as a substantial set of resources – songs, links, friends of WUC, club processes and member information, and more.

Ukulele Bedford

Bedford, England

Ukulele Bedford might have the most elaborate website of the bunch introduced here. They meet weekly at The Kings Arms on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM and are always open to new members, regardless of experience level. They are a ukulele only group, though, and because they gather at a bar, unaccompanied children aren’t allowed.

The music they play is chosen by members, whether it’s 1930s jazz stands, 60s pop, 90s rock, or even recent hits.

Their website also features music and tutorials, news, events, and a contact page.

Australian Ukulele Communities

The Down Under is home to a legion of ukulele enthusiasts, as indicated by the following active club!

Brisbane Ukulele Musicians Society Incorporated

Brisbane, Queensland

Brisbane Ukulele Musicians Society Incorporated (or BUMS Inc.) now primarily operates online. Their online hosted jams occur on the first and third Wednesdays of the month (and sometimes on the fifth Wednesday as well). Most of their activity now occurs on Facebook.

BUMS is one of the more “formal” or “official” ukulele clubs we’ve come across, as it requires members to fill out an application and pay their dues. Membership for those under 18, however, is free.

The BUMS website is full of content and resources, like blog posts, membership info, a newsletter, calendar, learning resources, performances, a shop, and more.

Where Else Can I Find Ukulele Clubs?

We’ve found ukulele clubs to be quite popular in Asian countries – Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and more. Whether you’re visiting or living in Asia, these are certainly worth a look as well!

How Do I Find A Ukulele Club That’s Right For Me?

Trying to find the perfect ukulele club?

Obviously, there are a finite number of options to choose from. So, you can’t be too picky if you want to get involved in your community.

(The only exception would be if you start your own ukulele club. That’s always an option!)

That said, here are a few things worth thinking about as you shop around for the ideal club.

Location

Location is obviously a key factor because there may or may not be a club (or multiple clubs) where you live.

These days, many clubs gather online, so location might not be as much of a limitation, but if these clubs transition back to meeting in person and abandon online initiatives, you’ll only get so far.

Finding a ukulele club close to home is obviously convenient and stress free, but it’s still worth considering some of the other factors outlined below before making your final decision.

Culture

Culture refers to how the club is organized, who it’s hosted and organized by, what structures are in place to support members and activity (if any), where the club gathers (bar, university, church, etc.), and perhaps most importantly, who is part of the club.

The culture of club lands first on the shoulders of the leader, and the people secondarily. The ideal, of course, is to be able to get together with likeminded people who enjoy the instrument as you do. And much of the time, this is what you’ll find.

There is the occasional group, of course, that might exhibit superiority, negativity, or some other form of toxic or negative behavior that’s less conducive to your overall enjoyment, growth as a player, and experience.

Some issues are to be expected, as there is no such thing as a “perfect” community, no matter where you go. But it’s always nice to find a place where you feel like you can belong, make friends, and have a good relationship with other members. It’s worth doing a little extra digging for the right space.

Requirements

What requirements, if any, does the club have?

Many clubs are inclusive, and don’t have stringent requirements. Others are more formal and require you to fill in an application and pay your dues.

One is not wrong and the other right. It mostly depends on how serious you are, what you’re looking to get out of the club, and how your dues are used to support the ongoing growth and activity of the group.

If you like casual gatherings, then be sure to find a group that welcomes drop-in attendance.

If you want to be a part of a group that has structures to support players at every level, performs frequently, and offers additional benefits and opportunities, then a paid membership may not be beyond worthy of your consideration.

Involvement

This goes hand in hand with the last factor. How involved do you want to be inthe community?

Some communities are drop in and may not have any expectations beyond you showing up and jamming with others.

Others may have a full performance schedule and requirements for participation, preparation, and ensuring you can make certain rehearsal and gig dates.

You can choose a club based on your own preferences. What do you want to achieve? How involved do you want to be? What would the ideal scenario look like? It’s worth considering while shopping for a ukulele club to join.

Best Ukulele Clubs, Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to grow as a ukulele player, network and socialize with other ukulele players, or uncover performance opportunities, ukulele clubs are a wonderful place to turn to.

Just ensure that the club you’re thinking about joining is still active in some capacity. Most if not all clubs have been impacted by the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped activity altogether. Many of them have started gathering online to host virtual events.

The ukulele is a fun instrument, but it’s a lot more fun with others who are as interested in it as you are. So, find your community. You won’t regret it.

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