In an era when mindless pop dominated the airwaves, a unique group emerged to challenge the status quo: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Born in 1985 amidst a cultural milieu of extravagant hairdos and brick-sized mobile phones, this ensemble has defied the norms of the music business. They donned black tuxedos and started performing in the cozy confines of old pubs, quickly gaining a cult following. Now celebrating their 40th anniversary, this orchestra takes center stage in a series of events that showcase their eclectic repertoire and quintessential British humor.

Strumming Through Time: The Iconic Journey of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Embark on a delightful orchestral journey with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. This legendary ensemble, known for their unique blend of pop, classical, and humor, is set to grace venues across the globe in 2025. From the quaint beginnings in pub rooms to grand stages worldwide, their performances promise a mix of tuneful fun and infectious wit. This year's tour includes stops at Dorking Halls, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Middlesbrough Theatre, each showcasing the unmatched charm of this sixteen-handed orchestra.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: A Quirky Orchestral Journey

Celebrating four decades of musical creativity, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain embarks on their 40th Anniversary Tour, capturing audiences around the world with their unique blend of humor and virtuosity. From rock-infused orchestral performances in San Luis Obispo, to the hallowed halls of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and finally, a return to their roots in Middlesbrough, this tour promises a musical journey unlike any other. Discover how a simple instrument like the ukulele has defied musical conventions and brought joy to fans globally.

Strumming Through History: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's 40th Anniversary Tour

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is an all-singing, all-strumming group of ukulele players who believe every genre is open to reinterpretation and delights with inventive ukulele renditions of everything from rock anthems to classical masterpieces.

EPSG:4326

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

The Music Center at Strathmore

It’s hard to believe, but the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain celebrates its 40th birthday in 2025. The Ukes already gave a preview of this anniversary year in 2024, were immediately invited for a return visit, and left no doubt that musical perfection and the best of entertainment go hand in hand here. Even if the musicians and their »bonsai guitars« have long become an institution, there is nothing serious about it, and genre boundaries are ignored with a wink and a pluck of the strings. The birthday program is dedicated to its unique mix of great music and typical British humor. The musical journey ranges from ABBA to ZZ Top, making stops at Tchaikovsky, Nirvana, Bluegrass and Lady Gaga. Surprises are guaranteed!

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Kulturpalast Dresden

It’s 1985 – Wham are topping charts and everyone has enormous hair. The first ever mobile phone (the size of a brick) is on sale and scientists locate the site of the sunken Titanic. Microsoft Windows is launched, and Bob Geldof persuades just about everyone to appear in the biggest line up we’ve ever seen to raise millions for Live Aid. Back to the Future is on our screens, the first episode of Eastenders is beamed into British homes, and what’s THAT coming over the hill? Why, it’s the sixteen-handed, all-singing, all-plucking Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, and they’re coming this way…

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain – 40th Anniversary Tour

Middlesbrough Theatre

A mad musical dash careening through genius arrangements of classics, pop songs, and a surprising mix of musical genres and styles, a concert by The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain defies description. This strumming, singing cadre of seriously trained musical artists play seriously—and seriously play—with music and their audiences, with the happy result of a good time had by all. “The UOGB have buffed their act into polished entertainment” (The Guardian).

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

The rock-star strummers of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain have won legions of fans with their quicksilver arrangements (spanning pop to classical) and dry British humor. Now in its 40th year, the 12-member ensemble provides “superbly tuneful fun” (The New York Times) where “nothing is spoof-proof” (Chicago Tribune).

Symphony Center

Formed in 1985 as the antidote to mindless pop, egocentric rock, and the indulgent, bluster of the music business, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain donned black tuxedos, and began giving ‘concerts’ in tiny rooms above old pubs.

Four decades (and 400,000,000 plucks) later they’re still thrilling audiences with their off-beat humour and four-stringed virtuosity from Tasmania to the Arctic Circle, Windsor Castle to Carnegie Hall.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: 40th Anniversary Tour

Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo

Formed in 1985 as the antidote to mindless pop, egocentric rock, and the indulgent, bluster of the music business, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain donned black tuxedos, and began giving ‘concerts’ in tiny rooms above old pubs.

George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain 2025

Dorking Halls

A celebrated musical juggernaut for four decades, thrilling audiences from Tasmania in the South Pacific to Svalbard in the Artic Circle, Windsor Castle to Carnegie Hall, the all-singing, all-plucking Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain continues to break the mould with a programme of new tunes as well as old classics.

George Hinchliffe's Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain

Wycombe Swan Theatre

George Hinchcliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has stumbled upon international and critical acclaim as the most entertaining pluckers. Dancing somewhere between sincerity and insanity; punk rock sensibilities and restrained British humour; the not-too-silly and the not-too-serious. A 37-year-long career has taken them to Carnegie Hall, Glastonbury festival, the North Pole, and from China to Estonia via Japan, Australia and The Isle of Man, garnering hordes of fans and imitators along the way.

George Hinchcliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Midland Center for the Arts

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has stumbled upon international and critical acclaim as the most entertaining pluckers. Dancing somewhere between sincerity and insanity; punk rock sensibilities and restrained British humour; the not-too-silly and the not-too-serious, A 37-year-long career has taken them to Carnegie Hall, Glastonbury festival, the North Pole, and from China to Estonia via Japan, Australia and The Isle of Man, garnering hordes of fans and imitators along the way.

Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts

A runaway hit of our 2021-22 season, George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain scored with audiences with its unique, energetic blend of arrangements from pop to classical, humor, and, of course, lots and lots of expert strumming. This ensemble of a dozen-plus plucky artists are “the best musical entertainment in the country,” according to the Independent. “Nothing is spoof proof,” added The Times.

George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

A runaway hit of our 2021-22 season, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain scored with audiences with its unique, energetic blend of arrangements from pop to classical, humor, and, of course, lots and lots of expert strumming. This ensemble of a dozen-plus plucky artists are “the best musical entertainment in the country,” according to the Independent. “Nothing is spoof proof,” added The Times.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is an all-singing, all-strumming ukulele ensemble, which believes that all genres of music are available for reinterpretation, as long as they are played on the ukulele! Funny, virtuosic, twanging, and awesome, the Orchestra offers an astonishing revelation of the rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles and singing (and a bit of whistling). From Tchaikovsky to Nirvana to Spaghetti Western soundtracks, the Orchestra takes us on “a world tour with only hand luggage” and gives the listener “One Plucking Thing After Another”.

La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church

As soon as The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain walks on stage you are in safe hands. Witty, quirky and irreverent - praised by Bowie and Eno, promoted by the BBC and raved about by the New York Times, you can expect “an evening of sheer entertainment” from this eccentric group of seasoned performers. Playful, virtuosic and wickedly amusing, both fun and actually funny, these genre-bending rebels have lasted longer than Led Zeppelin, played more gigs than the Rolling Stones and rocked harder than Dwayne Johnson.

McCallum Theatre

As soon as The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain walk on stage you are in safe hands. Witty, quirky and irreverant - praised by Bowie and Eno, promoted by the BBC and raved about by the New York Times, you can expect “an evening of sheer entertainment” from this eccentric group of seasoned performers.

George Hinchliffe's Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Returning to Orange County with crowd-pleasing, stomping, poignant, rocking, thought-provoking, swinging music; groovy plucking, heartfelt singing, virtuosic whistling, and an irreverent deflation of pomposity all served up in the Orchestra’s fine-tuned and integrated entertainment will surely be “a complete hoot” for performers and audiences whatever their ages or individual musical tastes.

When The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain began in 1985, public opinion was that an orchestra consisting entirely of ukuleles in different sizes was a strange concept. This was something that attracted the founders. From the beginning, the group’s modest goals were to have fun and “not to lose money.” Incredibly, throughout its thirty-year career, the group has succeeded in both. In Europe and America, the Orchestra are best known for playing versions of famous rock songs and film themes, sometimes changing these so that the expectations of the audience are subverted. Sometimes a rock song will be changed into a jazz idiom, or sometimes several songs which are known from different genres are combined in one “soup of contrasts.”

Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

Lady Gaga? Of course. Terry Riley? Sure. The Sex Pistols? Why not?! Wagner? Bring it! No repertoire is safe from the crackerjack lasses and lads of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. The eight-piece band of expert strummers and singers has been charming audiences the world over, from Carnegie Hall to London’s Royal Albert Hall, since its first gig in 1985. Devilishly irreverent and shockingly eclectic, the orchestra is a bona fide UK national treasure and has inspired an international love affair with its humble four-string namesake, delivering fans “an oversized dose of unexpected happiness” (The New York Times).

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Apr 12, 2026

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

May 26, 2025

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Articles & News

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain