Friday, May 17, 7 p.m.: Las Cruces UkeFest Concert Atkinson Recital Hall, New Mexico State University. Las Cruces UkeFest concert features talented ukulele performers Neal Chin, Steven Espaniola, Casey MacGill, and Danielle Ate the Sandwich performing in a wide range of styles. Tickets are $10 per person and children aged 12 and below are admitted free. Tickets will be available at the door and online. Learn more and reserve tickets at LasCrucesUkeFest.com.
Friday, May 17 – 19: Las Cruces UkeFest Atkinson Recital Hall and Corbett Center Student Union, NMSU The Las Cruces UkeFest returns for the sixth year, bringing talented ukulele instructor/performers Neal Chin, Steven Espaniola, Casey MacGill, and Danielle Ate the Sandwich to perform in the Friday night concert and teach workshops on Saturday and Sunday. The festival also includes open mics, a jam session, ukulele marketplace, and a catered lunch. Full festival registration is $170 per person and must be completed online at LasCrucesUkeFest.com by May 16 at 7 p.m.
The Las Cruces UkeFest returns for the sixth year, offering ukulele enthusiasts from around the country the opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops with renowned ukulele instructors. The festival, scheduled for May 17 – 19, 2024, includes workshops for every level of player, a concert that showcases the talented instructors, open mics, a jam session, and more.
Ukulele festivals are popular events that bring ukulele players together to learn, jam, and even buy a new ukulele. The Las Cruces UkeFest kicks off with a Friday evening concert at the Atkinson Recital Hall at New Mexico State University, which is open to all. Tickets are
$10 per person with young music lovers aged below 11 admitted free with an adult. The concert is included for those who have registered for the full festival. It’s a great opportunity to discover the many genres of music that can be played on the ukulele.
The concert will feature Neal Chin, Steven Espaniola, Casey MacGill, and Danielle Ate the Sandwich, all in-demand ukulele performers and instructors. The Las Cruces Ukes, the nonprofit organization hosting the festival, will start the concert with a couple of their favorite tunes. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for the concert.
The festival gets into full swing on Saturday, May 18, when the performers switch into teaching mode. Workshops are held all day, with five timeslots that offer three workshop choices each. Classes are for beginners to more advanced players and include topics such as Beatles songs, strumming, songwriting, ukulele solos, and much more. Two Las Cruces instructors round out the program with workshops on percussion instruments and singing.
Saturday also includes a catered lunch which is included in festival registration, plus a lunchtime open mic, and a ukulele marketplace and swap meet, where attendees can offer their no-longer-favorite ukuleles for sale. Saturday ends with a rousing jam session and second open mic opportunity.
On Sunday, May 19, the festival wraps up with the popular Gospel According to Uke sing-along session led by Las Cruces Ukes board member and retired pastor Gorton Smith, followed by three more workshop choices.
Except for the Friday concert, all events will be held at the NMSU Corbett Center Studio Union building. Full festival registration is $170 per person and includes the concert, workshops, jam session, open mics, and the delicious catered lunch. There is also a special rate offered for full-time students. Get more information and register online at LasCrucesUkeFest.com