Hold onto your sandwiches! The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra is back! About plucking time. After a decade in deep hibernation, the much-missed mega ensemble are reassembling for a surprise comeback at the majestical Wellington Town Hall Te Whare Whakarauika.
The WIUO’s dazzling mix of dreamy harmonies and virtuosic musicianship will once again have Te Whanganui-a-Tara on its feet in their first show since their epic second USA tour in 2016. Expect nostalgic favourites alongside fresh new material, alongside bonkers improv, and probably a couple of trademark out-of-the-gate surprises.
Founded a bit by accident in 2005 by friends Age Pryor (The Woolshed Sessions, Congress of Animals, Fly My Pretties) and Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords, The Black Seeds) at their local café, the joyful experiment grew to include Andy Morley-Hall, Bek Coogan, Carmel Russell, Daniel Yeabsley, Deanne Krieg, Francis Salole, Gemma Gracewood, Megan Salole, Nigel Collins, Samuel Auger, and Stephen Jessup.
The WIUO went on to delight sell-out audiences throughout Aotearoa and abroad, release four bestselling EPs and an album, collaborate with musical greats around the globe, and introduce thousands of New Zealanders to the joy of music through the ukulele.
After all that, they put their ukes on ice to mess around with other instruments and creative pursuits. But the call of the ukulele is strong. Asked if they’d regroup for one special show on Saturday 20 March to celebrate the Wellington Town Hall’s triumphant reopening, the orchestra’s answer was an instant “holy hecking ukeballs YES”. (And then lots of emails to make sure it could actually happen. Turns out, it can.).
The first rule of the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra remains unchanged: “If you know the words, sing along.” And the second: “If you don’t know the words, sing along.”
“Pure, unmitigated joy. Magic.” - Audience member
“We are in a euphoric state.” - Audience member
“Like penicillin for the soul.” - Grant Smithies, Sunday Star-Times
“Their gigs are famously unpredictable - harmonious, heartwarming, hilarious, and heartbreaking… but whatever they play, it’s done with passion and true respect for their four-stringed instruments.” - Frankie Magazine
