BRATTLEBORO — A “community ukulele flash mob” hosted by renowned guitarist and singer-songwriter Lisa McCormick and Parks and Plazas Inc. is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m., at Harmony Place, behind the Brooks House.
All are welcome to come and play, sing along, or just listen and enjoy. Anon's Cuisine Thai food truck will be on site from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
According to a news release, players from McCormick's Ukulele for Beginners class will participate, ready to flash their new ukulele skills. Uke enthusiasts at all levels are encouraged to join in.
According to Wikipedia, a flash mob is “a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment and artistic expression.”
Ukulele playing has grown in popularity in recent years. According to The Atlantic magazine, the National Association of Music Merchants reported a 54 percent jump in ukulele sales in 2013. In 2016, a quick internet search found 44 ukelele festivals across the country.
Ever since its introduction in Hawaii in 1879, this “jumping flea” (ukulele's Hawaiian translation) has been making waves in mainstream (think Arthur Godfrey), pop (Tiny Tim) and rock (Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder's Grammy winning “Ukelele Songs.”) Hawaii native Jake Shimabukuro is the latest famous ukulele prodigy and is a driving force behind the sudden resurgence of interest in the ukulele.
The event is free and open to all and is handicapped accessible. In case of rain, the event will take place in the Brooks House Atrium, directly across from Harmony Place. This is a bring-your-own-chair event.