The cold snap running through the local area can't beat the warm, soothing tunes of everyone's favorite Hawaiian (technically Portuguese) instrument.
The Two Harbors Ukelele Group, or T.H.U.G., is the preeminent ukelele group of the Northland. Al Anderson started the group in 2010 by putting an ad in the local newspaper announcing the formation of a group. Over time, the group grew to 28 current members. Dale Moe and Charles Finch came to the studio to talk about the group.
"[Al] approached me and I said, 'Oh, absolutely not', said Moe. "I said I'm a guitar player, not a ukelele player. Never had a ukelele, don't know how to play one. And through his persistence a couple months later I said I'll give it a try. And I went from not owning a ukelele to having - don't tell my wife - twenty-four."
That 'predicament' has a name in the ukelele world: "ukelele acquisition syndrome. Some players, like Moe own a lot of ukeleles. Some players, such as Finch, own different types of ukeleles, such as tenor or baritone ukelele.
While some music is played mainly by ukelele, they were quick to point out that they rarely play "ukelele songs". They play all genres of music.
"We do a wide range of stuff. Stuff from the 1800s and up to modern rock and roll," said Finch.
There is no requisite experience required for starting out with the group, as anyone is welcome to join. Even if you have no experience in playing string instruments, members can show you the ropes. In order to perform gigs with group, however, players have to demonstrate some level of proficiency.
You can hear Community Connection every Tuesday and Thursday at 8am on Northland Morning.
