Ukulele Death Squad

Hailing from Australia, Ukulele Death Squad are an eight-piece musical force who proudly describe themselves as the world’s “most dangerous ukulele band.” Combining dazzling musicianship with outrageous showmanship, the group transforms the humble ukulele into the centrepiece of a high-energy spectacle packed with brass, percussion, harmony vocals and infectious rhythms.

Blending elements of gypsy jazz, folk, R&B, flamenco and world music, their sound is impossible to categorise and even harder to forget. Driven by pulsing conga rhythms, a powerful brass section and charismatic stage presence, Ukulele Death Squad deliver performances that are equal parts concert, theatre and party.

Their reputation as a must-see live act has taken them to major international festivals including WOMAD (UK & Australia), Boomtown (UK), Dranouter Festival (Belgium), Rudolstadt Festival (Germany), and both the Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. With sold-out tours, hundreds of thousands of streams and a growing global following, they have become one of Australia’s most distinctive live exports.

As Scenestr Magazine put it, their music is “like Tarantino met a travelling mariachi band and injected them with the punk ethos of The Saints.” It’s bold, chaotic, joyful and utterly unique.

Ukulele Death Squad play Block Party at Bank Lane, Waterford, on Saturday 15 August.

Admission is free.