All are welcome. Fun rehearsals on Tuesday evenings, 7.00pm till 9.00pm at…
The Swan, Clewer, Windsor, Berkshire, UK, SL4 5JG
Just bring a Ukulele and a smile. No Fee. No previous experience necessary.
Upcoming Gigs
14 June 2025, Swallowfield Fete, Earley
21st June 2025 – Private Gig, Ascot
5th July 2025, Maidenhead Beer Festival, Maidenhead
12th July 2025, Ukeoke at The Swan, Windsor
20th July 2025 – Private Party, Windsor
26th July 2025 – Windsor Pride, Alexandra Gardens, Windsor
1st August 2025 – Norden Farm Arts Centre, Maidenhead
15th August 2025, Swanfest at The Swan, Windsor
23rd August 2025, 2pm – Bandstand, Alexandra Gardens, Windsor
20th September 2025 – Ukeoke at the Windsor and Eton Brewery Taproom
28th September 2025, Octoberfest
19th November 2025, Maidenhead
29th November, The Swan, Windsor
Past Gigs
1st June 2025, The Hope, Windsor This was our second gig at the Hope. Its getting crowded on that stage.
16th May 2025, Beer Festival, The Swan, Windsor
19th April 2025 was our second ‘Uke-Oke’ gig. Amazing atmosphere and we played 3 sets.
7th March 2025 at the Swan We tried out a few new tunes and the audience were brilliant.
We began 2025 by playing a new venue. The crowd at The Hope were great and it brightened up a dull overcast Sunday in February. Thanks to both staff and customers at The Hope for making us feel so welcome. ( ‘Thank You’ to Mo for the video and photos).
November’s Uke-oke was a lot of fun and saw lots of locals join us to sing their favourite tunes with a live backing band.
The band want to say a big thanks you and huge congratulations to Marina and Trevor who invited us to play at their wedding on 19th October 2024. It was enormous fun to play with such an enthusiastic audience and an honour to be a part of your special day.
On Sunday 13th October 2024 we played Maidenhead Town Show, Maidenhead High Street. This was our first gig anywhere outside Windsor, so does that count as going on tour?
28th September 8.00pm – Octoberfest at The Swan, Clewer. A gig on home turf. Gary’s knees were a highlight of the show.
Halloween 2023
‘Swanfest’ 13th August 2023 (our first gig)
Song List with chords (pdf)
Here are the songs we are currently playing. If you have a new song you want to play with us, come along on a Tuesday. We are up for pretty much anything.
Who is in the Windsor Ukulele Band?
You are! If you want to play… Welcome to the band.
Don’t worry too much if you don’t know how to play, you will pick it up soon enough. just come along and have fun. You don’t even need to be able to read music to be in our band. Usually between around 10 and 15 people come to our Tuesday night sessions (so you wont be alone).
Why play the Ukulele?
The ukulele is the perfect instrument for people who think they can’t play music.
- Ukes are small and portable, so you can take them with you wherever you go.
- Ukes only have four strings, so they are easy to learn at any age.
- Ukes are not very loud; practice without disturbing your neighbours.
- Ukes are just plain fun!
So get yourself a ukulele, join the Windsor Ukulele Band and next year you could be headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury… (well, we can always dream).
Frequently asked Questions
Q: Is it really free to join the Windsor Ukulele Band?
A: Yes, we don’t charge anything because we don’t want to exclude people. The wonderful Swan Pub are currently letting us use a room for rehearsals for free, so we all try and buy a drink to say thank you, but it is not obligatory.
For certain live gigs we have been asked to provide public liability insurance so there may be a small fee (under a fiver per person per year) for that.
Q: Is the Ukulele really easy to learn?
A: When beginners join the band after just a few weeks of practice they begin to sound pretty good. Because there are quite a few of us, it is OK to stop if you get lost and rejoin the tune when you are ready.
Q: What if I can’t read music?
A: Most of the band cannot read music. We learn the chords (basic shapes for the left hand) and strum a rhythm with the right hand. Who needs to read music?
Q: How much time is required?
A: We meet for two hours on a Tuesday night. Aside from that, you decide how much time you spend ‘practicing’ which is just another way of saying having fun.
Q: Is it all old George Formby tunes?
A: There is nothing wrong with George but of the hundreds of songs we have played so far, only once have we tackled a Formby song.
Q: Which size of Ukulele should I get.
A: it doesn’t matter if you have a tiny soprano, a concert or a larger tenor. They all work in the same way. If you already know how to play guitar you might want to consider the larger baritone ukulele. Please note that baritones have a different tuning to the others, so baritones are not recommended for complete beginners to stringed instruments.
Q: Can I bring other instruments too?
A: Sure why not. Lets see what works! We would love to have drummers, saxophonists, mandolin players, triangle players or anyone else along for the ride. Bring ’em along and lets make some noise.
Q: Will I have to sing?
A: Not if you don’t want to. However if you like singing that’s brilliant. And if you know anyone who doesn’t want to play ukulele but does want to sing with a band… bring them along.
Q: Who is in charge?
A: Nobody is in charge. We are all in it for the fun. Chris Brown founded the group (in February 2023) and he runs the website for us, but we play whatever the group agrees to.