Russ created his one man frontier band, which he dubs, the only full sized sounding band in Alaska that will fit inside a single engine plane. He plays 14 instruments, including harmonica, piano, bass and guitar, and busts out as many different instruments as he can travel with during shows.


Uke Planet: Ukulele Russ – Laundry

I find a lot of loop pedal users spend far too long laying down layer after layer of sound, eight bars of picking, overlaid by 8 bars of percussive taps, overlaid by… But not so here folks! In addition to Ukulele Russ’ clear talent as a performer and singer, what struck me instantly was the quick jumps from loop to loop. A real foot tapper of a backing riff, terrific rhythmic vocals a middle section showcasing Russ’ talent on the harmonica (which is sensational) and some imaginative and exciting blues ukulele riffs.



Statesman Journal: The music of Ukulele Russ

The name "Ukulele Russ" is pretty straightforward. He's a guy named Russ and he plays the ukulele. The name "Ukulele Russ" is pretty straightforward. He's a guy named Russ and he plays the ukulele. But this is a case where what you see at first is much less than what you wind up getting.



Central Maine: Maine native returns to uke it up.

Everybody has this preconceived notion that I’m going to be singing songs about beaches and rainbows and playing all happy songs. That’s really what people think about when they think ukulele — ‘Aww, it’s that cute little guitar from Hawaii.' Instead, he brings rock, blues, tongue-in-cheek and a catalog as varied as “You’re the One,” a sweet song to his wife, Dixmont native Lindsey, to “Two Ply,” a Stevie Wonder-ish ode to toilet paper.



ABC Perth in Western Australia

A live interview Ukulele Russ did about ukuleles, Alaska, and himself in Perth, Western Australia for the Australian Broadcast Company.



Central Maine: Ukulele Russ to perform

Russ plays the axe (or, as he refers to the diminutive instrument, the hatchet) and he does some innovative stuff with a loop pedal and a bass ukulele that he secures to a stand with DeWalt clamps. Also, he’s an engaging storyteller.





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