KUAC: Ukulele Russ and the Fairbanks All Stars
Funky and fun, Ukulele Russ and the Fairbanks All Stars entertain and lay down some serious grooves. The first half of the set list was dominated by animal-themed originals, including a useful song to know when out in the wilds of Alaska "Bear Safety".
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.
RNZ: One-man Alaskan band
Colin Peacock interviews a survivalist and ukulele virtuoso from Fairbanks, Alaska, who makes his second visit here for masterclasses, workshops and concerts in Auckland, and plays two songs live on his ukulele, U-bass, loopers, and harmonica.
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.
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.