The town will stage its first dedicated ukulele festival next month when amateur players from across Bedfordshire take to the Bricklayers’ Arms in High Town for an afternoon and evening of music.
Community music day arrives in High Town
Organised by local ensemble Luton Ukimaniacs, the free one-day event is scheduled for Saturday 22 August and runs from 3.30pm to 10.30pm. The bill brings together informal groups from Bedford, Sandy and Berkhamsted, alongside viral performer Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq.
The festival’s founder, Dave Mingay, said he took up the ukulele while working as a primary school teacher and wanted to make the instrument accessible and enjoyable.
"I started playing because I’m a primary school teacher. I thought, ‘If kids can learn the ukulele, how hard could it be?’"
Mingay emphasised that the line-up comprises non-professional players: volunteers who perform for enjoyment rather than pay. The event also aims to support local businesses and to bring people together for a community-focused evening of live music.
Supporting a local charity
The festival will raise funds for Refuge, a charity that supports victims of domestic violence, through a raffle and a novelty game where attendees guess the number of sweets inside a ukulele. Organisers have asked people to indicate they want a raffle ticket when making a donation to the fundraiser.
- When: Saturday 22 August, 3.30pm–10.30pm
- Where: Bricklayers’ Arms, High Town Road, Luton
- Who: Luton Ukimaniacs with ukulele groups from Bedford, Sandy and Berkhamsted; Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq
- Admission: Free (raffle donations welcome in aid of Refuge)
Organisers describe the festival as an opportunity to enjoy live music in an informal setting, support local traders and contribute to a charitable cause. Mingay said the event is about welcoming people to share in the hobby: “We really want to make it fun and engaging and bring ukulele to everyone because it’s a fun instrument.”
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 August |
| Time | 3.30pm–10.30pm |
| Venue | Bricklayers’ Arms, High Town Road, Luton |
| Charity | Refuge (funds raised via raffle and game) |
Those planning to attend should expect a relaxed, community-led atmosphere rather than a professional concert. The event underlines a broader trend of grassroots music-making in the county and provides a platform for amateur musicians to perform publicly.
Further details, including information about the fundraiser and how to request raffle tickets when donating, have been circulated by the organisers in the lead-up to the event.
