The Grand Northern Ukulele Festival is back in town this weekend.

We spoke to three acts new to the event, which this year will take place at the Lawrence Batley Theatre .

Danielle Ate the Sandwich, who will perform at the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival on Saturday May 28

Danielle Ate the Sandwich

Her favourite is grilled cheese or veggie. But there is much more to acoustic folk artist Colorado-bred Danielle Anderson than her breaded snack choices.

A former seamstress, her ukulele playing hobby quickly turned into a vocation when she unwittingly became the face of YouTube.

“I’d been posting self-recorded music videos online.

“One day, I suddenly started getting a lot of follows.

“I didn’t understand why until I found out that it was because YouTube had chosen one of my videos to feature on their home page.

WATCH: Opera-lele

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“I’ve no idea how it got there but I started getting requests to do shows.

“It was amazing because I only ever imagined playing would be a hobby.”

The festival marks her first trip to the UK.

“I’ve ended up in lots of great and weird places.

“Now I’ve released five albums and another will be coming out this autumn, which will be more rock and roll.

And the name?

“I needed one and didn’t think I was fierce enough to be just be “Danielle” so I went for something random and fun.”

Hope and Social, who will perform at the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival on Saturday May 28

Hope and Social

Their indie rock music brings sunshine and impromptu dance offs to all parts of the country. But Yorkshire’s unmissable blue blazer-wearing six piece will be bringing something totally different to the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival.

“We’ve not used ukuleles in Hope and Social before”, said Rich Huxley, singer and multi-instrumentalist.

“It’s going to start unplugged but it’ll build into something really massive.

“We’re holding a workshop earlier on so those who take part will join us on stage.”

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Audience involvement is at the heart of all they do.

“It’s just fun to get people involved.

“It’s amazing to get gigs but not everyone does so this way gives lots of people a go.”

Since forming in 2008 they have released six albums.

“We have been squirrelled away writing our seventh, which will come out in autumn.

“It’ll be a bit different to what we’ve done before.”

Opera-lele, with George Bartle and Amanda Harkett

Opera-lele

They trained as classical singers. But it was only years later that professional musicians George Bartle and Amanda Harkett married their love of the genre and ukuleles.

Now they tour with their light-hearted take on renowned pieces to bring accessible opera to the people.

“It began at an open mic in Kent”, said Amanda.

“We got talking about how we weren’t really using our voices any more.

“We both loved the ukulele, which has a big social element, and classical music and thought there was something in bringing the two together.”

LOOK at this UKE OFF in Huddersfield

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The unusual mix has become a hit.

“Our first gig was at a Pizza Express and we got a standing ovation.

“I think people see opera as a bit high brow so we take more well known pieces from film and TV to make it really accessible.

“The ukuleles give it a Spanish feel.

“The main goal is that we play what we love and that people see that opera is good fun.

“But we hope that it makes people think about what they could do with their ukulele-be it put it to jazz, drums or something else.”