Huddersfield has gone ukulele crazy this weekend with players flying in from all over the world.
And the three-day festival, which was continuing today, saw large crowds enjoying the music.
There was fun in the sun on Saturday afternoon at the Lawrence Batley Theatre with dozens of players strumming their instruments and singing along at the festival’s main stage, the fusion stage and in the courtyard.
The town also hosted a number of workshops for the musicians and there were impromptu performances in the streets and at local pubs and shops.
Music shop Vinyl Tap played host to a third stage.
It was the second time the town had hosted such an event.
Among those taking part were US jazz ukulele player, Sarah Maisel, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, the world’s number one ukulele blues player and her Hawaiian husband-to-be Craig Chee.
Tickets were almost sold out for the not-for-profit event which was launched last year by ukulele enthusiast Mary Agnes Krell.
Rob Collins, a co-organiser, said: “There’s been a real upsurge in interest in the ukulele in the UK and that’s been reflected in people coming to Huddersfield from all over the world.
“In fact there are more people here from Halifax Nova Scotia than Halifax, West Yorkshire.”
Sarah Maisel, 33, who lives now in San Diego, said: “I’m a tea drinker and I love being in England. It’s a great event and ukulele people are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.
“Craig and I met through ukulele and are getting married on September 5.
“We are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we do pretty darn well. We are playing in Huddersfield on Saturday and Sunday.”
Craig, who was celebrated his 34th birthday this weekend, added: “We’ve already been to Australia, Japan, Canada and Calafornia. Paris is up next.”
The Grand Northern Ukulele Festival was created by Ms Krell who wanted to create the first festival of its kind in the north of England and which would bring famed ukulele players together for fans of the instrument.
Paul Cooney who plays regularly on Open Mic nights at pubs such as The Junction, near Greenhead Park said: “it’s great to see so many people enjoying themselves.”
Some pictures from last year's festival
