Ukulele Death Squad
Bank Lane, Bank Ln, X91HX23 Waterford Directions
Sat 15.08.2026 20:00
Ukulele Death Squad
Hailing from Australia, Ukulele Death Squad are an eight-piece musical force who proudly describe themselves as the world’s “most dangerous ukulele band.” Combining dazzling musicianship with outrageous showmanship, the group transforms the humble ukulele into the centrepiece of a high-energy spectacle packed with brass, percussion, harmony vocals and infectious rhythms.
Blending elements of gypsy jazz, folk, R&B, flamenco and world music, their sound is impossible to categorise and even harder to forget. Driven by pulsing conga rhythms, a powerful brass section and charismatic stage presence, Ukulele Death Squad deliver performances that are equal parts concert, theatre and party.
Their reputation as a must-see live act has taken them to major international festivals including WOMAD (UK & Australia), Boomtown (UK), Dranouter Festival (Belgium), Rudolstadt Festival (Germany), and both the Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. With sold-out tours, hundreds of thousands of streams and a growing global following, they have become one of Australia’s most distinctive live exports.
As Scenestr Magazine put it, their music is “like Tarantino met a travelling mariachi band and injected them with the punk ethos of The Saints.” It’s bold, chaotic, joyful and utterly unique.
Ukulele Death Squad play Block Party at Bank Lane, Waterford, on Saturday 15 August.
Admission is free.
Performers
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Ukulele Death Squad
In a world where there are at least two ukulele orchestras, this slimmer seven-piece extravaganza from the Australian badlands declare themselves to be the planets "most dangerous ukulele band." Their name more then hints the level of menace and peril contained within. Luckily for you their largely armed with several examples of the miniature, titular instrument along with their epic vocal performance, pulsing conga led rhythms and of course their big bold brass battalion ready for combat. The death squad wield their instrument's like master marksmen, hitting their target every time using their arsenal of gypsy jazz, Rnb and folk. There is a strong sense of showmanship, theatricality and raucous energy in their live shows that has gained international recognition and critical acclaim in The Adelaide & Edinburgh Fringe, WoMAD (Adelaide), WoMAD (UK), Boomtown (UK), Dranouter Festival (Belgium) to name only a few.
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AWARDS
Award: 2018 Adelaide Fringe - Best Music
Award: 2018 'Made in Adelaide' Best Music Grant Recipient
Award: 2019 SA Music Awards - Peoples Choice (Folk)
Award: 2022 SA Music Awards - Peoples Choice (Folk)
Award: 2022 Adelaide Fringe Best Music Weekly Award
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REVIEWS
"Thumping rhythms, soulful vocals, and outrageous ukulele and sax solos." - Happy Mag
“Quentin Tarantino-esque Spanish flamenco punk-style music” - ABC
“Attitude, swagger, style and sense of humour” - InDaily.
