With unique workshops like DIY vintage tin ukuele making and Chord Gym, along with open mics and fun jam sessions, the Mahalo Ukulele Festival this weekend will put the tiny instrument in the spotlight
CHRISTINE MACHADO | NT BUZZ
When the Mahalo Ukulele Festival began in 2019, it had around 80 participants and four official acts. But as the love for this tiny instrument has steadily grown in the state, so has the festival’s participation, with around 150 attendees last year.
As the festival returns this Sunday, founder Christina Fernandes is optimistic about an even bigger turnout. “We also have more official artistes, workshop facilitators, and open mic participants than ever before,” she says, adding that fan favourites such as Rum n Colas, Natasha Carroll, Neel Adhikari, and Akshay Chowdhry will be returning to light up the stage.
Beyond open mics and performances throughout the day, the event—set to take place at Cubebar in Ashwem—will feature a range of engaging workshops. Ukulele musician and teacher Luv Mahtani from Pune will conduct Chord Gym, a session curated to help participants master smooth chord transitions, maintain tempo, and explore rhythm through fun drills and exercises.
“We also have Aditya Matkar, a new teacher and artist, leading a beginner’s workshop called Ukulele Therapy,” shares Fernandes. “Meanwhile, another Mahalo favourite, Vaisakh Somanath, will be facilitating a multilingual songwriting workshop for the ukulele for the first time.” This year also marks the debut of the Pune Uke Club at the festival.
In another first, with a focus on music’s healing power, Fernandes and Pallavi Shrivastava will conduct a Yogalele and Song Circle on the beach. “We’ll start with a gentle yoga session, followed by a song circle with the ukulele. This will include sound healing, using instruments like Tibetan singing bowls,” says Fernandes.
For craft lovers, the DIY Vintage Tin Ukulele Making workshop offers a creative stopover that will allow participants to craft their own instrument, design patterns on it, and even play it. Young ukulele enthusiasts can join Ukulele Adventures with Rayna, a fun workshop where they’ll learn to play a few easy tunes on the instrument. The festival will conclude with a grand jam session featuring all the official acts.
As the love for the ukulele continues to grow, Fernandes looks forward to taking this passion even further. “We would like to start hosting smaller events throughout the year in addition to our main festival,”
she says.
She also hopes to add a traditional Goan touch to the event. “We would love to feature musicians who play traditional Goan music, such as the mando, on the ukulele, as well as use Goan musical instruments like the ghumat, mhadalem, and kansallem,” she says. “These instruments and traditions are at risk of fading, and they are unique to our festival’s setting.”
