Concert Review: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Auckland Town Hall

Photo / Natalie Slade

You need a good sense of humour to play an instrument as big as your kneecap. And the eight-piece "bonsai guitar" orchestra made sure that between their rock-funk-folk-classical yodelling and foot stomping singalongs, they had their audience in hysterics.

Part of the comedy was the hilarious use of opposites. As if Saturday night and ukulele orchestra are not a funny-enough pairing, how about a six-foot baritone scrunched around a tenor ukulele or leader George Hinchliffe's plucking a delicate melody from an instrument so tiny it was barely visible behind his "sausage fingers"?

Not only does the humble ukulele find safety in numbers in this orchestra but it shows off its diverse sonic palette.

Sitting in a row between Dave Suich on tiny soprano ukulele and Jonty Bankes on the bass ukulele the musicians plucked and strummed detailed melodies and managed to fill the Town Hall with everything from Beethoven to charming versions of classic British rock songs.

There was everything from a strangely beautiful version of Teenage Dirtbag sung by Hester Goodman to the ukulele-as-a-bongo version of Chic's disco classic Le Freak to a breathtaking version of a Camille Saint Saens composition.

At points, their choice of covers were reminiscent of the film Young At Heart, with Smells Like a Teen Spirit and Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Despite the dapper suits and bowties, they also recreated a campfire singalong atmosphere, encouraging the audience to sing along to Anarchy in the UK.

It was the kind of show that gave you itchy fingers, and a few members of the audience whipped out their own ukuleles and plucked along to Ode to Joy.

Wrapping up with a clever remix of everything from Elvis to The Beatles to Robbie Williams and giving a Kiwi salute with Now Is The Hour, they packed up their instruments to head down country.

Who: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

Where: Auckland Town Hall.

When: Saturday night.