Three superstars in the ukulele world — including two from Hawaii — will be in Coquitlam for Victoria Day to perform and teach a workshop.
U3, better known as Abe Lagrimas, Jr., Cynthia Lin and Ukulenny, will be at the Evergreen Cultural Centre on May 22, courtesy of the Coquitlam Ukulele Tiny Instruments Enthusiasts (CUTIE) Circle.
The event is CUTIE’s first in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020.
During the hiatus, U3 went online to offer free ukulele classes, of which CUTIE members took part.
A club spokesperson told the Tri-City News that it wanted to return the favour by hosting the trio in May; proceeds from the event will cover U3's expenses.
Lagrimas and Lin, a popular YouTuber, will be flying in from Hawaii while Ukulenny hails from the San Francisco Bay area.
Their repertoire includes a range of genres from jazz and bossa nova to Hawaiian classics and island reggae remixes, according to their biography.
In 2020, U3 released its first album called In Waves that "features genre-bending arrangements that bridge the artists’ skills and versatility, and stretch the ukulele into new territory."
While in Coquitlam, U3’s workshop will focus on the bossa nova style, and is open to ukulele players who are at the "confident beginner to intermediate" level.
Participants will learn how to improvise and play bossa novel rhythms like on Lin’s song "Aquamarine."
To register for U3’s workshop and/or concert on May 22, you can visit the CUTIE Circle's website.
The show is at 2 p.m., while the workshop starts at 3:30 p.m. — both at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way).
Tickets are also available from the box office by calling 604-927-6555 or evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
