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Welcome to the 'Press' part of our website. Here you can find some reviews, links to articles about us, that sort of thing.
If you're from the media or you're a festival or tour booker interested in knowing more about us, we'd love you to contact us for a copy of our Electronic Press Kit. It's like our personal handshake - who we are, what we do... essential background viewing (and reading) if you are writing a story about us.
Please do not be tempted to use images, photos or logos from this website (we are using bold, so we must really mean it!), as they are copyright of the photographer and the WIUO, and not high enough resolution for print. Anyone caught taking images from this website and using them without permission will be sent to the headmaster's office.
Instead, get in touch with Management directly to request high resolution photos, our press kit, or any other media-type enquiries.
"If I had to pick one group to represent where the ukulele scene is right now, I’d go with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra: a big bunch of sexy people singing songs with huge grins on their faces." - Al, www.ukulelehunt.com
“Resistance is futile” – Sunday Star-Times
“Expect pop hits reworked into thrilling ukulele singalongs with
comedic banter aplenty.” - New Zealand Herald
"Another tremendous effort from the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra." - Jim Mora, Radio NZ National, after he played our EPs for about an hour...
"Spunky and hard-working" - Dominion Post (Yep, laugh it up..!)
"Eclectic genius" - Kia Ora Magazine review of the Little Bit Wonderful EP
RIP IT UP - Review of The Dreaming EP * * * * *(yup, that's five stars, folks)
"In the past week, people keep doing a double take and asking me if I've done something different with my hair or lost some weight. Perplexed, I keep saying nothing has changed but then realise - all week long I've been listening to the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra's Dreaming EP. The irresistible chirpy little five-song CD just makes you smile like crazy. The tropical cheer of the Orchestra's take on unlikely ukulele tunes like Prince's 'I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man' and the Coral's 'Dreaming of You' is like having a vitamin injection or spending a week off work in the sun. Everything sounds sunny and sweet when played on the ukulele, as The Dreaming EP shows with its cover of 'Africa', a 60th anniversary salute to the Kiwi classic wartime melody 'Blue Smoke', and a rousing rendition of Dean Martin's 'That's Amore'. Recorded at Neil Finn's Auckland Roundhead studios, the band's 12 members include Age Pryor and Bret McKenzie. The band's live act is an unmissable funfest - they break out covers of Outkast's 'Hey Ya', Kings' of Leon's 'The Bucket' or even a little Nirvana - ukulele style. Essential". - Jazial Crossley
Under The Radar review of Leigh Sawmill show
"The WIUO left you feeling like everything was gonna be just fine. My money’s down on the fact that the WUkes could brighten even the darkest establishment. Actively encouraging the audience to join in, and bridging the songs with affectionate banter that lets the audience feel they’re part of the group, the WUkes make this the best gig in ages. Fun, as any good live act should be, but these guys go one step further into fully unadulterated joy. Magic."
Kia Ora Air NZ magazine Dreaming EP Review
"Only the WIUO could take on the miscellaneous selection of tunes to be found on their third album, and only they - spinning their magic of artistry, comedy and harmony - could make it work.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you may even find yourself making merry to the likes of 'Africa' (as Toto should have done it) and a version of 'That's Amore' Dean Martin would embrace."
TV3 Review of our gig at the Juice Bar, Windor Castle, Auckland 2009
"'Jolene', 'Push It' by Salt n Pepa (with some mean krumping), Sweet Child Of Mine' and '80s classics Africa by Toto and 'It's a Heartache' by Bonnie Tyler make up the sort of set that can only leave you smiling. It is happy, buzzy music that you can sing and laugh along to ' it is one of the best gigs I've seen this year for just that reason. The orchestra finish things off with a rendition of Outkast's 'Hey Ya' that gets the audience into as much of a dance as you could expect out of Parnell on a Saturday night. This was entertainment of the highest order."
Read the full review on TV3
TVNZ Review our 2009 Spring Tour show at the Montecristo Room, Toto, Auckland
"Every moment of the 2 and a half hour set demonstrated why the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra deserve to be stars and are already well on their way, heading towards national treasure status.
They're consummate, good-natured entertainers, who promote music as fun and spread their infectious vibe wherever they go. Each gig sees them do everything in their power to make the audience part of the experience, encouraging all of us to sing along and join in."
Read the full review on TVNZ
A Magical evening with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra
Michael Fowler Auditorium, July 2009
Reviewed on Hidden Track:
"The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra performed to a sold-out hometown crowd in one of the country’s most acoustically-pleasing auditoriums, The Michael Fowler Centre, and they blew the roof off the place. Yes, this 12 member, 11-ukulele-ensemble actually blew the roof off the mutha..
... they broke into a rousing rendition (yes, ukuleles can apparently be rousing) of the Cream classic Sunshine of Your Love halfway through their first set.
It was at this point I realized that not only are these people snazzy dressers, but they’ve got pretty good taste in cover songs. It was also at this point that I began to hear the twelve wonderful vocalists shine through the wall of ukes that had dominated my senses for the first few tunes. This is a group that can harmonize, and they do it well. No small feat for such a large ensemble.
The band played two 45 minute sets. Highlights included a wonderful original tune called Walk in the Park (with notable whistling solo by Kiwi television star Amanda Billing), a heart-wrenching rendition of Roly Salley’s Killing the Blues and a rippin’ set-ending version of Electric Light Orchestra’s Livin’ Thing. Other highlights - Bret McKenzie surprises the audience and joins the band on stage on the gong during Toto sing-along Africa -in a gorilla suit, and my first ever indoor Mexican Wave (Yes, that’s what they call the stadium ‘wave’ down here. I’m not sure what’s so Mexican about it, but I’m pretty sure if I were Mexican, I’d be somehow offended)..."
Read the full review here at Glide Magazine's Hidden Track
A Magical evening with the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra
Michael Fowler Auditorium, July 2009
Reviewed on Texture:
"With a set list that captured Bonnie Tyler's Heartbreak to Dean Martin's Amore to The Kings of Leon's Bucket and Kenny Roger's Ruby Don't take your Love to Town, and killer banter to boot, the show was well received by the dancing-Mexican-wave-hollering audience. All eleven members harmonised beautifully and strummed their little hearts-out. Of note was Age Pryor's impressive uke-solos, Amanda Billing's whistle-accompaniment and Gemma Gracewood's red dress' BUT' the real surprise of the night occurred during a rendition of Toto's Africa, as a gorilla-suited-man, charged with gonging-the-gong, pulled off his mask to reveal the twelfth member of the Ukulele Orchestra' no other than Bret McKenzie' who launched into the Wannadies comic tune Short People. Woah! So with a complete orchestra now on stage, the twelve-strong line up continued their highly entertaining set, but like all good things it had to come to an end and what better way to end than with Andre 3000's Hey Ya! What a fantastic night!"
Read the full review here on Texture
Rip It Up review of the WIUO's Lilyworld performance, Big Day Out 2009
"Semi-circled in stance the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra were the most anticipated act of the day and dished up a quirky, kooky and proudly Kiwi performance... creating fresh takes on a broad range of songs from artists including Talking Heads and the Kings of Leon. The population of the Lilyworld swelled to capacity and the masses gathering at the entrance were evidence enough that the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra had for 45 mins made the Lilyworld the undisputed place to be.
Best Song: Crowded House 'Weather With You', perfect choice for a packed house on a sunny day."
Soulshine review of Womad 2008
“A crowd favourite; the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra provided harmonious and hilarious renditions of some classics, rock hits and folk tunes. A huge workshop success, with hundreds of people, almost half wielding ukuleles, turning out to learn from the masters.”
"For me, a joke gone too far. (I'd drop a tenner to the usher for a quick nod to where the nearest exit is.)" - Simon Sweetman.
A Little Bit Wonderful EP - Reviewed in Rip It Up by Fleur Jack
"A delightful EP filled with classic renditions of old favourites, new pop hits and even a taste of the group's own original stylings. The covers are all tastefully done and even if you didn't think you'd be into a uke band, it is near impossible to not dance to. You could try but you'd certainly fail. Theis group has breathed new life into the classics - 'Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town', 'The Israelites' and you'll have a renewed love for the 70s Christmas hit 'Feliz Navidad' after you've given this EP a few spins. However the best cover on here is Goodshirt's 'Sophie', which is sung by the lush-toned Age Pryor. The big stand out track is the EP's only original, 'Walk In The Park', a sensational tune written by Andy Morley-Hall. Here's hoping there will be a follow-up work released soon with more original tracks featured, as the only one on here leaves an impeccable new taste in your mouth you'll be desperate to fill up on."
Nelson Mail Review of Neudorf's 2010 Summer Concert
"Neudorf co-owner Judy Finn said she was pleased to have welcomed the "magnificent" musicians back to the vineyard.
"There was a lot of humour. That's what the ukes do, it feels like a big party rather than a concert. It's just so happy."
They were "incredible musicians," she said. "How they can manage to make a ukulele sound acceptable I don't know. It shows how good they are that they can make a ukulele sound like that."
Read the full review here onStuff
The Indie Music NZ Album Chart that we topped (at the same time as our old EP was sitting at number 8...):
http://www.muzic.net.nz/charts/c50438/imnz-independent-album-chart-0-01-january-2009.html
The TV3 story on our chart topping success:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Ukulele-taking-New-Zealand-by-storm/tabid/418/articleID/89293/cat/55/Default.aspx
"I send you notice that you've a growing fan base in Cairo. I have been a HUGE fan since hearing your music last Spring. Lynsey has the new CD and she will share it with me once she stops dancing around her flat. It may take a few days. Much love and again great thanks" - Wayne, Cairo
"We went to the concert in hastings last night and we are still in a euphoric state. It was a spectacle. Life changing. We purchased all three cds and they have been thrashed already even Henrietta our two year old daughter adores these tunes."
- Jane & Brent, Hastings
Dear Wellington uke orchestra.
HELP!!!!!! Currently it is around 0 degrees in Wisconsin, where i live. DID YOU HEAR ME?!?! 0 FREAKIN DEGREES!!!!! I play my uke constantly to try and "warm" my self up. PLEASE HELP BY COMING TO AMERICA. do a tour!!!! AHH IT WOULD BE AMAZING!! i want to see you guys soooo badly but i'm stuck here in america and i'm not sure how much i can handle
Please read and get back to me
please keep making incredible music!!!
Thanks
Jacob
"Choisome! What an albatastic evening! Particularly enjoyed 'Counting the Beat' and 'Heartache' but it was all brillig." - Maries, Dunedin (perhaps you had to be there to 'get' this!)
"The evening was magic for me, you all seemed so personable that I felt like we were old buddies. I expected music and you ended up making me homesick for the country I live in. Very Kiwiarna in your approach and style. Your combined banter and encouragement to be part of the experience made the whole evening so fun & memorable." - Tara, Christchurch
WARNING ! WE WENT TO THE WELLINGTON UKE ORCHESTRA THE OTHER NIGHT. AWESOME AND THEY WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN. I FELT INSPIRED MUSICALLY, STRANGELY ENOUGH. THE VIBE WAS HAPPY, HAPPY, AND I LEFT WONDERING IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PLAY THE UKE & BE GLUM. NZ COULD SAVE A FORTUNE ON PROZAC" - Paddy, Welligton
"You guys have inspired both my wife and I when we first saw you at the Michael Fowler Centre. We did not know who your guys were but thought we would take a chance.... I remember saying "Hey, if this ukulele group is not any good we can bugger off at intermission." We live in Masterton and were having a mini holiday weekend in Wellington.
So we sat waiting for the "ukulele group of unknown quality and talent". Then I think it was Carmel who came on stage dancing wildly, and Dan with the Fez, and I thought "Ohhhh man, what have we here? This is a group I think I am going to like!"
Well we were BLOWN AWAY within the first seconds of the first song. You guys are so wonderful. Beautiful harmony. Uku's amazing. Comedians! Vibrant. ALIVE!
I will never forget how we, the audience, went WILD during your peformance - what an incredible evening - so much fun, so much talent up on stage!! You guys absolutely ROCK!!" - Steve, Masterton
"We have been fans since our trip to NZ. We saw The Heartache CD in Cuba St and bought 3 copies after hearing one track. But you call yourselves the Wellington INTERNATIONAL Ukulele Orchestra. Come on...prove it... tour Australia, not just NZ. No bugger it, just tour Melbourne, let the other Aussies die of jealousy. We like you so much, before long we'll be pretending you're Australians, like John Clarke... Sam Neill... Phar Lap... Split Enz... and all those other great people we're proud to call Australian! And if that's not incentive... we have some great op shops here." - Guy, Melbourne
"My sister borrowed my recently borrowed my ipod. She hated most of the songs i had on there. what can i say? i have eclectic tastes. ;) Her comment to me on returning it... "i LOVED the ukulele orchestra. i want them to be the band at my wedding." And now, i'm going to need more copies of your cds as she's stolen them all from me."
- Monica
"When you first see the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra actually *in the flesh*: live, direct, and unplugged (apart from the microphones), it’s a wonderful feeling… A staggeringly proficient musical confusion that makes sense.” - Greg, Auckland
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