2013 Edinburgh Fringe

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If there were a Ukulele Orchestra Olympics, NZ's team would be suspected of steroid abuse, with their high-octane solos, outrageous outfits, batty banter and unstoppable musical mischief. Joining forces seven years ago, these freaks of the four-string have become a cult favourite, causing a mad scramble for tickets wherever they go and sending audiences into a euphoric state with their spectacular, unmissable funfest.

Delighting crowds of all ages, the orchestra's signature sound features eleven ukuleles, a double bass and a choir of gorgeous voices performing harmonious and hilarious renditions of modern and traditional tunes. Their comedic wit is famously spontaneous, and when they burst into song, it could go either way - the sweet sounds can silence a room in a nanosecond, or bring a crowd of thousands to their feet.

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra grew rapidly from their early beginnings in tiny Deluxe Café when Wellington musician Age Pryor cooked up the scheme with his friend Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords); within a few months the band had become a highly entertaining orchestra of twelve of the city's more beguiling personalities. Their legendary live shows feature marvellous musicianship, stunning dress sense, sparkling harmonies and delightfully budget special effects as they lovingly reinterpret hit songs from across the musical generations. The band's many festival appearances have included Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Womad and the NZ International Comedy Festival (where they won Best Local Act). They have also headlined The Melbourne Ukulele Festival and The NZ Ukulele Festival.

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra's own tours of New Zealand and Australia have been sell-outs and their CDs regularly appear in the NZ Top 40. They have collaborated with many of the greats of New Zealand's music scene and worked on soundtracks for ad campaigns, television documentaries, sitcoms and feature films.