Illustration of five ukuleles in front of a cityscape with Big Ben, with text 'Battle of the Ukulele Bands' and a green and black color scheme for the Belfast Ukulele Festival.

BATTLE OF THE UKE BANDS.

SUNDAY 17TH AUGUST
BATTLE OF THE UKE BANDS - 10.30AM - 3.30PM @ 2 Royal Avenue

BOTUB IS BACK — and the line-up is locked in! 💥🎸✨

Registration is now closed, and we’ve got 10 cracking bands ready to battle it out for glory, honour and the coveted BOTUB trophy.

This high-energy showdown is now in its second year and has fast become one of the festival’s most anticipated events — expect stage presence, big laughs, serious skills and a whole lotta uke love.

Come along, cheer them on, and see who’ll be crowned BOTUB Champion 2025! 🎉

THE BANDS…

Illustration of a ukulele with the words 'The Ukulele Les' above it, decorated with leaves and floral patterns in green and beige tones.

THE UKE-LASSIES

THE UKE-LASSIES - winners of BOTUB 2024 were judged to given the finest performance in Battle Of the Uke Bands 2024 by our lovely guest judges The Lava Birds!
The Uke-Lassies, a dynamic all-female ukulele quintet from Belfast. Usually performing together with their colleagues in the Belfast Ukulele Jam, this is their first outing as a group. They are inspired by a diverse tapestry of Irish and Scottish musical artists and love a high energy performance!

A group of people playing musical instruments outdoors on a cloudy day, standing on a concrete surface near a railing with water and boats in the background.

BANGOR UKES

Bangor Ukes are a group of ukulele players who meet in Fealty's in Bangor. We are together over 8 years and regularly do performances and gigs for the long suffering people of North Down and ARDS!!

Collage of five photos of groups of people playing ukuleles and guitars, wearing red shirts and festive accessories, in various settings, during both casual and holiday-themed events.

THE CRUKES

The Crukes Uke Band formed from a bunch of friendly people who met at the Corner Inn in Crossgar, strumming a bunch of songs to annoy the regulars with. After quite a few years of practice you'd think we'd be better but we are very much in it for the craic, the joy of belting out a few tunes and not for the inevitable fame and fortune.😊

Five adults standing inside a restaurant, holding miniature guitars, smiling for the camera. The woman on the far left wears a black T-shirt with 'Southside Strummers' and a logo, and a black cap. The second person from the left is a man in a yellow and blue striped polo shirt. The man in the center has glasses, a beard, and is wearing a black striped shirt. The fourth person is a man in a red T-shirt with glasses, holding a guitar. The woman on the far right has short gray hair, wears an orange top, and holds a flyer for the Southside Strummers.

SOUTHSIDE STRUMMERS

Started in early 2021, the Southside Strummers are an eclectic group of players from Glasgow South and way beyond.

We're a good bunch of folks representing all of the generations, and bringing with them a super fun range of songs that keep us on our toes each week!

Each Tuesday, and led by Ukulele Saz, we meet in Shawlands Glasgow, and have a great time singing our songs, learning new tunes and making friends!

Logo of The Ukulele Sisters featuring a colorful watercolor ukulele and stylized text.

THE UKULELE SISTERS

Last August, a group of women, some solo and some with friends, joined a Ukulele class by Training For Women Network (TWN). They quickly bonded over music, forming friendships regardless of age or skill level. Whether they've been playing for a year or just a few weeks, they all enjoy playing and singing together. The group, known as the Ukulele Sisters, grows in confidence and supports each other with camaraderie and emotional support. Their weekly gatherings are filled with laughter, music, and soul-soothing fun.

A woman holding a ukulele in a pub called The Deer's Head, Belfast Ukulele Jam event poster in background.

BELFAST UKULELE JAM

We're a friendly and informal group that meets every Wednesday at 7pm at the Deer’s Head in Belfast for a ukulele jam session. Everyone's welcome, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned player. Feel free to come by for a drink and enjoy the music, too. 😊

Besides our weekly jams, we also play at nursing homes, charity events, and community gatherings. We've even appeared at festivals like Sunflowerfest, St. Patrick's Day, Belfast Culture Weekend, Fiddlers Green, and various ukulele festivals.

A group of fifteen musicians in blue jackets and shirts posing with guitars and instruments in an outdoor setting, with a sign on an easel displaying a cartoon frog with a crown playing guitar, and a building with blue window frames in the background.

R.H.U.B.A.R.B. UKES

Formed in early 2024, R.H.U.B.A.R.B (Royal Hillsborough Ukulele Band And Regal Balladeers) are a group of ukulele enthusiasts who meet every Thursday evening at the Hillside Bar in Hillsborough. Our aim is to continuously push our musical boundaries across all genres of music to create a unique sound whilst having fun and craic with our friends. We perform across the country at corporate, community and private engagements to raise money for local charitable causes.

A group of people with musical instruments in front of a building, with a logo and text overlay reading "No Strings Attached, Ukulele Collective, NSA."

NO STRINGS ATTACHED

No Strings Attached Ukulele Collective is a vibrant community of ukulele players—both groups and individuals—who come together to perform from across Ireland as one collective. United by a shared love for music, performing and having craic, we use our performances not just to entertain, but to make a difference. Through our gigs, we raise money for charity, turning our passion for the ukulele into a force for good. We believe in the power of music to bring people together and support those in need.

Group of performers on stage, some holding guitars, singing into microphones, with an audience watching.

BALLYMENA UKULELE GROUP

We're a community of mixed skill-level ukulele enthusiasts who enjoy playing, singing, and having a bit of craic together.
The BUGs are a group of uke players who come together to share our love of music and the ukulele. Our group is open to all ages and skill levels and we welcome anyone who is interested in learning how to play, or who just wants to come along and join in...even if you've never touched a ukulele before.

A stylized black and white drawing of a hand holding a block of cheese with holes, with a wheel of cheese and a small castle silhouette in the background, and the text 'Uké LeCalés' in the bottom left corner.

THE UKE LECALES

The Uke Lecales are a Downpatrick based Ukulele Band. We meet in Denvirs Hotel on a Wednesday night from 7-9 to sing and strum great tunes. We love new members - come and join us and learn to play the Uke immersively. All you need is a Uke - there are a few spare Ukes available if you just want to give it a try.