Press

Ukelele boom

ITV Daybreak - 1 June 2011

Lorraine Bow joined Dan Lobb, Christine Bleakley and Steve Hargrave on ITV to talk about the big news that ukuleles have outsold electric guitars in the UK.  

Ed Miliband forgets the words to 'You are my sunshine'

BBC News

In a beautiful piece of unintentional comedy, Ed Milband forgets the words to a traditional and well known song whilst visiting the children that Lorraine taught to play ukulele.

                     BBC Radio 2 Drive Time with Simon Mayo/Rebecca Pike - interview (This is an audio file, click 'read more' at the bottom to play it)

         BBC World Service - Europe Today (This is an audio file, click 'read more' at the bottom to play it)

Ukuleles help City workers rediscover their pluck

The Guardian - 18 October 2010

"It is amazingly popular with City folk nowadays. At the end of each class I give in the City, I have at least two people who make enquiries about where they can buy a ukulele and whether I give lessons.

"In a high-pressure world, like the City, the uke allows them to do something almost innocent and childlike. It doesn't have the weight of classical music expectation on it like other instruments. It's just a sweet and happy instrument"

A Working Life: Ukulele Teacher

The Guardian - 30 July 2010

"How do her lessons work as a team builder?
"You have to listen to each other and work together to make music. As the ukulele is much easier than many instruments to play, it means you can make music in an hour.
The ukulele is a great leveller; I'd love to see George Osborne and his team at the Treasury giving it some welly to Teenage Kicks."

Upcoming BBC documentary about George Formby

South London Press - 29 June 2010

Frank Skinner and Lorraine Bow with the Teachers and children from Childeric Primary School. The children play Little Ukulele and the Lion Sleeps Tonight in the show.

The rise in popularity of the ukulele in UK schools

More4 News (Television Report) - 3 July 2009

Lorraine with one of her bands, KaraUke, in a feature about rise of the Ukulele as a child's first instrument due to it's more forgiving tone, and the ability to sing along when the ukulele is played. It is also fantastic for adults who have never previously played any music - very easy to learn.