A Quick Chat with Ukulele Death Squad

Your live shows are known for their intense energy and theatrical flair. What can fans expect from your upcoming performance at Lion Arts Factory in Adelaide on October 19th?

We’re really looking forward to this show and have some special guests lined up. This will be the first time we’ve played Adelaide in over a year and the first time with our expanded lineup (a few people have switched instruments). It’s very exciting to be able to give fans a fresh take on all our classics and a couple of newbies. It’s almost like show ‘n’ tell with mum and dad - we hope to make Adelaide proud! 

In terms of what to expect? Well, to be honest, our shows have these moments of musical and theatrical chaos - half the time we don’t quite know what will happen. We can get pretty carried away with antics. It really depends on how we’re vibing with the audience.  But chaotic, joyous energy is normally what comes out of our shows. We do sometimes have softer moments too, especially when we go for our slower ballads or acapella. There are some stunning vocals in the band that will seriously melt your heart. 

 You’ve toured extensively across Australia and Europe, playing everywhere from intimate venues to major festivals. How do those festival experiences compare to shows like this homecoming one?

We won’t lie, the European festivals felt pretty epic. As a niche folk band, we felt like total (ukulele) rock stars being placed on the top bill at some big festivals. We fell in love with the Rudolstadt festival in Germany this year, one of the country’s largest folk, roots and world music festivals. The venues were exquisite, and they used the whole town for the festival, including the botanical gardens, alleyways, town squares, alehouses, you name it. It was definitely a highlight getting to play to a huge 4000+ crowd at the foot of a castle. 

We also love a cosy backyard jam. Oh, and Ireland - we haven’t been there since 2018 - but playing some of those Irish pubs is just magical. The Irish know how to let loose one minute and then shut up and listen the next. It’s every musician’s dream. 

So how do they compare to the homecoming ones? Well, it took us a while to get used to playing on bigger stages. As an 8-piece, we are used to being jammed in so tightly on smaller stages. When you are on these smaller stages, it’s so easy to get amped up when you are packed in so tightly. We had to learn how to stomp around on a bigger stage. 

It does sound pretty cliche, but it’s pretty nice playing intimate shows as they create a “pressure cooker” where we can connect with the audience, and our antics have the space to get wild! Ultimately, we make music to connect with people, our fans and other musicians both abroad and at home. 

 Adelaide has always been a core part of Ukulele Death Squad’s journey. How does it feel to return to your hometown for this special show, and what does Adelaide mean to the band?

Adelaide is special because it is where we were nurtured as fledgling artists, and whilst we’ve since spread our wings, we love a good old ’peek-a-boo’ back in the nest. (For those reading for the first time, as of 2024, we’re now based across Melbourne and Sydney, but it all kicked off in Radelaide).  

We’re excited to come back to Adelaide and reconnect with people who have supported us wholeheartedly from the very start, even though Covid, line-up evolution and controversial song choices - every chapter of mayhem, and they haven’t put the book down yet? You can’t imagine how grateful we are. 

Plus how exciting to showcase our music to fresh Adelaidians who may not have seen our show before. 

On a more personal note, it’ll be nice showing friends and family that even though we’ve migrated east, we haven’t lost our small-but-mighty Adelaide spirit! 

You’ve had the chance to perform at huge festivals like WOMADelaide and WOMAD UK. What’s one standout memory from those festivals that has stuck with you?

WOMAD UK and WOMADelaide are festivals that the band was super excited about playing. Being long-time punters and volunteers at WOMADelaide, it was a great privilege to play there in 2019, and playing at WOMAD UK last year felt like a dream come true. It was certainly the show we were looking forward to most on the tour, but when we sound checked, there was barely anyone around, and we consoled ourselves that it was an honour just to be here as we chilled backstage. When we returned to the stage, our jaws dropped - unbeknownst to us, a 2000-strong crowd had gathered to see us - our chosen stage could barely fit the crowd.  It was the biggest crowd we had played to at that point. It turned out that we were among the Top 5 most anticipated bands out of about 150, according to the WOMAD App. Despite the mammoth nerves, the show went off without a hitch and we left the crowd grinning and ‘whooping’ under the blazing July sun. 

We had opposite weather at Rudolstadt Festival this year when we were evacuated off stage during soundcheck due to a severe storm warning and were shepherded into the town hall with all the punters and other bands. We were so disappointed that our biggest show was likely cancelled, that we put on an impromptu acoustic performance for everybody taking shelter in the hallway and stairwell. Half an hour later, our set was ‘uncancelled’ and we were back on stage, rocking out in front of 4000+ people!

 ‘Baby Don’t Fk With Me’ has a raw, fiery attitude. How do you bring that same energy from the recording studio to the stage during your live performances?

To be honest, the energy in the recording studio barely captures the raw energy of the live version, so you’re in for something even bigger and better - we had to hold back the chaos a little to capture the groove of the song, but when we play it live, we play it with all guns blazing. We recorded that song over a few wines in the home studio, so things were getting raucous, but when we’re feeding off the crowd, the energy is palpable. There have been many wild moments with our set and that song, in particular Ali-B’s epic rap verse at the end. Ukulele Death Squad is a live band at its core, and that's where you will get the true U.D.S. experience in all its chaotic glory.

 For fans attending your October 19th show, how would you describe the energy and vibe of a Ukulele Death Squad performance in just a few words?

Joyful, chaotic, laugh-out loud theatrical fun. It's a very inclusive environment where everyone has something to enjoy, from the high energy raps and saxophone solos to the sweet 3 part harmonies and groovy percussion. Because we play a range of genres and share lead vocals as though we’re having a family talent show, there’s something for everyone! There is lots of playful banter on stage - at the end of the day we’re a bunch of friends who are very privileged to be touring the world and sharing our music with all the wonderful people we meet.