SOME of the world's biggest rockers are secret "ukers" - and unbeknown to many, so are some of the unlikeliest of pop stars.

Sales of the four-string mini-guitar are said to be at an all-time high, and while the likes of Elvis, John Lennon, and even Taylor Swift have dabbled, there is one band that has arguably done more for the instrument's image than any of them.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain have been touring the world for more than three decades, selling out both the Carnegie Hall, in New York, and London's Royal Albert Hall twice in the process.

"Some people have said that it's because of us and the fact we've been plugging away at it for 30-odd years that other people have started picking up the ukulele," says the orchestra's founder and director, George Hinchcliffe.

"I don't know if they're crediting us or blaming us for it, but it's nice that a lot of people have latched onto ukulele music in recent years."

While the ukulele was seen as a "comedy" instrument when George Formby was one of the country's best-known variety performers, there is nothing novelty about this internationally-acclaimed live show.

Their music has been used in films, plays, and commercials, while film clips of the Orchestra’s live concerts and TV appearances on websites such as YouTube have been watched millions of times. Collaborators have also included Madness, The Kaiser Chiefs and The Ministry Of Sound.

Equally adept at writing their own memorable tunes as they are putting their own unique spin on history's most famous songs, the eight-strong orchestra are still packing out venues across the globe.

Their appearance in Ulverston on Thursday June 29 is a high-profile booking for the Coronation Hall, with the band's stock having risen even further since their previous appearance in the town five years ago.

George continues: "It will be a completely different set to what we played last time we were in Ulverston, and there are some brand-new songs in there too.

"A lot of people think we only do cover versions, but there are originals in the live show too.

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"Last year we put out four CDs, and the last one was a double album - we did two versions of each song, one with a full set of instruments, and the other with just ukuleles, so it was as if we were recording a covers album of our own songs.

"People seem to request The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, by Ennio Morricone, a lot, and Wuthering Heights, so they are usually included, and there are also things like our version of Valerie, by Amy Winehouse, which is also really popular.

"We've probably done every type of music over the years except rap - we've had a go, but it doesn't really feel right. There is also a really interesting song by a Trinidadian group that we like to play, and that people seem to enjoy, but we never want to start singing in a false accent or anything like that, because it becomes a cheap joke and a spoof.


"The show has to be entertaining and light-hearted, but we're always serious about the music."

There are still four original members who were with the orchestra when they started out 32 years ago, while the eight main members have been a stable line-up since 1990.

A full-time job for them all, they show no signs of slowing down, with US tours so far booked in until 2020.

Later in the year they have a show at the famous Jazz Café in Camden, where they will joined by some incredibly well-known celebrities for a special concert to raise money to combat hepatitis C - one of their biggest UK shows in recent years.

And despite their impressive bookings all over the globe, George is still excited about the orchestra's return to Ulverston next week.

He says: "We've been there several times over the years, but it has been about five years since we were last there.

"We always try and do a bit of research for the show, and we found out that Bill Haley's mother was from Ulverston. Even though she was born in 1895, and not many people might know about her, we always like to do an old rock song, so we might do something like that for the Ulverston show. It's nice to give each show a bit of an original flavour.

"We had such a good time when we last played in Ulverston, and it's a fantastic venue, so I'm really looking forward to it."

Tickets for the Ulverston show on Thursday June 29 are available from the Coronation Hall box office.