Ladies night
Ukulele lovers take center stage at Strathmore
Victoria Vox started her musical journey on guitar. Then, after covering Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Hawaiian-style medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World," a friend gave her a ukulele. That was it.
"It's kind of a like a cheap, little innocent gift," she says. "I immediately just took to it and started writing songs. It slowly crept into the set with just one or two songs. It was the thing for me that clicked with people."
"It's a fun, free event for the community," she says. "Everyone's out sitting on their blankets and having picnics listening to ukulele music, which is one of the happiest kinds of music out there."
Vox says her career has been a slow, steady rise. At just 31, she has been a fixture on the Washington-Baltimore music scene for more than a decade. Her commitment has built a loyal fan base, so loyal that they raised $21,000 for her to produce the album, "Exact Change," which came out in May.
Her reputation has grown beyond her dedicated followers. Last year, she became a Strathmore Artist in Residence, an opportunity that allowed the Baltimore native to reach a broader audience through concerts and workshops.
"It's a really great networking opportunity in the industry," she says.
Although the two met in church as children in Chevy Chase, D.C., they didn't form the Sweater Set until two years ago. In that short time, they have put together both a Wammie (Washington Area Music Association) award-nominated studio album and a live CD that was recorded at an Institute of Musical Traditions concert in March. Curtin and Andary also host "Sideshow," a monthly combination of music and circus acts at Solly's U St. Tavern in the District.
"We've performed with several burlesque groups including Gilded Lily in Baltimore," says Andary. "We fit in with a lot of these performers because we care about presenting a really good show."
Their fine musicianship has earned them respect within the Washington area music community, but fans have latched onto their humorous attitude toward relationships. On stage, Andary and Curtin play the kazoo and glockenspiel. These instruments are sometimes used to lighten the mood of more serious songs.
"I think the humor comes in naturally where you'd have it in your life," Curtin explains. "But maybe Maureen and I have specifically sharp, dry sense of humors, and that comes through in our songs."
Hailing from Maui, the Hula Honeys are a nice complement to The Sweater Set. They also consist of two harmonizing women. As the duo's name suggests, Ginger Johnson and Robyn Kneubuhl specialize in Hawaiian music. However, Johnson is quick to point out that they don't play traditional music. That would require singing in the Hawaiian language. The Honeys play Hapa haole, a romanticized style of Hawaiian music sung in English inspired by the Tin Pan Alley pop of the 1920s.
"It takes you to another time," Johnson remarks. "It's painting a really attractive portrait of a period in time. This is the stuff we grew up listening to. This is what we heard when we were little girls."
They started performing together about 10 years ago. When they're not writing songs, Johnson and Kneubuhl host an eclectic radio show in Maui.
"I try to keep the tempo up," notes Johnson. "It's all over the map. It's a new station that's letting us get away with murder five days a week. We're having a lot of fun, but I try to put things on that will appeal to a wide base."
Although they don't leave the Islands often, they make the most of their time in the continental U.S. Their 30-minute set is the longest of any of the acts performing at Strathmore. Before Uke Fest, the duo is planning to perform at another festival in Northern California.
"We're going to spend a little time in San Francisco doing house concerts. It's just a big adventure for us," Johnson says.
The event is called "Uke Fest," but next Wednesday will include more than just sweetly-strummed melodies. In addition to the music, those who attend the outdoor concert can expect pre-show entertainment from clowning masters Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell, as well as comic juggler Michael Rosman and Exit Studio chalk artists.
And then there is Ambush Theater. Demaris Ann Howe started the Baltimore company in 2000 with a homemade bush costume made from fake leaves. As "roaming shrubbery," Ambush members blend into their surroundings and surprise passersby when they begin to move. At first, bushes sometimes showed up at events unannounced. These days, five to seven rotating members accept invitations to places like Union Square Green Market in New York and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Howe and her crew have performed at all five Strathmore outdoor concerts this summer.
"There's been a lot of new people we see every week because different shows draw different audiences, but then a lot of the same kids will come and recognize us," says Howe. "One week we had bubbles, so a little boy went up to one of the bushes and said, ‘Bubbles, please.' That's been really fun."
"Uke Fest 2010: Ladies of the Uke"
Featuring The Sweater Set, Victoria Vox, The Hula Honeys, The Riders and Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug.25
Where: the Outdoor Stage at Strathmore, Rockville Pike and Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
Cost: Admission is free. Hula dancing and ukulele workshops will follow on Aug. 26. Prices for the workshops range from $10 to $20.
Information: 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
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