Corn fritter ukelele? How about a yetilele? Uke fans can browse to their heart's content during the Play It Strange 'Strings Attached' Ukelele Art Auction at Webb’s Auction House in Newmarket on Thursday, August 4.
Twenty-three celebrity-personalised ukeleles will go up for auction online during the night. The ukes have been artistically re-imagined by famous Kiwis such as Rhys Darby (the yetilele), The Topp Twins (Untouchable Cowgirls), Dame Alison Holst (corn fritters), and one signed by seven All Black captains.
Play It Strange general manager Debbie Little says that the celebs involved are all "great New Zealanders" who were approached by the trust to help with the fundraiser. Bidding will end on Thursday, August 18 at The Ultimate Music Quiz Night at Sacred Heart College in Glendowie.
“This auction is a little bit different from your average art auction. We’re using ukeleles as a way to express art, and this fits in with what we do at the trust. The philosophy behind Play It Strange is to express yourself through music, even if it’s not something you go on to do for life.”
On the night of the auction, guests will be entertained by the Mt Roskill Primary ukelele band, joined by former All Black and keen ukelele player Waka Nathan. The band consists of 30 students from the local primary school led by teacher Christine Dawson.
Play It Strange was established in 2003 to help give young Kiwis the opportunity to be heard through music. The trust concentrates on songwriting programmes in schools. Money from the auction will be used to continue the trust's various music programmes including Ukeleles in Schools, Band of Strangers and the songwriting competition.
“We’ve already had some success stories come through the trust. One of them is Annah Mac, who won the national schools Play It Strange songwriting competition when she was 15. She recently signed a four-album record deal with Sony Music. In saying that, it’s important to remember that the role of the trust isn’t to manage people. We give them help and opportunities where we can, but kids still have to go on and create their own futures.”
Click here to check out the Strings Attached Art Auction catalogue.