Newkulele has always (since 2012) been focused upon education. Not that stiff, exam-type-of-education. Instead we build your skills in a community focussed, curiosity-driven, accessible and fun way.

In 2026 we will broaden your musical experience beyond the ukulele, and ask you to dabble with some of Australia's best exponents of their particular community music field. Workshops are broader in scope, and culminate in a public celebration of what we have learned.

Most of our presenters have two workshops in which you can be involved, both with the same content.

The Newkulele Street Band

We are absolutely delighted to have Strat n Lyndal come all the way from Inverloch Victoria to lead us in bringing together a street band sound that will bring down the house and the streets of Carrington. What is it?

• Think Second Line New Orleans style bands
• Think learning something about groove and performance whether you are an old hand or a newbie.
• Think tuba and drums holding down the bottom end, whilst horns join to make long stabbie chords, and/or reeds twiddle the top end, vocals keep the vibe.
• All of this is lead by these experienced Victorian masters of the groove, keepers of the fun.

Do you play these instruments a bit or a lot? Horns? Reeds? Accordion? Percussion? Wailing? Strat n Lyndal's job is to successfully cobble the crew together for a great visual, performance and audio feast. Get your tickets for your street band journey here!​

Marimbas with Heather McLaughlin

Heather McLaughlin is also one of our Community Music Victoria alumni, via Taree. And Newcastle needs more Marimbas! It's such a wonderful and visceral introduction to music-making. You hit a wooden bar and it's musical! Heather has the knack of knitting together humans and marimbas into mean wooden gonging machines. There is no better way to introduce people into parts and music making together. Get your dose of Marimba learning here.​

The Power of the Beat with Benjie Williams

Benjie Williams and his Earthen Rhythms are the soul and sound of African drumming in Newcastle. Benjie is a believer - that rhythm is a fundamental component of music, culture, and community, and that the beat is the pulse that helps humans to unite and bond. Go Benjie!

​Join the workshop and get in the flow.​

Festival Strings

... will be uniting the strings of ukes, guitars, banjos, fiddles, mandolins, bass and whatever else vibrates in gut or steel. Festival Strings is bringing together all of the fabulous string teachers of Newkulele (John Wallace, Jane Jelbart, Sally Carter and Mark Jackson) to unite you into a great big arranged and gathered sound. Close to Me is a song by The Cure that is perfectly groovy and partsy, ripe for building the big band string sound for which we all hunger. Festival Strings tix here.​

Everybody Can Sing - so what's the big deal?

One of our great national sadnesses is that we are mostly taught that we can't sing, or even worse, shouldn't sing. We call bullshit on this cultural cringe. Move over Dylan because we are going to sing together in four part harmony and feel the love. Hear and feel your voice with others right here. The inimitable Jane Jelbart will lead us in learning a beautiful Ruth McCrae song, with Ruth, Mark and Jane leading the singers in each section

There's a Song in That!

With your assistance the hilarious Tuckshop Ladies lead you down their dubious path to blazing a new song, on the spot, in one hour. Get the inside knowledge on how songs are written, and on what! ​

Picks and Plucks with Sally Carter

In recent years Sally has emerged as one of Australia's top ukulele teachers, composers and music publishers. She is relished at festivals all over the country for her clear yet challenging ukulele workshops, but she is also known as a consummate performer on ukulele and violin. Tickets for Sally's one workshop are here. ​

Don't Ignore the Little Kids!

Mel Saunders is one of Newcastle's musical treasures, particularly for those under 7. Bring your kids and enjoy their learnings and fascination with Mel and her wonderful ways with ukulele, singing, creative movement and dance. Build musical memories between you and your child by getting your ticket here!​

The Big Concert at the end

The Festival Finale on Sunday (1-2pm) is the goal. It's here where participants from every workshop come together to show off what they've learned together.

It's all capped off by an all-in rendition of Bob Marley's Could you be loved? It will be amazing!

Get your tickets here!