2026 Funky Frets Uke Fest – News

The 2026 Funky Frets Uke Fest Tickets are ON Sale • 2026-03-10

2206 We are going 80s for our theme.

Call Me by Blondie was the number one song of 1980. Michael Jackson had three songs on the year-end chart of 1980, including "Rock with You" at number four, "She's Out of My Life" at number 65, and "Off the Wall" at number 79.

The 2026 Funky Frets Artists

Glen Hirabayashi Isaac Ho'opi'i Irv Queja Danielle Ate The Sandwich Cynthia Lin Steven Espaniola Curt Sheller Kirk Jones Debi Velasco Terry Brandsma

Kook the Uke, ready for the 2026 Funky Frets Uke Fest

Kook, for th `80s!!!

NEWS: All the latest News and Updates are posted to the Funky Frets facebook page and via email blasts to the registered attendees.

Fest Friends: The Life-Changing Magic of Ukulele Festivals

by Jim D'Ville | From the Summer 2024 Issue of Ukulele Magazine

All In the Funky Family

Funky Frets is an aptly named music store. The quirky ukulele boutique and music shop in historic Boyertown, Pennsylvania opened in 2012, and is a quintessential example of a family run business. Curt and Bernadette Sheller, along with their daughter, Kelly Thompson, own and operate the shop and produce the annual Funky Frets Ukulele Festival. The trio developed their business and festival by treating everyone like extended family.

“We started some uke jams and special events, and every time, my mom would make baked goods and put snacks out,” says Thompson. “People would say they had never been to a uke jam where food was out. They’d say they felt treated like family. That’s where that initial feeling of welcoming comes from—you throw food in, and everyone loves it.”

But it isn’t just the offer of free food that draws ukulele players to the music store and festival. “The thing I enjoy the most about our festival is the ongoing friendships made at the event,” says Thompson. “You’ll see folks who have met at our festival creating a cappella videos together online and returning year after year. I never imagined people would come from out of state for our festival. And then to see so many new friendships made is cool!” To become part of the Funky Frets family, you can attend the ninth annual Funky Frets Festival October 3–6.

- Jim D'Ville

2020The COVID era - Virtual Funky Frets Uke Fest — Virtual Strum-Along • 2021 was cancelled

Curt Sheller

Checkout Curt's various web sites for the latest and greatest regarding Curt.

• CurtSheller.com - Curt's main site for all things Curt, The Curt Sheller Jazz Trio, and Curt Sheller Publications
• LearningUkulele.com — Over 900 lessons for ukulele, All major Ukulele Clubs and Festivals listings, instrument manufactures, builders and Luthiers, and anything and everything regarding the ukulele.