2025 Funky Frets Uke Fest Artists and Workshop Presenters

The Aloha Boys

Born and raised in Hawai'i and transplanted to the Washington D.C. area to pursue careers, The Aloha Boys, Glen Hirabayashi, Isaac Jesse Waipulani Ho'opi'i and Irv Queja - met in 1996 while playing music for their children at Halau O 'Aulani, a school of Hawai'ian culture, in the Washington, D.C. area. A special and exciting bond grew musically among the Aloha Boys, who love to kanikapila or play an acoustic down-home, backyard-style Hawai'ian music, a style which includes everything from the very traditional to contemporary songs and styles. They all sing lead and backing vocals. Their voices blend in a nahenahe (soft pleasant) style. They have performed at numerous functions from backyard parties to concerts and at many venues including Carnegie Hall and on the National Mall at the openings of the World War II Memorial and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, the Barns at Wolf Trap, and in Rheims, France, Toronto, Canada, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlotte, Southern California and Hawai'i. In Hawai'i, their performances include Pakele Live, the Gabby Festival, Slack Key Guitar Festival O'ahu Style, and Slack Key Guitar Festival, Virginia Style. The music of the Aloha Boys brings them and their audience back to a lifestyle that is unique and precious to Hawai'i.

Steven Espaniola

Steven Espaniola It’s rare when an artist arrives on the scene offering a refreshing new spin on a traditional genre of music. Steven Espaniola is that artist. Raised in Aliamanu, Hawai’i and now residing in the California Bay Area, Steven is a self taught multi-instrumentalist Hawaiian artist specializing in Ki Ho'alu (Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar), ‘Ukulele, Upright Bass, and Leo Ki'e Ki'e (Traditional Hawaiian falsetto). Of Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent, his ethnicity is as diverse as his unique sound which preserves the integrity of the traditional with a flourish of the modern.

His debut recording entitled Ho’omaka, “to begin”, features a mesmerizing collection of traditional and original Hawaiian mele recorded by Na Hoku Hanohano and GRAMMY® Award winning producer Dave Tucciarone. Ho’omaka will be sure to transport the listener to the Hawaii of yesterday with soaring falsetto vocals, nahenahe slack key guitar and rhythmic ‘ukulele. Steven Espaniola’s highly anticipated and critically acclaimed debut album will carry you on a musical journey you won’t soon forget. In 2007, Steven's musical efforts earned him the recognition of "New Artist of the Year" at the Hawaii Music Awards.

Curt Sheller

With Curt's re-introduction to the ukulele after a 20 year break and taking advantage of his thirty plus years jazz guitar training and skills, he began pursuing the potential of the ukulele exploring instrumental music using the vast repertoire available from the traditional contemporary jazz repertoire and with a few originals thrown in for fun. Curt has developed an international reputation as a ukulele expert having written over 50 books for ukulele, Guitar, Bass, and Music and over 800+ lessons for the ukulele available on his LearningUkulele.com site.

As an author and private music teacher Curt created Curt Sheller Publications in 1995 and has been on the web since. Curt has over 50 years of playing experience and has been involved in private music education for the past 30 plus years. Curt is also on of the owners along with his wife Bernadette and daughter Kelly of Funky Frets Music Store and the annual Funky Frets Uke Fest.

William Ernestburg

From Laie, Oahu. Graduate of Kahuku High School; 30 years service in the U.S. Coast Guard (retired 2016), where he served in NJ, FL, NC, and DC; Member of the Hawaii State Society and the ‘Ukulele Hui’; Volunteer at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C.

William is a member of the Hawaii State Society (HSS), the HSS ‘Ukulele Hui’, and Halau O'Aulani.

Debi Velasco

Debi Velasco has over 30 years experience in teaching and performing Polynesian dances, including Hawaiian, Tahitian and Maori.

Terry Brandsma

Terry Brandsma (Terry's Aloha Shirts), first played the ukulele in 3rd grade music class when his family was stationed in Hawaii with the US Coast Guard. They moved a year later, and he didn’t play again until 2018, when an adult ukulele class was offered by a local arts center. He then helped organize the Triad Ukulele Club and now serves as its President, Songbook Editor, and Play-Along Leader. He also teaches a monthly beginner’s ukulele class at the local public library, leads the Ukulele Jam and Sing-Along at the NC Folk Festival each year, and is involved in several online ukulele groups and projects. Terry lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, and frequently travels to festivals in many nearby states.

Ukulele Gent

Ukulele Gent hosts a free, weekly online play-along, with scrolling chords and lyrics, instruction, and often an amazing guest from the ukulele world. Every Wednesday at 7PM Eastern.

Ukulele Gent will be hosting a jam or two at the festival.

Amber Rozel

Amber Rozel has been teaching musicians of all ages for over 20 years. She has been making the magic happen on ukulele for 5 years and recently received the coveted Level 3 Teachers Certificate from the JHUI program. She performs with regional orchestras, the Bay Chamber Players, her (new!) band Evergreen Road, and with anyone that wants to have fun.

Mystery Artist

Mystery Artist ???? — Who would you really like to see at the Funky Frets Uke Fest? Click on the link below to send your suggestion(s).