Listen to U. Utah Phillips wishing the Bums well on our last trip to the Honolulu International Ukulele Festival:

    Cool Hand Uke’s Strum Bums Rescue and Relief Band of Grass Valley California formed at the Nevada County Senior Center at the Fairgrounds when New York’s Twin Towers were still standing. It began as a ukulele class for seniors, but soon evolved into a performing group, playing at least once a week in retirement homes, convalescent and assisted nursing facilities, schools, benefits, fairs and festivals. They received a standing ovation at the New York Ukulele Festival in 2007 and have performed twice at the Honolulu International Ukulele Festival. In the Bums’ first appearance in Honolulu they were joined by James Hill of Canada, Fred Fallin and Neil Murphy of Chicago, and—at the last moment—a father and daughter duo from Japan joined them with guitar and bass—a truly international group, the Bums! Two years later Moses Kamai of the Northern Virginia Ukulele Society was a guest performer with us. 

    For nearly 20 years the Bums met weekly for class and rehearsal but recently opted to continue their learning experience at their civic-minded gigs.

    Newcomers and players of all levels are always welcome to join when they can and feel like it. Click the link below to gather songs from their playlist. Send an email to Dan Scanlan to get on the email list of gig announcements—and just show up when you can and feel like it..

The Strum Bums have RETIRED due to Covid.

Click here to watch 18 members of the Strum Bums 

perform at the New York Ukulele Festival.