AS part of Bury’s Homegrown Festival of folk music the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain took to the stage at the Castle Armoury Drill Hall.

The main reason for my attendance was that my wife had got herself a Ukulele earlier this year and after a few months of practice joined our local club.

This has led to her trawling YouTube looking for songs and techniques to learn and master.

During her searches she has come across some really clever and witty ukulele based interpretations of songs old and new.

The main providers of these re-imagined tunes have been The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain who effortlessly manage to amuse and amaze with their covers of songs you never thought you would hear on a ukulele.

The band’s repertoire on the night ranged from Prince songs to covers of spaghetti western theme tunes and the band surprised with versions of songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

The atmosphere in the hall was really relaxed and good humoured with people of all ages enjoying what seemed to me as much a piece of theatre as a musical event. After spending an hour or so with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, I was a convert and since Friday every song I have heard I have wondered how it would sound in the hands of this thoroughly recommended act.