Chris McIntosh and Alvin McGovern (McIntosh-McGovern.com) are both Free Range Ukulele Society members, and are calling this St. Patrick's Day Sunday. Owner Patrick Dailey (can you have a more Irish name?) assures all that the menu will be enhanced with green beer and corned beef. Chris and Alvin will be bringing the songs. Please bring your appetite, your voice, and a friend or two. It's certain that St. Patrick wants to be associated with a good time.

Those observing the Ides of March may wear togas.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

“The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” –United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/66/281

The International Day of Happiness was created on July 12, 2012. Also see DayOfHappiness.net. Smile and be happy.

Members Tina Eggert and Ruth Schneider will be taking part in the full show on Saturday, March 21st.

The quintet Swing Set, playing the best of the American Songbook and Western Swing, includes Free Range Ukulele Society members Kevin Crowell and Len Raminski.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

The Beatleleles, a ukulele-centric Beatles cover band, includes several Free Range Ukulele Society members.

Concerts, workshops, strums… “much of it free, and all of it fun!” Check out their March 28th email. And Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park will be taking the Featured Performer/Group Strum Stage on May 9th at 3:00 p.m. Thank you to member Ed Miller for helping to make that happen.

Lansing is about a four and a half hour drive from Chicago including the time-zone change, so you might want to stay some place there depending on your driving preferences. Some lodging options are listed on their webiste's Guest Information page.

Chris McIntosh and Alvin McGovern (McIntosh-McGovern.com) are both Free Range Ukulele Society members. They're bringing the songs. Please bring your appetite, your voice, and a friend or two.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

A Bunch of Coconuts (ABunchOfCoconuts.com) is a Chicago-based band playing a blend of Hawaiian, Tropical, and Island music. It includes Free Range Ukulele Society member Ruth Schneider.

All are welcome to come out to play and sing and support this worthwhile cause. See their Meetup website for more details.

Also see their Facebook event page. Most of the members belong to the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park Meetup.

Free! Compliments of Mainland Ukes (MainlandUkuleles.com).

The quintet Swing Set, playing the best of the American Songbook and Western Swing, includes Free Range Ukulele Society members Kevin Crowell and Len Raminski.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

“Huh?” we hear you say. Well friend, performer, and teacher Mark Lyons is giving a ukulele workshop on Sunday, June 28, at 9:30 a.m., Location #2.

All ages and experience levels are welcome. See their Meetup page for more details.

This is one of Chicago's best known and popular venues. The group includes Free Range Ukulele Society member Dan Causton.

Also see their Facebook event page. Most of the members belong to the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park Meetup.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

A Bunch of Coconuts is a Chicago-based band playing a blend of Hawaiian, Tropical, and Island music. The group includes Free Range Ukulele Society member Ruth Schneider.

Chris McIntosh & Alvin McGovern (McIntosh-McGovern.com) say it's an honor to be invited back to play at this popular and nationally known venue. Please bring your friends and your voices. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and it's best to get there early. Chris and Alvin are both members of the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park.

MuseCon (MuseCon.org) is a place to explore your creativity and learn from like-minded people in science-fiction, fantasy, media, music, art, and other subjects. Free Range Ukulele Society member Carol Thomas has been attending every year with her ukulele because of the three different jams that happen beginning at 10:30 p.m. every night.

Two performing-arts workshops on the MuseCon schedule will be led by Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park members. Since you know the instructors, you can count on preferred treatment as a teachers' pet:

The Eternal Ukulele Summit: 2015 Pluto Flyby Edition
Saturday, August 8, 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

With instructors Lisa Golladay, Bill Higgins, and Bryan Peterson, and Pete Pollack.

Improvisational Acting
Sunday, August 9, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

With instructors E. Michael “Xaphoon” Blake and Lisa Golladay

Lisa Golladay and Pete Pollack are both members of the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park.

Expect to learn a lot, eat plenty of good food, and have a ton of fun. The $175.00 registration fee includes all of the classes and concerts. The meal plan is an additional $18.00 per day, and includes free snacks and beverages throughout the day.

A Bunch of Coconuts is a Chicago-based band playing a blend of Hawaiian, Tropical, and Island music. The group includes Free Range Ukulele Society member Ruth Schneider.

`Elua is made up of Free Range Ukulele Society members Ruth Schneider and Tina Eggert.

Ages 10 and up, under 18 with an adult. $10 per person. Also see their Facebook page.

The second annual Uketoberfest! is going to be bigger and better than ever! Nestled in the beautiful fall-colored woods of Northern Michigan, Uketoberfest! is an all-day immersive ukulele experience filled with workshops, group strums, camaraderie, and faculty concert. Choose from a variety of classes and levels from Madcat Ruth, Frank Youngman, member Ben Hassenger, Patrick Malloy, and Steve Szilagyi.

The quintet Swing Set, playing the best of the American Songbook and Western Swing, includes Free Range Ukulele Society members Kevin Crowell and Len Raminski.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

It’s the sopranino version of Mighty Uke Day. Workshops, group strums, open mic, and a concert with Manitoba Hal Brolund and The Fabulous Heftones, all in one day. The complete schedule and ticket link is online. Get your tickets ASAP because this is certainly going to sell out! You can buy tickets for daytime only, concert only, or get the whole shebang at a discount.

The Two Way Street Coffee House has been presenting mostly local folk and acoustic performers to audiences in the western suburbs every Friday, except holidays, since 1970. This is a nationally known venue, and there's a reason it has survived so long. You should find that out for yourself by coming by any Friday evening whether or not you're going to this event. Member George Mattson has been a very active volunteer here for many years, and members Chris McIntosh & Alvin McGovern are featured performers every once in a while.

We're excited to tell you that Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park will be leading a Ukulele Jam at 2:00 p.m. Come one, come all… and bring a friend or two! Non-ululele-players are welcome as well to lend voices in the singing.

“Workshops, Vendors, Concerts, Jamming and More.” Details and schedule on their website.

Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park member Lisa Golladay with Mike Blake and Peter Pollack are among the players from Moebius Theatre who will transform the Eastgate Café into a London tavern, circa 1850. Watch and hear eight actors and musicians tackle 38 speaking roles, an amazing sound effects device, and at least one ukulele as they retell Charles Dickens' classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation from a bitter old miser into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by four ghosts. There is no cover charge, but they will pass the hat for the Greater Chicago Food Depository (ChicagosFoodBank.org). Your finest steampunk apparel is encouraged but not required.

Once again Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park member B. J. Anderson is organizing any and all FRUSOP members and friends who would like to provide holiday music for Santa's Trolley. Contact B.J. by e-mail on the FreeRangeUkuleleSociety.com website to get the details.

A Bunch of Coconuts is a Chicago-based band playing a blend of Hawaiian, Tropical, and Island music. The group includes Free Range Ukulele Society member Ruth Schneider.

Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park members Chris McIntosh and Alvin McGovern are honored to be invited back to be part of the Annual Christmas Show, a long-standing tradition, singing the songs and carols of the season with their audience. This year they'll be sharing the stage with Cathy Jones and Friends. Come join them with a friend or two, and immerse yourself in the music of the season.

First of two sets begins at 8:15 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Hailing from the home of the Hobbit movies, and sharing DNA with Flight of the Conchords (their co-founder was Bret “Brit” McKenzie), the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra is critically acclaimed as “New Zealand’s hottest music/comedy ensemble.” With a winning combination of charming Kiwi humor, disarmingly small instruments, and sublime musicality, expect to hear their take on Hall and Oates, Justin Timberlake and Dolly Parton alongside tunes from the South Pacific and indie music legends like David Kilgour. And check out their TouTube channel.

Tickets for the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra are $38 ($36 for seniors and students) and can be ordered online or by calling 847-895-3600. Or you could save a little money by joining the group member BJ Anderson is organizing.

Member Rudy Host is having his head shaved to raise money for the work of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Please help by sponsoring him online (www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/822607/2016) with your donation. And maybe take the afternoon to go cheer him on personally. The hair shavings begin at 2:00 p.m.

Also see their Facebook event page.

All the donations collected on our March 10th meetup will go straight to Rudy for this cause.

Owner Patrick Dailey (can you have a more Irish name?) assures all that the menu will be enhanced with something green to drink (Eastgate Café is temporarily a BYOB restaurant), and corned beef, and FRUSOP members Chris and Alvin are bringing the songs. You're invited to bring your appetite, your voice, and a friend or two. Sure it's true that St. Patrick wants to be associated with a good time.

Eastgate Cafe is a pass-the-hat venue.

The Beatleleles, a ukulele-centric Beatles cover band, includes several Free Range Ukulele Society members. See their Facebook event page for more details.

Folk duo Chris McIntosh & Alvin McGovern (McIntosh-McGovern.com), both Free Range Ukulele Society members, are one of eight artists each donating their time and talents to this fundraiser for the Woodstock Folk Festival (WoodstockFolkFestival.org), and doing material about “Journeys,” this year's theme. This annual festival has been in existence since 1986, and is always held on the third Sunday in July in the historic town square in Woodstock, Illinois. Check out their flier for more details.

Concerts, workshops, strums… “much of it free, and all of it fun!” Check out their March 2nd email. Member Ben Hassenger is the primary organizer. Several FRUSOP members have been going for multiple years.

Lansing is about a four and a half hour drive from Chicago including the time-zone change, so you might want to stay some place there depending on your driving preferences. Some lodging options are listed on their webiste's Guest Information page.

The quintet Swing Set, Swinging their way through the Great American Songbook, includes Free Range Ukulele Society members Kevin Crowell and Len Raminski.

Activities include: workshops of all levels, instructor concert, open mic, group strums, and plenty of time for informal get-togethers and jams. Member Ben Hassenger is one of the co-organizers.

Olivet is about a four hour drive from Chicago including the time-zone change. Registration options include lodging.

Music, dance, and culture from across America and around the world. On Friday, August 12, at 6:15 p.m., the Lansing Area Ukulele Group (L.A.U.G.H.) will be hosting a Strum and Sing. More details on their Facebook events page.

East Lansing is approximately a five and a half hour drive from Chicago including the time-zone change.

A week of playing ukulele, hanging with kindred spirits, taking classes, and sightseeing—there's even activities for non-playing companions.

Their website answers the most common questions, and you can contact them through their website's email form for anything else you need to know. Register online as soon as you can for the best rates.

The quintet Swing Set, playing the best of the American Songbook and Western Swing, includes Free Range Ukulele Society members Kevin Crowell and Len Raminski.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park members Chris McIntosh and Alvin McGovern are honored to be invited back to be part of the Annual Christmas Show, a long-standing tradition, singing the songs and carols of the season with their audience. This year they'll be sharing the stage with Cathy Jones and Friends. Come join them with a friend or two, and immerse yourself in the music of the season.

First of two sets begins at 8:15 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

The quintet Swing Set, playing the best of the American Songbook and Western Swing, includes Free Range Ukulele Society members Kevin Crowell and Len Raminski.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

The Atom Bobs (AtomBobs.com) cover band includes Free Range Ukulele Society member Peter “Pete Bob“ Pollack.

Note: In the event of power outage, all band members are certified on kazoo.

Chris McIntosh and Alvin McGovern are both Free Range Ukulele Society members, and are calling this St. Patrick's Day Saturday. Owner Patrick Dailey (can you have a more Irish name?) assures all that the menu will be enhanced with green beer and corned beef. Chris and Alvin will be bringing the songs. Please bring your appetite, your voice, and a friend or two. It's certain that St. Patrick wants to be associated with a good time.

Eastgate Café is a pass the hat venue.

Members of the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park Meetup bring their voices and ukuleles to the library to play a concert. Fun family friendly music. Light refreshments will be available.