Program

Actress, Stand Up Comedian, Singer, Author, Ukulelist, MC at Burlesque Events and self-proclaimed Official Queen of Eggplant Parmigiana, This year too she will be the MC of the usually over-crowded street performances. While her attitude is usually very polite, people playing more than their allotted time drive her crazy (don’t complain after: we warned you).

Hailing from Ankara, Turkey, Ukulele Big Band is a colorful ukulele collective that believes music has no boundaries. Moving from pop and rock classics to nostalgic tunes and unexpected surprises, the group brings “a little bit of everything” to the stage with the joyful and welcoming spirit of the ukulele. More than just a music ensemble, Ukulele Big Band is a celebration of friendship, positive energy and shared experiences. For them, the ukulele is not simply an instrument, but a small and powerful way to connect people and create an atmosphere of happiness and inclusion wherever they perform. With playful performances and vibrant vibes, they aim to leave smiles everywhere they go.

The Galway Ukulele Tribe is a popular, welcoming community music group based in the West of Ireland, that brings together players of all ukulele shapes, sizes & skill levels, from beginners to advanced, for regular sessions and performances. Known for their high-energy, feel-good atmosphere, they are a staple in the local music scene and often perform in the streets. They have been active for over a decade, celebrating 10 years of music, community, and “feel good chaos” as of November 2025. They are known for supporting local causes, such as performing at the Galway Hospice, and participating in local festivities like the New Year’s Eve countdown & Galway’s own Ukulele festival. The group ensures a welcoming environment where new members are encouraged to join in and strum along 

Founded in 2024, the Ukulele Orchestra Bratislava was created with the ambition of pushing the ukulele far beyond conventional expectations. Transforming the instrument into a true concert voice, the ensemble blends energy, color and expressive depth into a unique orchestral project.

Their repertoire ranges from classical music to jazz and popular melodies, all reimagined through original instrumental arrangements and an unmistakable sonic identity. With dynamic interpretations and a strong collective spirit, the orchestra brings familiar themes to life in fresh and surprising ways.

Bringing together musicians, performers and ukulele enthusiasts with an unmistakable mix of humor, energy and musical chaos, Anarchy In The Ukulele has become one of the most recognizable and entertaining collectives in the contemporary uke scene. Known for their lively performances, striking harmonies and irreverent spirit, they move effortlessly between concerts, workshops, online content and community events, always celebrating the ukulele with creativity and passion.

At Monopolele 2026 they return after their unforgettable appearance last year, when they acted as “provocateur agents” backstage while filming an extraordinary documentary about the festival. This year, they will once again dive into the heart of the Monopolele experience, leading the legendary Sunday night jam session.

Marcela Brožová is a Czech singer, ukulele player and music educator based in Prague, with over thirteen years of experience on the instrument. Trained as a music teacher and passionate about jazz and Latin music, she brings a rich vocal background and a genuine love for the small four-string wonder to everything she does — from intimate concerts to workshops across the Czech Republic and beyond. A collaborator of the Czech Ukulele Festival and the Czech Ukulele Institute, she has honed her craft alongside some of the instrument’s finest international names. At Monopolele, she shares her warm and accessible approach to connecting voice and ukulele — showing that singing and playing are not two things, but one.

A genre-defying ukulele artist, Alessandro Pedroni brings energy, depth and surprise to every performance. Moving effortlessly from fast, intricate instrumentals to playful songs and more intimate, experimental moments, his music breaks boundaries and expectations. Having performed worldwide—from Europe to Asia and South America—his concerts are vibrant journeys where technique meets storytelling and nothing is ever predictable.

Born from the fusion of cultures, sounds and rhythms from around the world, Marea is the guitar duo of Gabriele Sagone and Roberto Belpanno. Their music flows through bossa nova, tango, milonga, Latin jazz, blues and pop, blending original compositions and improvisation in which the instrument becomes an extension of the soul—like a tide that can gently cradle or powerfully overwhelm.

With a classical background and experience in the singer-songwriter and pop scene, Gabriele meets Roberto’s rock and fusion influences, alongside his work in production and arrangement. Together, they have performed across Italy, from Sicily to Turin, created live scores for silent film festivals, and founded Ukulele del Sorriso, a project bringing concerts and music therapy into hospitals. It is through this initiative that the ukulele entered their sound—a journey that continues to expand, embracing new instruments and sonic possibilities.

A bassist by training and a “rhythm caregiver” by vocation, Vincenzo Vona is a professional ukulele player and certified teacher among the most qualified in Italy (Level 3 of the James Hill Ukulele Initiative Teacher Certification Program). His vision of the ukulele goes beyond performance: for Vincenzo, the instrument is a powerful tool for wellbeing and social inclusion. A pioneer in combining music with rhythm facilitation, he specializes in Drum Circle and Circle Singing, bringing these practices into masterclasses, schools and corporate settings. Author of the book Ukulele con classe, he brings to Monopolele his unique ability to turn music into a shared experience that connects people and nurtures the soul.

Veeble is pure vibration, it is street and collective ritual. It is that moment when the groove grabs you and never lets go. For over ten years they have been setting dancefloors and festivals on fire, bringing their sound wherever there is a system on: from the endless nights of Berlin to English festivals, from the squares of Almaty to underground clubs across Italy. Their sound is a whirlwind of incandescent horns, tropical disco grooves and Jamaican echoes that merge into a boundless sonic wave, sweeping through and igniting every corner of the dancefloor.

One year after her debut, performing with just voice and ukulele, Mil became the overall winner of Musicultura 2025, also receiving the award for Best Lyrics. On that stage, she shared the spotlight with artists such as Riccardo Cocciante, Antonella Ruggiero, Vinicio Capossela, and Eugenio Finardi. Her original repertoire blends 1960s singer-songwriter traditions, folk, and jazz harmonies, and stands out for its expressive use of the voice and the depth of its lyrics.

Sicilian singer-songwriter and performer, Alex AllyFy shares the stage with her inseparable companion “Luke the Uke,” turning each concert into a playful and engaging experience. Blending pop sensibility with a strong visual identity, she has been featured on major Italian platforms including Rai Radio2 and Zelig. She was also the winner of the video contest that led her to perform at the first edition of Monopolele. With a growing presence and a distinctive voice, Alex brings freshness, originality and vibrant energy to the ukulele scene.

Singer-songwriter and author, Erica Mou is known for her refined writing and deeply evocative musical language. Blending Italian songwriting tradition with folk and Northern European influences, she has built a distinctive artistic path across music, theatre and literature. With numerous awards and international performances, her work moves between intimacy and narrative depth, placing words at the center of a rich and elegant sound.

Specchi is an inclusive project by the theatre association Allegra Brigata, bringing together young people and adults with intellectual disabilities through artistic, theatrical and culinary workshops. Rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful tool for connection and growth, the project fosters exchange between participants, educators and volunteers, creating a shared space of expression, learning and mutual support. Through its activities, Specchi transforms artistic practice into a collective journey where inclusion becomes both process and performance.

Composer, double bassist and conductor, Paolo Damiani is one of the most respected figures in European jazz. Having collaborated with artists such as Pat Metheny, Anthony Braxton and Kenny Wheeler, he combines compositional depth with a refined and exploratory musical language. Former director of the French National Jazz Orchestra and founder of the Jazz Department at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, he continues to shape new generations of musicians while performing on major international stages. He is currently President of the Italian Jazz Federation, representing a national network of festivals, musicians and educators, and following leading figures such as Paolo Fresu and Ada Montellanico.

Ukulele Tuesday is a well-known feature at music festivals across the island of Ireland and beyond, with appearances at Dublin’s TradFest, Ukulele Hooley, Monopolele Festival and Parbulele (UK). Renowned for their unmatched energy and eclectic selection of crowd-pleasing covers, they are dedicated to getting audiences singing at the top of their lungs.  Based in Dublin, the group also hosts weekly community jam sessions in the city centre, nurturing one of Ireland’s most vibrant ukulele communities and celebrating the joy of collective music-making. 

The Ukulele Ska Collective are a North London band united by their love of ukuleles and ska music. With a large and vibrant line-up, they perform catchy, danceable classics ranging from Prince Buster to The Specials and Toots and the Maytals, delivering energetic sing-along sets full of rhythm and joy.  Blending ukuleles with an array of distinctive instruments, they create an irresistible atmosphere that gets audiences smiling and moving from the very first note. 

Formed in 2014, The Ukulele Uff Trio is a UK-based ensemble specialising in jazz of the 1920s and ’30s, Tin Pan Alley songs and traditional Hawaiian music, performed with remarkable skill and authenticity. The trio features Chris “Ukulele” Uff on ukulele, Dave Searson on guitar and lap steel virtuoso “Brother” Bill Leach on Hawaiian guitar.  Blending vintage swing, skiffle and jazz-age Hawaiian melodies, they have performed and headlined festivals across Europe, earning a strong reputation for their energetic and elegant live shows. Their music celebrates early jazz traditions with warmth, precision and an unmistakable sense of joy. 

Sage Harrington and Remco “Ukulelezaza” Houtman-Janssen form the ukulele duo Sage & Zaza, blending vintage jazz, Hawaiian influences and original songwriting into a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. Sage, an inventive American singer-songwriter with a deep love of early jazz and folk traditions, brings expressive vocals and refined musical sensitivity, while Zaza is celebrated worldwide for his virtuosic yet delicate ukulele and acoustic steel guitar playing. Together they create elegant musical dialogues shaped by swing rhythms, warm harmonies and a shared passion for the golden age of jazz, captivating audiences at festivals and workshops across Europe. 

Paper Moon Trio is an all-female ensemble formed in 2013, featuring Kristína Uhlíková (violin, vocals), Barbora Medeková (ukulele, vocals) and Andrea Kružliaková (guitar, vocals). The three musicians first met while performing with the renowned Bratislava Hot Serenaders, where they refined their distinctive vocal blend and mastery of close harmony singing — the foundation of their authentic interpretations of songs from the 1920s to the 1950s. Drawing inspiration from international vocal groups such as The Boswell Sisters and The Andrews Sisters, as well as Czechoslovak vocal trios of the same era, they create their own arrangements shaped by careful study of original recordings. Winners of the Jazz START UP competition in 2016, Paper Moon Trio have since recorded three albums and perform regularly across Central Europe. 

Gaute Søderholm, known as Norwegian Uke, approaches the ukulele in distinctive and unconventional ways. In 2024, he completed the world’s first Bachelor’s degree in Norwegian Folk Music with ukulele as his main instrument, marking an important step for the instrument within this tradition. His debut album Slåtter på ukulele followed soon after. Alongside traditional folk repertoire, Gaute interprets songs from various genres and composes his own instrumental pieces with a sensitive and personal touch. Having performed across Europe and Asia, he now works full-time as a ukulele teacher in Shenzhen, China. 

Jane For Tea is a duo from Salies-du-Salat, in the southern Toulouse area (France). Focused on original songwriting in French, they create an acoustic world blending French chanson, pop and vintage influences, both delicate and energetic, explored through a wide range of ukuleles (soprano, tenor, baritone, Tahitian…). With nearly 500 live performances in France and abroad (USA, UK, Finland, Germany, Spain…), Jane For Tea have shared the stage with artists such as Caravan Palace, Cali, and Musica Nuda, and performed at numerous festivals, winning audiences over with their musicality and on-stage chemistry. 

Under the title of ‘4stringboy’ Sammy is an award winning ukulele virtuoso, combining ambient composition with a modern style of solo playing using harmonics and fingerstyle techniques. In 2023 Sammy released his debut album ‘VEJR’ (weather in Danish) which is a ukulele led album of  moody, ambient compositions all about the weather, challenging what a ukulele can do and is known for. At the end of 2025 he released two albums that showcased a new set of compositions from his award winning book ‘Fingerstyle First-days’.  The first album ‘First Days’ is a bright, modern classical album vs the second album ‘lofi daze’ which delivers a moody and dark lofi spin on the ukulele. 

From humble Honolulu beginnings to life in Los Angeles, six-time GRAMMY® Award winner Daniel Ho is a composer, arranger, singer-songwriter, producer and audio engineer. Renowned for his melodic language and refined artistry on the ‘ukulele, he moves effortlessly between intricate fingerstyle technique and elegant, understated songwriting. With a career shaped by collaboration and innovation, Daniel Ho’s music reflects both technical mastery and the welcoming spirit of aloha, captivating audiences around the world. 

Arlo Anwin is a British composer and sound artist whose work blends ukulele with an expansive palette of instruments, found sounds and field recordings to create immersive sonic tapestries. Working with loop stations, cello, kalimba and other acoustic artefacts, he explores the interplay between organic textures and innovative sound design, resulting in music that is both beautifully detailed and deeply evocative. Anwin’s projects range from immersive performances and interdisciplinary collaborations to commissioned scores — including compositions built from site-specific recordings and music for film and contemporary dance — reflecting his commitment to finding beauty in unexpected places. He has presented his work at festivals and workshops where audiences can engage with his soundscapes, and his immersive approach continues to expand perceptions of the ukulele and its role in experimental composition. 

Monopolele is a festival dispenser of joy, energy and creativity that generate special friendships. This is what happened between Irene Aliverti and Alessandra Scaraggi ukulelists, the first from Brescia (BS) the second from Aprilia (LT) who met right in Monopolele for the first time.
Irene after different musical experiences, at the threshold of forty discovered the greatest joy by slinging a small and very light blue ukulele from which she never separates herself and with which she loves to sing all the Beatles’ songs, but really all of them eh!!!
Alessandra started playing ukulele with Maestro Angelo Capozzi and then joined the teaching staff of the same school in 2018. She’s continuing her personal musical training also with Maestro Giovanni Albini, in the classical field and following other Masters of international level

​Strade Aperte is a Neapolitan ensemble that blends music, craftsmanship, and community engagement. Their performances feature original compositions using percussion, mandolin, and ukulele, enriched with improvisations and interactive elements. Beyond concerts, they conduct workshops on building acoustic and mechanical instruments, exploring the physics and techniques behind their creation and use. Strade Aperte’s approach fosters a participatory experience, inviting audiences to explore music and instrument-making in unconventional ways.

Davide Donelli, musician and educator with an academic background, is a point of reference for ukulele in Italy not only as performer and teacher but also as  speaker of the radio show “Intorno all’Ukulele”. He published the first Italian book dedicated to the main figures in the history of the ukulele. He is a regular guest at Monopolele.

Vincenzo Gioia is a passionate musician and a formidable ukulele teacher. He graduated from ICMP and the University of East London. Later on, he also obtained his Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching from Middlesex University. In his quest to spread his love for the ukulele, he has published more than 100 tutorials on his YouTube Channel and keeps spreading his lessons through the website ukulelelovers.com. In 2022 when he became an ambassador for Kala, one of the most successful ukulele brands.

The first ukulele professsor in the world!
Composer, performer, and educator, Giovanni Albini is a pioneer in the academic world of ukulele. As the first professor to establish a university-level ukulele course, at the Conservatory of Alessandria (Italy), he has played a crucial role in bringing the instrument into higher education. With a background in composition, music theory, and mathematical applications in music, Albini’s work bridges classical and contemporary approaches to the ukulele. His performances and research emphasize the expressive and technical possibilities of the instrument, making him a key figure in the modern ukulele landscape. At Monopolele 2025, he will lead a special lecture-concert at Biblioteca Rendella, guiding the audience through the history and evolution of the ukulele with live performances and expert insights.

Ukulollo, born Lorenzo Vignando, is one of the most versatile Italian ukulelists among the best known also abroad. His concerts, often accompanied by multimedia fantasies, are known for their creativity, lightness and truly original and creative exploration of the big hits of the 80s and 90s. He founded the ukulollo power duo together with eclectic musician Vittorio Fioramonti. He was recently noted for “Teki,” an excellent editorial production in which science fiction, music, ukulele and superb illustrations create an interesting journey into the future.