For twenty years the Ukulele Cabaret has provided a stage for musicians, artists and performers from New York's underground ukulele scene.

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Ted and Jason of Sonic Uke started the cabaret in May 2005 in the back of Julius bar in West Village. After outgrowing our stage there we settled in for a residency at legendary East Village gastropub Jimmy's 43, with cameos at Barbes, The Zipper Factory and Banjo Jim's before moving to The Red Room at the KGB Bar -- an East Village speakeasy that in 1914 was the headquarters of Emma Goldman's Secret Society of anarchists.

We've now taken up residence at the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse, by the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.

"The playing has been exceptional. It seems like there’s a real good sense of community": Brooklyn Paper

"The uke scene is developing around here. It's quietly simmering": The New York Sun

Last month, it was almost 2 a.m. before Jason and Ted took the stage and invited all the performers up for the finale, their ukulele anthem, Four Strings or Fight: The New Yorker

"Don’t you just hate when there’s someone playing the ukulele between you and the bar?" Scotty said as he waited backstage: The Alternate Side Parking Reader

"No matter what your instrument of creativity may be, it is inspiring to see such diversity in talent so deep-rooted in a sense of community": Stephen Bailey

Most-recent cabaret:

Previous cabarets:

20th Anniversary Ukulele Cabaret

Celebrating two decades of songs, costumes and shennigans.   Featuring: Alan Drogin and Steve Swartz,Amie Amis, Angus Loten, Anthony Rev Wills III, Carol Wierzbicki, Dana McCoy, Gio Gaynor, Jamie Scandal, Les Chauds Lapins, Lloyd United, Pete Sturman, Rush Kress, Saint and Sinners, Uke Goldberg, Uke Skywalker and Ukelinda hosted by Sonic Uke.

6pm: Saturday May 31st, 2025

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Cher and Cher Alike

Featuring Alan Drogin, Amie Amis, Angus Loten, Gio Gaynor, Jamie Scandal, Ken Pickover, Pete Sturman, Rev Anthony Wills III, Ukelinda and hosted by Sonic Uke.

5pm: Saturday September 7th, 2024

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Hot in the City

It's getting hot in here! Featuring Chris Combs, Gio Gaynor, Jamie Scandal, John Vitale, Lloyd United, Makalina, Pete Sturman, Rush Kress and Ukelinda hosted by Sonic Uke.

3pm: Saturday July 27th, 2024

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Shipwreck'd

Get lost seeking treasure with Ukulele Cabaret on a secret tropical island. Watch out for pirates, hunky sailors, mermaids and creatures from the deep unknown.

5pm: Saturday June 15th, 2024

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Night of 1000 Dollys

Two Doors Down from the ordinary, step into a Smoky Mountain fairy tale. This spring, the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse transforms into a Dolly Parton paradise. Big hair, dazzling sequins, and country classics await! Don't just Think About Love, come experience it in every strum and harmony!

5pm: Saturday April 20th, 2024

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Underwater Adventure Ukulele Cabaret

Come celebrate the shifting of the seasons with an Underwater Adventure at the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club.

5pm: Saturday September 9th, 2023

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Spring Fling

Spring has sprung, and it's time to fling! Grab a picnic blanket, bring your friends, and celebrate the season with a little bit of magic, a little bit of mischief, and a whole lot of fun.

2pm: Saturday May 13th, 2023

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Rocky Horror Picture Show

Returning to The Red Room at KGB Bar, Ukulele Cabaret presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack in its entirety.

9pm: Thursday October 27th, 2022

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The Ukulele Cabaret Picnic

Join the Ukulele Cabaret for a summer afternoon ukinanny in the park on Governor's Island.

2pm: Saturday July 16th, 2022

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Classic American Meat Loaf

The Ukulele Cabaret returns to the Red Room for a night of Classic American Meat Loaf and other bombast.

9pm: Thursday April 14th, 2022

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Broken Hearts vs Heartbreakers Cabaret

In the season when Cupid strikes, Ukulele Cabaret returns for our sixth annual Broken Hearts vs Heartbreakers cabaret.

8pm: Friday February 25th, 2022

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Rocky Horror Picture Show 2021

Returning to The Red Room at KGB Bar, Ukulele Cabaret presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack in its entirety.

9pm: Thursday October 21st, 2021

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Summer of Love: Return to Aquarius

Join the Ukulele Cabaret in Central Park for a celebration of summer and the return of the Age of Aquarius.

2pm: Saturday June 19th, 2021

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Disco Cabaret

Escape to a new reality with Sonic Uke and friends for a night of Disco.

8pm: Friday April 23rd, 2021

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Broken Hearts vs Heartbreakers

Join Sonic Uke and friends for our fifth annual Broken Hearts vs. Heartbreakers cabaret, hosted live this year from Coqui del Mar, the best gay hotel in San Juan Puerto Rico.

8pm: Thursday February 11th, 2021

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Christmas Spectacular

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Ukulele Cabaret returns with our annual holiday show - this year, our Christmas Spectacular.

8pm: Thursday December 24th, 2020

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Big Gay Cabaret

Welcome to our Big Gay Cabaret, celebrating the pioneers, trailblazers, troublemakers and revolutionaries who have fought over the years for the right to love who your heart calls without fear of retribution.

8pm: Thursday June 25th, 2020

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Quinceañera Cabaret

Ukulele Cabaret invites you to our Quinceañera. For fifteen years the Ukulele Cabaret has provided a stage for musicians, artists and performers from New York's underground ukulele scene.

8pm: Thursday May 28th, 2020

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The Pajama Jam Pizza Party Cabaret

What's better than a pajama party? A pajama party with pizza! Join Sonic Uke and friends for a sleepover night full of shenanigans and surprises.

8pm: Thursday April 23rd, 2020

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As Seen On TV

New York's long-running Ukulele Cabaret moves temporarily online for an evening of TV themes, commercial jingles and other songs inspired by the great age of television.

8pm: Thursday March 26th, 2020

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Rocky Horror Picture Show 2019

The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack in its entirety.

8pm: Thursday October 24th, 2019

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