WHO'S PERFORMING AT MUF26
Nicky Bomba
with
Bustamento
The Melbourne Ukulele Festival is beyond thrilled to welcome Melbourne music icon Nicky Bomba and his band Bustamento as the headline act for #MUF26.
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A true force of nature on stage, Nicky Bomba has spent decades shaping the sound of Melbourne and Australia’s live music scene. From his infectious rhythms and unmistakable percussion style to his deep love of groove-driven global music, Bomba brings a musical energy that is impossible to stand still to.
And yes — he’s no stranger to the ukulele.
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Members of the MUF organising team were lucky enough to witness Nicky’s electrifying ukulele performance at the Sunshine Coast Ukulele Festival a few years ago, and we’ve been determined ever since to bring that magic to Melbourne. In 2026, it finally happens — for the first time, Nicky Bomba’s ukulele hits the MUF stage.
Joining him is Bustamento, Australia’s premier Caribbean-influenced band, blending reggae, calypso, ska and island rhythms into a sound that feels like sunshine poured into music. Together they create a joyous, dance-filled experience that perfectly captures the spirit of the Melbourne Ukulele Festival.
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Expect irresistible grooves, virtuosic musicianship, and the kind of musical joy that only happens when world-class players truly love what they do.
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This is Melbourne music at its finest — vibrant, global, and full of soul.
Get ready for Bustamento to bring their tropical heat to High Street, Melbourne in March 2026.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMM
Things That Make You Go MMM are a trio that believe in playing music that makes them feel good hence the name! They choose eclectic songs from a variety of decades to cover, and arrange them to show case the amazing potential of the humble ukulele and U-bass. They add finishing touches using a variety of percussion and harmonies. They also write originals about nature and the gamut of human experience.
ROWLAND AND THE HOWARDS
Naf, Jason and Deano are so vain they thought there was one artist who really deserved the ukulele treatment - Rowland S. Howard.
An Australian music legend described by band mate Nick Cave as “Australia's most unique, gifted and uncompromising guitarist”. Driven by a soprano ukulele (We all know the ‘S’ stands for soprano uke), Rowland and the Howards play the hits, the ballads, the love songs and more from a number of his noise making projects.
It’s bound to be the most rocking and of times turning heads, melting faces and bringing the hoards out of the Northcote woodwork.
MELBOURNE UKULELE KOLLECTIVE
MUK is a diverse, open-armed gaggle of ukulele musicians each equipped with only four strings and the truth! With small egos, yet big dreams - MUK is on a crusade to bring the greatest glory to the humblest of instruments and put music back into the hands and hearts of the people! Since crashing through the tv screens of the nation in 2006 (Spicks and Specks: ABC TV) the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective is still boldly going where no ukuleles have gone before. Expect the "klassic MUK kostumes" as well as unexpected songs not normally played on a ukulele. Described by Brian Nankervis as “mysterious… and feral”, by some, “self indulgent”, and by Ben the sound engineer as “not as scary as I thought you were”, MUK delights in crossing borders, smashing boundaries and raising the humble ukulele to new and outlandish heights! MUK has played Moomba, Fed Square, Hamer Hall, National Folk Festival and a host of other pubs and venues including headlining the annual Melbourne Ukulele Festival. They perform in art and music festivals, pubs, race courses, parks, theatres, schools and on the streets. In 2004 MUK was Australia’s first ukulele group and proclaimed that the Ukulele Revolution had arrived. After over 500 members and nearly 20 years, they continue to proclaim its glorious victory!
FOR PERFORMER DESCRIPTIONS CHECK OUT OUR SOCIALS!
Abe Dunovits | Anarchy in the Uke – ay! | Awkward Strangers | Bette Foord
Bizarre Uke Triangle | Blue Tone Alley | Bruno | Bullied Into Happiness | Bustamento
Chantelle & the Cat Cartel | Cheryl Hann-Woodlock | Chicks with Picks Melbourne
Christina Green | Daisy Chains | Darren Holland | Darken | David Hethorn
Delta Steve and the Brown Dog | Dezzles | Duplicity | Emerald Primary School Ukulele Orchestra
Fi Hanafiah | giddy | Good Vibes Song Jam | Here For The Beers | Honeybees | ivan | Kamuke
Karin | Melbourne Ukulele Community | Melbourne Ukulele Kollective | Mito Elias
MUF 2026 Uke Choir with Leanne Murphy | Nicky Bomba | Nicole Gosling
Plastered Bastard Sisters | Qukes | Rowland and the Howards | Russell and Anthony
Seemingly Random Surprises | SKULL | Someone Else's Wedding Band
Susan Muranty & UKEnTHUSED | Terry McNiff & Uke | The Cosmic Baird | The Flukes
The John Lee Blues Band | The Seven-legged Cows | The UkeAlohas Showband
Things That Make You Go MMM | Tom Osborn | Ukelear Power! | Vintage Vixens | With This Ring Wyndukes Ukestra | Yarra Yukers