Daily News-Minder, Fairbanks: Alaska musician takes the ukulele to entertaining heights

With a stage name like Ukulele Russ, one might imagine Hawaiian shirts and inoffensive luau music or maybe a bunch of kid-friendly songs espousing the benefits of making friends and learning to tie shoes. But that’s about as far away from reality as possible.

Statesman Journal: The music of Ukulele Russ

The name "Ukulele Russ" is pretty straightforward. He's a guy named Russ and he plays the ukulele. The name "Ukulele Russ" is pretty straightforward. He's a guy named Russ and he plays the ukulele. But this is a case where what you see at first is much less than what you wind up getting.

Ukulele Russ - “Big Truck”

Ukulele Russ and the Parks Highway Band perform at the Howling Dog Saloon on Halloween night in Fairbanks, Alaska.

KAMUKE: Talk Story Ukulele Russ

When you think of the ukulele, you immediately think of... Alaska? Hailing from The Last Frontier, one-man band Ukulele Russ plays everything from rock'n'roll to funk, bluegrass and hip-hop. We caught up with the Wild Man Of Uke between moose hunts (no, really).

Central Maine: Ukulele Russ to perform

Russ plays the axe (or, as he refers to the diminutive instrument, the hatchet) and he does some innovative stuff with a loop pedal and a bass ukulele that he secures to a stand with DeWalt clamps. Also, he’s an engaging storyteller.