The weekend of 9 and 10 June will see Oddicombe Beach filled with ukulele bands and performers.
Back in 2014 the Babbacombe Ukulele Festival was created by John Ayres, Chairman of Babbacombe Cliff Railway CIC and founder of the Babbacombe Ukulele Strummers. In 2014 that first ever event was to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Community Interest Company owning the Cliff Railway. Since then it has grown in both size and popularity. As this year’s event approaches, it has been re-named The John Ayres Ukulele Proms in memory of John who very sadly passed away earlier this year.
Bands are travelling from far and wide to be a part of this event which is gaining quite a reputation. There are plenty of local bands, along with ones from Hatherleigh, Plymouth, Sidmouth and Lyme Regis to name just a few. Over the course of the weekend twenty-four different bands will perform, made up of around two hundred performers.
The Music Marquee will be down on the promenade on Oddicombe Beach all weekend. The event is entirely free to enjoy and organisers are hoping that people will jump on board the Cliff Railway (normal travel charges apply) then take a seat in the marquee, relax, sing along, clap their hands and generally enjoy a fantastic atmosphere in a beautiful location.