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Under the Boardwalk, A Ukulele Love Story tells the story of how a small house party in an out of the way town in California grows into the biggest ukulele club in the world. It is also the story of how a small instrument makes a long journey from Portugal to Hawaii to the mainland, lands in people’s hearts, and creates a uniquely Hawaiian-American musical tradition that is currently experiencing a world wide revival.
The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz and the ukulele instrument itself are the two main characters of the film. Their stories are intercut, as both overcome humble beginnings to meet with unlikely success.
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The two stories add up to a tale of love and community that develops through the celebration and joy people find making music together.
The ukulele is currently experiencing a worldwide surge in popularity. Many trace this current revival, often called the third wave of ukulele mania, to the 1993 Israel Kamakawiwo’ole release of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, a song that sky rocketed to the tops of music charts all over the world. Since then, virtuoso ukulele artists such as Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill have risen to international prominence. The uke has been embraced by all manner of musician. Even grunge icon Eddie Vetter has recently released a solo “all ukulele” album.
Under the Boardwalk: A Ukulele Love Story turns its gaze from the glitterati and focuses attention on the groundswell of the local ukulele champions and performers of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz. Their joyous and fun stories and music are blended with depictions of ukulele crazes past and present to paint a picture of a movement that shows no signs of slowing down. Like the film Young at Heart, Under the Boardwalk: A Ukulele Love Story is as much about the people making the music as it is about the music itself.
