Kala Brand UK

04/08/2026

Huge congratulations to Sheila Cowton for buying the winning raffle ticket for this year's grand prize at Shrewkfest - The Shrewsbury Ukulele Festival

Sheila went home with a brand new KA-KOA-C, and together we raised over £900 to help cover the costs of running this fantastic festival.

A massive thank you to Dave Cowton and the entire crew for putting on yet another incredible event. Shrewkfest just keeps getting bigger and better, and we can't wait to be back again next year!

See you all in 2027!

03/08/2026

THANK YOU, Shrewkfest - The Shrewsbury Ukulele Festival

Well... what a weekend!

It was so good to spend time with you all again this year. We genuinely hope you had as much fun as we did?

One of the best parts of any festival is catching up with so many familiar faces, making new friends, and, of course, spending time with our absolutely incredible Kala Artists. You continue to inspire me every single day, and I can't thank you enough for your passion, talent, and support.

To everyone who stopped by the Kala tent, came over for a chat, shared a laugh, tried out an instrument, or even managed to bag themselves a bargain... thank you. Every conversation, every handshake, and every purchase means the world to us.

A special mention to the handful of people who came back for a ukulele they'd been thinking about, only to find it had already sold.......I'm genuinely sorry! It's the nature of festival trading—we only have so much room in the van, and trust me, we packed it absolutely to the brim with ukulele goodness!

For next time, if there's something you've got your eye on, just let one of us know. We're always happy to pop it behind the stand for an hour while you have a wander and think it over. We'd much rather you came back to the instrument you fell in love with than leave disappointed.

Finally, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you—our customers, old and new—for your unwavering support.

Kala Brand UK is what it is because of this amazing community, and we NEVER take that for granted.

Now, if you'll excuse us... we're absolutely spent! 😴

See you next year!


📸 - The Stranger Frame

15/07/2026

After months of writing, recording and refining every note, Alex Beds has finally unveiled his third solo album, Hummingbird & The Crow.

Recorded throughout early 2026 with producer Jack Grace, the album transforms many of Alex's much-loved ukulele instrumentals into fully realised songs, showcasing his growth as both a songwriter and performer.

Drawing inspiration from the rugged landscapes and timeless storytelling of the Old West, Hummingbird & The Crow carries a distinctive Americana and cowboy spirit throughout. From its cinematic atmosphere to its rich, evocative songwriting, the album feels like the soundtrack to a journey across dusty trails and wide-open skies—while still retaining the warmth and intimacy that Alex's music is known for.

Blending heartfelt storytelling, captivating melodies and Alex's unmistakable musicianship, Hummingbird & The Crow is a beautiful collection that deserves a place in every music lover's playlist.

Whether you've followed Alex's journey from the beginning or you're discovering his music for the first time, this is an album you'll want to experience from start to finish.

Give it a listen, show Alex your support, and let us know which track becomes your favourite!

You can purchase the album in various formats here: https://alexbeds.bandcamp.com/album/hummingbird-the-crow

Or stream it here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3TpLuanK2JAakDJFSfv72T

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/hummingbird-the-crow/6786362078

14/07/2026

Some people make playing the ukulele look easy...

Then there's Kala Artist Samantha Muir, who somehow makes it look effortless.

What many people don't realise is that behind every seemingly effortless performance are countless hours of dedication, practice and an incredible level of musicianship. Sam has spent years mastering her craft, and it shows in every note she plays.

In 2023, she completed a pioneering PhD focused on the ukulele at the University of Surrey, further cementing her place as one of the world's leading classical ukulele performers and we can never get enough of Sam here at Kala UK HQ!

In this beautiful performance, Sam takes her trusty Solid Spruce Contour Series Baritone for a spin, drawing out a warm, rich tone with a level of control and expression that's simply mesmerising.

So, Grab a cuppa, turn the volume up, and enjoy a few minutes of musical brilliance.

📺

Following on from my...

10/07/2026

Congratulations to Kala Artist Matt Hicks on the release of his brand new album, "The Latest of Days"!

We're incredibly proud to have Matt as part of the Kala family and couldn't be happier to see this beautiful collection of songs finally out in the world.

If you're a fan of heartfelt songwriting, stunning musicianship and music that really stays with you, this is well worth a listen, and that voice!!!!!!!

What a time to be alive for new ukulele music.

Congratulations, Matt! We can't wait to hear what everyone thinks.

🎧 You can Stream and/or purchase "The Latest of Days" here:

https://music.apple.com/.../the-latest-of-days/6787952822
https://open.spotify.com/album/2lQGR76SpJ2fezMJC9enYJ
https://elasticstage.com/mrhicks
https://matthewhicks.bandcamp.com/album/the-latest-of-days

10 track album

08/07/2026

Our first prototype hit our Reverb store just a few days ago... and it disappeared almost immediately!

So, we've decided to release the Kala Waterfall Series Prototype Quilted Maple Blue, and I have a feeling this one won't be around for long either.

During the development of the Waterfall Series, we originally built this stunning quilted maple version before making the decision to switch the production model to flamed maple. This allowed us to keep the retail price more accessible without sacrificing the visual impact of the series.

The result? This beautiful stained blue quilted maple tenor never made it into production, making it a genuine one-of-a-kind instrument.

If you've ever wanted to own a unique piece of Kala history, now's your chance... but don't wait too long.

Originally destined to RRP at £499, you can grab yourself a bargain at just £349!!

👉 Available now via our Reverb store.

Here's your chance to own another genuine one-of-a-kind Kala prototype!This instrument is an early prototype of the Kala Waterfall Series (working title: KA-WF-QMB-T), built during the development of what would eventually become the production Waterfall Series. Unlike the final retail model, this...

07/07/2026

🏆 Kala Brand Music UK has been named Best Musical Instrument Wholesaler at the Prestige Awards 2026! 🏆

Now don't get me wrong... we're by no means the biggest musical instrument wholesaler out there. But we do have something that many others don't...

And that's YOU.❤️

This isn't just a win for Kala. It's a win for all of us as a collective, as a ukulele community.

Receiving an award like this is incredibly humbling. It reinforces that what we're doing is genuinely making a positive impact on the community, and at the end of the day, that's all we've ever wanted to do.

The judging panel singled us out because of the work we do to support grassroots ukulele players, from the classroom to the stage, and for our continued support of ukulele festivals up and down the country.

So... THANK YOU.

To everyone who has ever purchased any Kala product.

To our AMAZING dealers, You're so much more than customers to us, over the years you've become dear friends.
Thank you for believing in us, supporting our vision, and proudly representing Kala in your stores every single day.

To every festival organiser who gives up so much of their own time to create events for us all to enjoy. We know the countless hours that go into making these festivals happen, and without your passion and dedication, there simply wouldn't be festivals for us to support.

To the teachers and educators, whether you're teaching from a garden shed, a front room, a village hall, a school or an academy. You introduce hundreds, if not thousands of people to this wonderful instrument every year, and your work is more important than you probably realise.

To our amazing Kala Artists, who inspire us daily, encourage the next generation of players, and proudly fly the Kala flag wherever you go. You're the best!

This award may have Kala Brand Music UK written on it, but it belongs to every single one of you.

Here's to continuing to grow this incredible ukulele community together.

Thank you.

Geraint, Walt & Mike
x

03/07/2026

Discover the Kala Umbra Series (Acacia & Black Walnut Tenor Ukulele) a bold, modern interpretation of a premium instrument that blends exceptional craftsmanship with uncompromising performance.

Designed by Geraint Morgan (Kala Brand UK), the instrument takes its name from the Moon's umbra—The dark, inner core of the Moon's shadow where all direct sunlight is completely blocked.

That inspiration is reflected in the beautifully dark and figured Black Walnut back and sides (The Shadow of the sound board) which is paired with the striking Solid Acacia Top.

The Umbra is jam packed with premium appointments such as:

✅ Solid Acacia Top With Abalone Purfling
✅ Solid Black Walnut Back & Sides
✅ Slotted Headstock
✅ Reduced-Mass Bracing
✅ Oval Side Sound Port
✅ Chamfered Rosewood Cutaway
✅ Rosewood Comfort Edge
✅ Decorative Rosette With Abalone Purfling
✅ Unique Fretboard Inlays
✅ Custom "S" Fretboard Termination
✅ Revelator strings
✅ L.R. Baggs Five-O Pickup System (For a Natural Amplified Tone)
✅ Hard Case
✅ RRP £799

Whether you're drawn to its eye-catching aesthetics or its rich, expressive sound, the Kala Umbra Series Tenor is designed for players who want a professional-level instrument that's every bit as inspiring to play as it is to look at.

This Series will be exclusively unveiled in its final form at this years Ukulele Festival of Great Britain on August 15th in the Vendor Hall.

If you are planning on making the to Cheltenham this year, please pop over and say hi!

02/07/2026

We're sure you're already aware of the news overnight but we'd thought we'd share it on our socials as well!

01/07/2026

🤠 Saddle up, folks... it's happening!

Our very own Alex Beds has officially opened pre-orders for his brand-new album "Hummingbird And The Crow"

CD versions will ship in a couple of weeks ready for the albums streaming release on the 25th July.

Vinyl versions will ship in September with access to a special 27 minute ukulele course teaching you how to play several of the songs from the album.

You can pre-order your copy using the links below and be among the first to hear what Alex's been cooking up. 👇

Pre-order at Southern Ukulele Store
https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/merch/vinyl-records-cd-s/alex-beds-hummingbird-the-crow-turquoise-cd

Pre-order on Bandcamp
https://alexbeds.bandcamp.com/album/hummingbird-the-crow

10 track album