Memphis Ukulele Band

One of Memphis music icon Sam Phillips’ favorite sayings was, “If you’re not doing something different, you’re not doing anything.” With a unique ensemble sound and surprisingly diverse repertoire, Memphis Ukulele Band is firmly rooted in Memphis music’s maverick tradition.

For all five members, MUB is a genuine labor of love, a ukulele-fueled Traveling Wilburys-style break from their busy musical “day-jobs,” which range from Ross-Spang’s high-profile production/engineering gigs to Kyndle McMahan’s junior-year music studies at University of Memphis. But what started as a fun side gig for house concerts and neighborhood coffeehouses soon took on a life – and devoted local fan base – all its own.

Now, MUB eagerly looks forward to bringing their “Ukulele Soul” sound to a national audience with their self-titled debut album, out early next year. Their debut record features 10 covers and one original song – Mark Edgar Stuart’s “In-Laws” – and explores the charms of the uke within myriad genres, from pop to blues to reggae to soul.

The ukulele is an instrument whose low volume and capacity to express a broad range of emotion make it one of the most intimate, evocative and underrated stringed instruments. It’s fitting, then, that Memphis – also intimate, evocative, certainly underrated – is the setting for this magical collaboration. The Memphis Ukulele Band’s self-titled Blue debut is out on Barrel Records February 19, 2016.