Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Ukulele Death Squad “Not Afraid” (2018)

Australia’s most powerful uke quartet, Ukulele Death Squad, are about to tour “the world’s most dangerous Ukulele show” around Australia, to celebrate the release of their debut single “Not Afraid”. Today, the AU is excited to premiere the group’s brand new music video for that very track.

Inspired by the memorable fight scenes in Anchorman, the video sees the band locked in a junkyard arena, where they have to compete and fight their way out, using the supreme power of the Ukulele. Along the way they meet Vikings, wild nuns and rogue archers. With bow and arrows shot, bottles smashed and ukuleles broken, the video is a frenzy of mayhem. You can’t argue the entertaining video isn’t on brand, can you?

Julian Ferguson (baritone ukulele) told us of the video, “seriously, having a pretend fight on camera was outrageously fun. It was mayhem. It was a bit like you could unleash your inner child, and go absolutely crazy. Everyone was having so much fun that the director would have to say cut about 10 times before we stopped.”

Benjamin Roberts (lead ukulele) added, “I was very happy about including Bruce Riley as the ‘boss man’ who locks us in the arena into the script, he was the man solely responsible for getting me into the ukulele. I’m a guitar teacher and Bruce asked me to start giving him Uke lessons, without even ever playing a Uke, so I picked it up to learn and next thing you know the Ukulele Death Squad was born.”

Watch the video here:

Already boasting sold-out debut shows throughout the Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe, the Ukulele Death Squad was formed from the ashes of Adelaide’s Coconut Kids (Julian Ferguson – Baritone Ukulele) and famed folk festival favourites, The Timbers (Benjamin Roberts – Lead Ukulele). The two then compiled an arsenal of Ukulele aficionados in Eamonn Burke (Bass Ukulele) and Reuben Legge (Saxaphone), and took to the stage to glorious applause, dancing and celebration. And now it’s your turn to join in:

Sept 16 – Northcote Social Club, VIC
Sept 23 – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, BRIS
Sept 30 – Paddington RSL, SYD
Oct 7 – Elder Hall, ADL
Oct 19-21 – Newcastle Ukulele Festival
Nov 25 – Willunga Community Hall, SA
Dec 1 – Great Australian Beer Festival, Albury
Dec 2 – Castlemaine Theatre Royal

For tickets and tour information visit HERE

Buy the single on bandcamp now. Check out their official site, and give the band your support on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.