About Us:

Formed in 2007, the Durham Ukulele Orchestra organically grew out of the ukulele jam session held at High Strung Violins and Guitars (and ukuleles!) on the first and third Mondays of every month. Upon forming, a weekly practice was  organized and the band began to mix together their wide range of tastes and influences into a cohesive and delicious “musical soup” that ranges from jazz standards to art rock classics like Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads.

Photos from our recent show in Bynum here.

“You were fabulous! You were fun! Your songs were lovely and sweet and just perfect…”

Bending these selections to the will of their tiny four-stringed instruments, the orchestra continues to turn out surprising and delightful renditions of familiar and slightly more obscure selections from the world of popular music. And although the band is very serious about what they do, (as serious as ukuleleists can be) the central idea behind D.U.O. has always been fun. Fun music to play and fun tunes for the public to listen to. At the end of the day, the idea of leading a musical life and the band’s love for playing with each other is what keeps this tiny juggernaut rolling on.

We hope to see you at a show soon, and if you come out, make sure and say hello!

Personnel:
Marilee Annereau  —  ukulele, celestette, melodica, percussion, kazoo, vocals
Brian Lewis  —   ukulele, bass, vocals
Jay Cunningham  —  ukulele, bass, trumpet, vocals
Mario Millner  —   bass, vocals

Here is a partial list of some of the venues at which D.U.O. has had the good fortune to play:

  • Ackland Museum of Art – Chapel Hill
  • Autumn Unplugged – Chapel Hill
  • The American Tobacco Campus (Opening Gala for Full Frame Film Festival) – Durham
  • Atria Southpoint Walk – Durham
  • Bean Traders – Durham
  • Broad Street Cafe – Durham
  • Bull City Burger & Brewery – Durham
  • Bynum Front Porch Music Series – Bynum
  • Caffe Driade – Chapel Hill
  • Carolina Brewery – Pittsboro
  • Carolina Preserve – Cary
  • Carrboro Day Festival – Carrboro
  • Carrboro Music Festival
  • The Casbah – Durham
  • Celebrity Dairy – Siler City
  • CenterFest – Durham
  • Chatham Hill Winery – Cary
  • Club Boulevard Magnet School – Durham
  • The Depot – Hillsborough
  • Diamond View Park, American Tobacco Campus – Durham
  • Duke Park Beaver Queen Pageant – Durham
  • Durham Co-op – Durham
  • Edison-Johnson Community Center – Durham
  • Eno River Farmer’s Market – Hillsborough
  • Fearrington “Music in the Air” Series – Chapel Hill
  • First Night – Raleigh
  • Food Truck Rodeo – Durham
  • Fullsteam Brewery – Durham
  • Glenwood Elementary School Spring Fair – Chapel Hill
  • Habitat Bull Moon Bike Ride at Durham Central Park Farmers Market Pavilion
  • Harry’s Market at White Cross
  • Heroes of Hokum Radio Show – WCOM-FM – Carrboro
  • High Strung Violins & Guitars – Durham
  • Hillsborough July 4th Celebration – Hillsborough
  • Holiday Homes Tour – Hillsborough
  • Honeysuckle Tea House – Chapel Hill 
  • James Joyce Pub – Durham
  • Jordan Oaks – Cary
  • Lambrusco Fest – Durham
  • Local 506 – Chapel Hill
  • Lunchbox Music Series – Carrboro
  • Lynch Creek Farm – Kittrell
  • Marsh Woodwinds – Raleigh
  • The Marvell Center – Durham
  • Monkey Bottom Art Studios – Durham
  • Motorco – Durham
  • Museum of Life & Science – Durham
  • Museum of Durham History – Durham
  • The Nasher Museum – Durham
  • North Carolina Museum of Art – Raleigh: Opening Gala Celebration for Rembrandt exhibit (for 800 people); accompanied Dan Zanes in outdoor concert (1,700 people)
  • Parker and Otis – Durham
  • PopUp Chorus – Durham
  • The Pinhook – Durham
  • Pittsboro Roadhouse – Pittsboro
  • The Regulator Book Store – Durham
  • Rock and Shop Market – Durham
  • Rural Advancement Foundation International — Pittsboro
  • Saladelia Café – Durham
  • The Scrap Exchange – Durham
  • The Sound Check Show from WSHA-FM – Raleigh
  • South Durham Farmer’s Market – Durham
  • Southern Village Sunday Night Music Series – Chapel Hill
  • The Station – Carrboro
  • TEDxDuke – Durham
  • University of North Carolina School of Law – Chapel Hill
  • WCOM – Carrboro
  • Weaver Street Market – Hillsborough