Grab a Ukulele and join The Nukes in this free, family-friendly performance and workshop just in time to impress the whānau at Christmas time. Learn your favourite tune on the ukulele and a cheeky waiata to go along with it, followed by a magical performance by The Nukes themselves. 

If you don’t play a ukulele, don’t worry The Nukes have you covered, they can teach anyone to play and have a ball. There will be only a limited number of Ukulele's available so please bring along your own if you have one.

This special performance blends The Nukes signature songwriting with a fresh twist – the inclusion of war-era classics that showcase the group’s warm four-part vocal harmonies. At the heart of it all is the humble ukulele, transformed in their hands into a truly musical and expressive instrument. Expect toe-tapping tunes, classic ballads, and moments of musical magic as The Nukes take you on a tour of Aotearoa – one story and one song at a time.

Time & Location

05 Dec 2025, 7:30 pm

The Arts Junction, 36 Main Road, Katikati 3129, New Zealand

About the event

For over fifteen years this band of musical miscreants have been faithfully broadcasting harmony and happiness to the good people of Australasia.  And now returning to the wonderful Katikati folk club! 🤙

Innovative, inspiring and entertaining, The Nukes have knocked the socks off audiences from Canterbury to Canberra (and most places in-between).

The band have toured extensively in Australia and have appeared at WOMAD NZ, SPLORE, Auckland and Canterbury Folk Festivals, New Plymouth Festival of Light, Wanaka Festival of Colour, Coastella Festival, Southland Festival of Arts and the Bluff Oyster Festival. 

Original music and scintillating live shows are delivered with a healthy sense of humour. There is something for everyone in The Nukes experience.

The ukulele is nothing to be afraid of… so don’t duck and cover or try to be a hero, just grab a friend and head for ground zero: The Arts Junction on Friday December 5th.

The Nukes – A Road Trip in Song

   Join ukulele group, The Nukes, for a road trip like no other – a song-journey from Rakiura to Cape Reinga, woven together with harmony and laughter. Celebrating over 15 years together the Nukes have built a reputation built upon finely crafted original tunes, comic flair and great musicianship, all of which have made them one of New Zealand’s most endearing, and enduring live acts – and their newest show is set to be a crowd-pleaser.

Enter the slightly quirky and magical world of ukulele trio ‘The Nukes’ who have been wowing audiences around Aotearoa for over 15years.

The Nukes are out and about this Spring celebrating the release of a brand new bunch of songs called ‘Creature Feature’ and a fully animated video ‘Max- the musical mosquito’- funded by the NZ on Air kids music fund. The Nukes know how to entertain with their all-original, all ukulele brand of fun-filled music. With award-winning songs, humour and even the odd dance move they will be sure to engage the whole family.

The Nukes – A Road Trip in Song

   Join ukulele group, The Nukes, for a road trip like no other – a song-journey from Rakiura to Cape Reinga, woven together with harmony and laughter. Celebrating over 15 years together the Nukes have built a reputation built upon finely crafted original tunes, comic flair and great musicianship, all of which have made them one of New Zealand’s most endearing, and enduring live acts – and their newest show is set to be a crowd-pleaser.

The Nukes – A Road Trip in Song

   Join ukulele group, The Nukes, for a road trip like no other – a song-journey from Rakiura to Cape Reinga, woven together with harmony and laughter. Celebrating over 15 years together the Nukes have built a reputation built upon finely crafted original tunes, comic flair and great musicianship, all of which have made them one of New Zealand’s most endearing, and enduring live acts – and their newest show is set to be a crowd-pleaser.

As part of the Artbeat Spring festival Ukulele group ‘The Nukes’ will run a special
Ukulele workshop at the Monkey House Whitianga @ 3pm – 90 minutes including a
refreshment break.

Workshop is informative and interactive and suitable for any ability from kids of all
ages from 8 to 88 years young!

Ready for any of your musical questions the Nukes will be there to assist.
Expect to have fun and to take a bunch of songs away with you
Who are your tutors?

The Nukes have performed concerts all over Aotearoa and festivals from Stewart
Island to the top of the north Island and across the ditch in Australia: from WOMAD
to the Melbourne ukulele festival. They have a reputation for toe-tapping original
music and dazzling musicianship. They are an award winning group with fans all
over the world.

The Nukes – A Road Trip in Song

   Join ukulele group, The Nukes, for a road trip like no other – a song-journey from Rakiura to Cape Reinga, woven together with harmony and laughter. Celebrating over 15 years together the Nukes have built a reputation built upon finely crafted original tunes, comic flair and great musicianship, all of which have made them one of New Zealand’s most endearing, and enduring live acts – and their newest show is set to be a crowd-pleaser.

Another great event in the ‘Sounds Fun for kids’ series. At the wonderful Tuning Fork at Spark Arena. Hosted by kids entertainment and educational, living legend, Suzy Cato. Show starts at 10 am and features the Nukes and Jeff Parsnips -up from Otautahi / Christchurch.

Bring the Kids!!

A Xmas Cracker concert at the Meteor

With The Nukes and Sylvia’s Toaster.

Meteor theatre, Hamilton on Sunday 8th December 3.00pm.

Come and enjoy this afternoon concert featuring 2 of NZ’s top ukulele acts

The Nukes – the original 3, Ben’ Country boy’ Collier, ‘Snapper’ and Dave ‘Fingers of fire’ Parker together again with Parker prodigy JayP are set to dazzle Hamilton in this afternoon Xmas show.

The Nukes have been faithfully broadcasting harmony and happiness to the good people of Australasia for over 15years. Innovative, inspiring and entertaining, The Nukes have knocked the socks off audiences from Canterbury to Canberra (and most places in between).

Original music, scintillating live shows delivered with a healthy sense of humour. There is something for everyone in The Nukes experience.

Sylvia's Toaster are a Waikato based 10 piece post-modern ukulele noir band that is charming, colourful and quirky, with an eclectic array of instruments and fantastic vocals. They play lesser-known folk and dark pop tunes from the '60s through to present day, all with a hint of tasteful chaos. 

Come and spend a fabulous afternoon of humour, originality, great musicianship and singing with The Nukes and Sylvia’s Toaster.

Concession and Family passes available:

Booking at The Meteor www.themeteor.co.nz

Information: www.thenukes.co.nz

Comic, engaging…, a night to remember”

—Waikato Times

“ ‘Original’ inventive and entertaining….”

— DREW JAMES, TARANAKI ARTS FESTIVAL.

“The Nukes experience is uplifting, fun and feel-good.”

— AMANDA WRIGHT, ERUPT FESTIVAL

The Nukes: Together Again {the original 3 plus JayP}

Catch them once more as they re-unite for a concert at the Monkey House on Saturday 7th December 7.30pm.

 Way back yonder in 2008 three fully grown men banded together and embarked upon a perilous musical journey with no particular destination.

Their mission? To write and perform original music using only the humble ukulele.

Thus, The Nukes were born and quickly they grew into a bonny wee thing, gaining a reputation across Australasia for boisterous live shows and impressive original material.

Riddled with optimism and fuelled by beer and bonhomie, David ‘Fingers of fire’ Parker, Ben ‘Country boy’ Collier and Dave ‘Snapper’ Thiele set the burgeoning parochial ukulele/folk scene on fire for a full, glorious decade.

And then..

Rumours swirled, accusations were levelled..

Was Snapper doing a solo album? How many wives did Ben actually have? And was David really involved in the Church of constant sorrow?

Unfortunately nothing quite so scandalous had occurred, basically Snapper got tired and wanted to lie down for a bit.

So he did.

The Nukes trotted on, first with curious percussionist Mike Burrows, then (and still) with flexible young Parker prodigy Jay P.

But the question has always lingered, like a dog outside a butcher’s shop.. would the original three ever reunite?

Yes. The answer is yes.

You can catch them once more as they re-unite for a concert at the Monkey House on Saturday 7th December

The Nukes: Together Again {the original 3 plus JayP}

Catch them once more as they re-unite for a concert at the Katikati Folk Club on Friday 6th December 7.30pm.

 Way back yonder in 2008 three fully grown men banded together and embarked upon a perilous musical journey with no particular destination.

Their mission? To write and perform original music using only the humble ukulele.

Thus, The Nukes were born and quickly they grew into a bonny wee thing, gaining a reputation across Australasia for boisterous live shows and impressive original material.

Riddled with optimism and fuelled by beer and bonhomie, David ‘Fingers of fire’ Parker, Ben ‘Country boy’ Collier and Dave ‘Snapper’ Thiele set the burgeoning parochial ukulele/folk scene on fire for a full, glorious decade.

And then..

Rumours swirled, accusations were levelled..

Was Snapper doing a solo album? How many wives did Ben actually have? And was David really involved in the Church of constant sorrow?

Unfortunately nothing quite so scandalous had occurred, basically Snapper got tired and wanted to lie down for a bit.

So he did.

The Nukes trotted on, first with curious percussionist Mike Burrows, then (and still) with flexible young Parker prodigy Jay P.

But the question has always lingered, like a dog outside a butcher’s shop.. would the original three ever reunite?

Yes. The answer is yes.

You can catch them once more as they re-unite for a concert at the Katikati Folk Club Friday 6th December

The Nukes: Together Again {the original 3 plus JayP}

Catch them once more as they re-unite for a concert at the 4th Wall New Plymouth on Thursday 5th December 7.30pm.

 Way back yonder in 2008 three fully grown men banded together and embarked upon a perilous musical journey with no particular destination.

Their mission? To write and perform original music using only the humble ukulele.

Thus, The Nukes were born and quickly they grew into a bonny wee thing, gaining a reputation across Australasia for boisterous live shows and impressive original material.

Riddled with optimism and fuelled by beer and bonhomie, David ‘Fingers of fire’ Parker, Ben ‘Country boy’ Collier and Dave ‘Snapper’ Thiele set the burgeoning parochial ukulele/folk scene on fire for a full, glorious decade.

And then..

Rumours swirled, accusations were levelled..

Was Snapper doing a solo album? How many wives did Ben actually have? And was David really involved in the Church of constant sorrow?

Unfortunately nothing quite so scandalous had occurred, basically Snapper got tired and wanted to lie down for a bit.

So he did.

The Nukes trotted on, first with curious percussionist Mike Burrows, then (and still) with flexible young Parker prodigy Jay P.

But the question has always lingered, like a dog outside a butcher’s shop.. would the original three ever reunite?

Yes. The answer is yes.

You can catch them once more as they re-unite for a concert at the 4th Wall New Plymouth on Thursday 5th December

What do you get when you combine two of Aotearoa's finest folk acts in one concert? More fun than you can poke a fiddlestick at!

The Nukes will perform OneOne Six with Snapper (their acclaimed 4 piece lineup)

The Nukes have been faithfully broadcasting harmony and happiness to the good people of Australasia for over 15 years. And on their recent journeys they came upon a fearsome folk trio called  ‘Turkey the bird’. Plans were hatched and friendships were forged - “let’s record a song together!”  one bright spark suggested “and let that song be called ‘These Birds’ someone else piped in “ and lets bring our wondrous creation to life in some lucky places around Te Tai Tokerau” they all agreed. And so Ladies and Gentleman it came to pass that this combined group of merry folksters will be bringing their particular brand of musical mayhem to 3 lucky North Island venues this November, so get out your ya’s ya’s and get ready for a night of great songs, harmonious melodies, singalongs, and plenty of laughs.

Combined these groups have graced the stages of WOMAD NZ, SPLORE, Auckland and Canterbury Folk Festivals, New Plymouth Festival Of Light, Wanaka Festival Of Colour, Southland Festival Of Arts, Bluff Oyster Festival, Arts On Tour NZ and many, many other stages around Australasia.

Some nice things people have said:

“This is not sad cowboy Americana neofolk, this is refreshing Kiwiana newgrass.” Patrick Loughran, Muzic.net.nz

“Turkey The Bird, great band, just love them.” Jesse Mulligan RNZ   

“Injects hoedown-showdown fun, fun, fun and the harmonies shine like diamonds.” Paul Cook, Joyzine UK

“The Nukes experience is uplifting, fun, and feel-good.” Amanda Wright, Erupt Festival

What do you get when you combine two of Aotearoa's finest folk acts in one concert? More fun than you can poke a fiddlestick at!

   The Nukes have been faithfully broadcasting harmony and happiness to the good people of Australasia for over 15 years. And on their recent journeys they came upon a fearsome folk trio called  ‘Turkey the bird’. Plans were hatched and friendships were forged - “let’s record a song together!”  one bright spark suggested “and let that song be called ‘These Birds’ someone else piped in “ and lets bring our wondrous creation to life in some lucky places around Te Tai Tokerau” they all agreed. And so Ladies and Gentleman it came to pass that this combined group of merry folksters will be bringing their particular brand of musical mayhem to 3 lucky North Island venues this November, so get out your ya’s ya’s and get ready for a night of great songs, harmonious melodies, singalongs, and plenty of laughs.

Combined these groups have graced the stages of WOMAD NZ, SPLORE, Auckland and Canterbury Folk Festivals, New Plymouth Festival Of Light, Wanaka Festival Of Colour, Southland Festival Of Arts, Bluff Oyster Festival, Arts On Tour NZ and many, many other stages around Australasia.

Some nice things people have said:

“This is not sad cowboy Americana neofolk, this is refreshing Kiwiana newgrass.” Patrick Loughran, Muzic.net.nz

“Turkey The Bird, great band, just love them.” Jesse Mulligan RNZ   

“Injects hoedown-showdown fun, fun, fun and the harmonies shine like diamonds.” Paul Cook, Joyzine UK

“The Nukes experience is uplifting, fun, and feel-good.” Amanda Wright, Erupt Festival

On their first NZ tour. The Thin White Ukes are on a Bowie Odyssey. with stunning arrangements for ukulele and 3 part harmony. A must see !

Nukes reuniting for their only Auckland gig in 2024