The Chicagoland uke community is apathetic.
I can say that: I'm one of them.
Note: many are not apathetic, and have run gatherings in the past--Seeso, Lisaxy, Hank the Tank, etc. come to mind as particularly non-apathetic. They are the few lively ones in a zoo otherwise full of sloths, me included.
I see you own a Boat Paddle uke, hammer. I think that festival in MO is not offered this year, either. Sadly, there is a relative dearth of ukulele festivals in the Midwest--save for Mike's overwhelmingly popular Woodstock of Ukulele in Indiana, of course, for which we are fortunate to live so close-by when others must fly in from Europe and Asia.
Do you know Goerge K., who lives up your way, like, a couple towns away? (<A triple rhyme at 6AM; I'm proud of myself!)
I have his CD, which features his hit single, at least it was a hit in the IL lakes region Polynesian restaurants a few years back, enjoyed by Pu-Pu platter-munching, Zombie-drinking flatlanders, the plumeria tabletop candles and tiki libation apparently immunizing them from the tune's mind-numbingly repetitive lyric: "We're Having a Luau", aka "It's Luau Time", aka "That song where he says 'Luau' a million times".
And, what do you know, some gracious UU'er has taken the time to locate the video and link it here: grab a breakfast Mai Tai because here he is with the lovely Bosko and Honey playing it alongside a muddy river that must be familiar to you, hammer.
Here's his channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/wgk001 You might contact him with a UTube PM; if there's anything in your area, he'd know about it. I've been in contact with him in the past, a super kind fellow, articulate and fun and helpful. (I pray that he's in good health and not the one Mike mentions as having issues recently).
