The indie kids
are alright

Ukula champions underdog artists in clubs and online

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

"We didn't come here to impose a British invasion," says Ukula co-founder Graeme Maclean. "Whatever artform we're covering, we're just trying to create more exposure for artists and bridge the gap across the Atlantic."

Edinburgh entrepreneurs Maclean, Kevin Renton and Steven Flockhart moved to Toronto last year with a novel idea. While organizing, promoting and working regular DJ nights and concerts, the trio would build an online community linking music, fashion and literature scenes in London, Toronto, New York and Montreal. Not only would the site showcase underground artists from each town, it would connect likeminded connoisseurs and form an interactive community with competitions, commentary and local event listings.

A year later, with Maclean and Renton now living in Montreal, they have built it (www.ukula.com) and people are starting to come. Ukula's membership is increasing, writers from the four cities are contributing reviews and recommendations, and their club events, already a hit in the T-dot, are making waves in their new homebase.

"We feel quite at home here," says Maclean, likening this city's size, mood and cultural makeup to that of Edinburgh, despite the language factor. "It's as if Scotland is present in Montreal."

So far, Ukula's presence in local nightlife has wrought concerts featuring Montreal and Toronto acts Brighton, Mobile, Leave, Sunriser, Stirling and members of Ours and les Chiens. Renton and Maclean have also spun at sporadic DJ nights, backed by homemade video montages to bolster the ambiance.

Tonight's pre-show party for fellow Scots the Delgados (who play Friday, Oct. 22 at Cabaret La Tulipe) will be no different, with ticket giveaways, door prizes and music by way of the Ukula DJs and special guests, "if the plane arrives in time."

Alongside soirées such as these, one look at the "Music Room" section of Ukula's Web site shows that they favour U.K. bands and international acts with a British pop/rock, singer-songwriter aesthetic - England's Badly Drawn Boy, Norway's Sondre Lerche and Welsh rockers Stereophonics are a few examples. But don't call Ukula nights "Britpop" nights.

"Britpop is in the past," states Renton, referring to the word's antiquated status in the U.K. Coming here from Toronto, where mod and "Britpop" nights are still commonplace, Maclean and Renton sought to play the music they love, and similar music they've discovered in their travels, without framing it like a tourist brochure.

"We don't use images of Union Jacks or Buckingham Palace or red telephone boxes," Renton explains.

"Our sound is British just 'cause we're British, really," adds Maclean. "Our playlist on any given night is probably much broader than what most of Toronto's so-called British clubs are playing."

Ukula continues to counter Toronto's elder "British" weeklies with Wednesday night parties, and they hope to launch a Montreal monthly in the near future. In the meantime, they're developing a print publication and working hard on that Web site, which is seeking more local content and contributors - e-mail your ideas to info@ukula.com.

Delgados pre-party with Ukula DJs at O Patro Vys
tonight, Thursday, Oct. 21, 9 p.m.

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