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Ukulele festival coming to Durango

Susan Swedberg, known to Seinfeld fans, teaches and performs ukulele and will perform in Durango next weekend for the Rocky Mountain UkeFest.

The first annual Rocky Mountain UkeFest is scheduled in venues around downtown Durango Friday and Saturday, July 10-11.

Special guest presenters include Heidi Swedberg and Daniel Ward from Los Angeles and John Bartlit from Santa Fe. The Strater Hotel will host workshops and live jam sessions. Beginner, intermediate and advanced ukulele players are encouraged to register. A welcome reception and ukulele jam session are scheduled for Friday evening at the Rochester Hotel Courtyard and a live concert with "The Smoking Jackets and Heidi Swedberg" at the Durango Arts Center.

Born in Hawaii, Swedberg has been playing ukulele all her life. Her early career was dedicated to acting and she is best known for her role as "Susan" on Seinfeld. She and her husband, Ward, perform and teach in ukulele events around the world.

Bartlit has spent many years as a classical percussionist, composer, producer, visual artist, clown, playwright, and accompanist with professional dance companies as well as leading his own groups. As a jazz artist for the last 25 years, he is primarily a drummer and also an amazing ukulele player.

Making their debut at the Rocky Mountain UkeFest is the band "The Smoking Jackets with Heidi Swedberg," at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at the Durango Arts Center. This trio - Heidi, Daniel and John - combine an eclectic sound and music with humor and heart to create an environment where all can let loose and be themselves.  Opening musicians for the concert will be the students from the first Rocky Mountain UkeFest Summer Ukulele Camp (8-13 year olds) held at Fort Lewis College July 6 - 10 prior to the festival.

"The ukulele festival is really focused on workshops and teaching ukulele skills to all levels of musicians," said Denise Leslie, festival producer and a uke player and teacher. "We'll have ukuleles to purchase along with classes to teach even the novice. We are hoping to have strumming and playing happening all over town!" To register for the festival or information about the ukulele camp, go online to www.rockymountainukefest.com or call Leslie at (970) 403-1590.