Ukulele musicians of any level jam at public library on Wednesdays

ANTIGO — If you walk into the Antigo Public Library around 1:30 on any given Wednesday, don’t be surprised if you hear music.

The Ukulele Club meets at that time in the multi-purpose room near the library’s entrance hall on Wednesdays 1:30 to 3 p.m. and is open to the public.

“Anybody can come in if they want to start playing the ukulele,” said Jeff Demlow, who was leading the class of amateur ukulele players last Wednesday. Although Demler is not the founder of the Ukulele Club, he has been attending the afternoon sessions since the group got started last September.

The library has at least four ukuleles and four songbooks available to the public for rental.

“They come and find out if they like it before they buy one,” Demler said.

If a musician enjoys the class and the ukulele, he can keep renting or buy his own ukulele.

“This is everybody, just come in and whatever speed you’re at, you come, and we just play songs,” Demler said. The group is available to all ages and any level of musicianship.

There are no elaborate lessons. “We’re just jamming,” he said.

“We just come and go around,” said Demler, waving his hand in clarifying circles as the group played songs from a songbook last Wednesday. “Everybody does what they want to do, and we just go around.”

“I don’t know how to tune,” said a ukulele player, her voice rising as if she was almost asking a question.

Another group musician suggested putting a tuner on a smartphone.

“Some are real easy songs and some are harder songs,” Demler said.

About eight to nine ukulele players show up each week, but there have been as many as 11, Demler said.

“I’m just doing it for fun. Just having a good time.”