The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (UOGB) is an English musical ensemble founded in 1985 as bit of fun by George Hinchliffe and Kitty Lux. The orchestra consists entirely of ukuleles of various sizes and registers from soprano to bass. The members of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (UOGB) wear formal evening dress and sit in a semi circle behind music stands in a parody of a classical ensemble. All members of the orchestra take turns to take up the role of lead vocals. The line up up gradually settled to the current troupe in the 90's, and membership has not changed since Kitty Lux' retirement due to ill health in 2015 (passing away in 2017). They now brand themselves as "George Hinchliffe's Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain".
The orchestra is best known for performing covers from a eclectic range of musical genres, from classical to punk, via pop, rock, rhythm and blues, and spaghetti western sound tracks and more. Their approach to music is 'all genres of music are available for reinterpretation, as long as they are played on the Ukulele'. Reinterpretations are sometimes genre twists or famous songs are seamlessly woven together with several several other well known songs from multiple genres. Musical comedy, juxtaposition and general humour long being a feature of the orchestra's act.
The Ukulele Orchestra has purposefully remained a highly independent music group, unsigned to any record label. Over the years the orchestra has released over 30 albums, but have spent most of their time touring the globe, in venues ranging from pubs and community halls to national classical concert halls to jazz clubs to folk and rock festivals, to private performances in front of royalty; with some years performing over 300 concerts. From the beginning the UOGB has received high praise the media for its concerts. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has been called “not only a national institution, but also a worldwide phenomenon", and is often blamed for the current world-wide ukulele revival.