Ukula
Encyclopedia
UKULA Magazine was an independent arts and culture quarterly founded in 2004, based in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It was created by co-founders Kevin Renton and Graeme Maclean, who first started out DJing under the now well known UKULA moniker at the city's Andy Poolhall in 2002. Copies of UKULA were to be found throughout the cities of Toronto, Montreal
and New York
. Plans were underway to extend full distribution to include London
and Edinburgh
, though limited distribution was available in these two cities. The print edition is no longer being published.
In addition to publishing its glossy magazine, UKULA also had event planning and arts/culture consultancy departments catering to local bands and haute coutre fashion houses interested in promoting their brand.
The store and magazine was described by Canada's national newspaper The Globe and Mail
as the "ground zero for all things impossibly cool in music, books and fashion"
Renton and Maclean returned to Toronto in August 2006, and opened the UKULA boutique on 492 College St. A multi-purpose venue that can be quickly converted to stage concerts and parties, the eponymous storefront features a street-level lounge-style cafe, in addition to an indie books and magazines section, CDs, and imported hard-to-find men's and women's clothing brands. Fashion labels stocked at UKULA include the Swedish jeans brand Nudie, UK-based Fenchurch, as well as Zeha Berlin footwear and Milk Berlin customized handbags. The magazine offices are located in the building's basement.
Recent events at the UKULA store included the Canadian book launch of Stephen Hall's The Raw Shark Texts, as well as concert performances by Born Ruffians
and The Coast
. On November 5, 2005, the UKULA Bright Lights Festival in Toronto's Distillery District featured bands such as Elbow, The Duke Spirit, Stirling
, The Call Up and the Meligrove Band
.
The 2007 Virgin Festival
Afterparty hosted at UKULA featured appearances by The Cinematics
, Metric
, Smashing Pumpkins and The Killers.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was created by co-founders Kevin Renton and Graeme Maclean, who first started out DJing under the now well known UKULA moniker at the city's Andy Poolhall in 2002. Copies of UKULA were to be found throughout the cities of Toronto, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Plans were underway to extend full distribution to include London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, though limited distribution was available in these two cities. The print edition is no longer being published.
In addition to publishing its glossy magazine, UKULA also had event planning and arts/culture consultancy departments catering to local bands and haute coutre fashion houses interested in promoting their brand.
The store and magazine was described by Canada's national newspaper The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
as the "ground zero for all things impossibly cool in music, books and fashion"
History
After a year in Toronto, Renton and Maclean relocated to Montreal in 2003, where they continued their series of popular DJ nights. A year later, the first issue of UKULA Magazine hit the streets, a slim staple-bound 32 page paperbacked-sized volume that included interviews with then up-and-coming bands Arcade Fire and Kasabian. By the third issue, the magazine had evolved into the high physical and editorial standards that it is known by today: a vibrant glossy (with an average length of just over 100 pages) professionally bound, and printed on high quality pages, with content about film, literature, travel and fashion.Recent events at the UKULA store included the Canadian book launch of Stephen Hall's The Raw Shark Texts, as well as concert performances by Born Ruffians
Born Ruffians
Born Ruffians, formerly known as Mornington Drive, are a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2004, originally from Midland, Ontario, located near Georgian Bay. They are currently signed to Warp Records. The members are Luke Lalonde , Mitch Derosier and Steven Hamelin...
and The Coast
The Coast (band)
The Coast was a Canadian indie rock group, based in Toronto, Ontario. The Coast is Ben Spurr , Ian Fosbery , and brothers Luke and Jordan Melchiorre .-History:...
. On November 5, 2005, the UKULA Bright Lights Festival in Toronto's Distillery District featured bands such as Elbow, The Duke Spirit, Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, The Call Up and the Meligrove Band
The Meligrove Band
The Meligrove Band is a Canadian indie rock band, based in Toronto, and consisting of Jason Nunes on vocals, guitar and piano, Darcy Rego on vocals and drums, Brian O'Reilly on guitar and synthesizer, and Michael Small on bass guitar.-History:...
.
The 2007 Virgin Festival
Virgin Festival
The Virgin Fest is a rock festival held in the United States and Canada, a spin-off from the V Festival held in the UK...
Afterparty hosted at UKULA featured appearances by The Cinematics
The Cinematics
The Cinematics were an alternative rock band from Scotland, consisting of Scott Rinning , Larry Reid , Adam Goemans and Ross Bonney...
, Metric
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
, Smashing Pumpkins and The Killers.