ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
Kala's 20th Anniversary started off properly with a grand unveiling of new products and great performances at The NAMM Show 2025. The NAMM Show is an annual convention for music retailers, artists, and professionals, and it’s one of our favorite times of the year! We had a lot of exciting things to show off this year, and we want to share them with you. Here’s a look at our experience, and a peek at some of the new products you can expect in 2025.
Ukulele of The Year
We were honored to receive MMR’s 2024 “Ukulele of the Year” award for the KA-15 Series!
“Known for its reliable build, smooth tone, and exceptional value, the KA-15 has become a top choice for musicians of all skill levels….This award highlights the KA-15’s popularity in the extremely competitive ukulele market this past calendar year.”
-MMR
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What’s New for 2025?
20th Anniversary Series
Celebrate 20 years of Kala with the crown jewel of Kala's 2025 lineup. This beautiful series featuring striking abalone accents, elegant tonewood choices, and a custom California Poppy headstock inlay. Dealer approved!
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Pan Pacific
(Left) A unique pair of figure-8 sopranos that trace their roots back to the 19th century and honor the legacy of the ukulele. An instant hit with dealers and uke enthusiasts!
James Hill Artist Signature Concert Mahogany Series
(Right) A duo of concert ukuleles with solid mahogany elements that make fantastic mid-level upgrades. Praised for quality build and rich features at a reasonable price.
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Light Tone™ Color-Changing Soprano Ukulele
(Left) Light up your sound with this brand new light-up color-changing ukulele that dazzled audiences! The stand out favorite for dealers this year!
Ukadelic Graphic Top
(Right) Revamped with 4 new designs for a total of six, the Ukadelic graphic top line is fun and full of eye-catching style! These will be available in-store and online with select dealers.
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Solid Body U•BASS® Additions
Two new colors make their debut in 4-string fretted options: Surf Blue and Surf Green (top). The Sweet Cream U•BASS® expands with a Fretless 4-String option, played here by the one and only Jacob Collier (bottom left), and 5-String Fretted and Fretless options.
Hutch Hutchinson Signature Acoustic-Electric U•BASS®
Made in collaboration with longtime Kala artist Hutch Hutchinson (bottom right), this striking pair of U•BASS® models comes with a unique 4-vent soundport, and will be available in solid spruce top and solid koa top options.
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The Performances
Kala's NAMM 2025 artist experience began with Ukulenny (@ukulenny) leading the NAMM Foundation Day of Service at Anaheim Elementary (@anaheimelementary). During this special event, Ukulenny helped students create an original composition inspired by Billie Eilish's "Polar Bear," which they later performed for bass legend Victor Wooten. The performance can be viewed here:
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Throughout the weekend, the Kala booth featured a diverse lineup of talented artists. Performances included Italian pop duo Daudia (@daudiaofficial) (above), Swedish bassist Magnus Sjöquist (@playubass) (above); Peter Luongo's Legacy Ensemble (below—top left); young U•BASS® prodigy Maximo (@maximo_bass_)(below—top right); and folk artists Eva Mikhailovna (@evamikhailovna)(below—bottom left); and Calliope (@thatbandcalliope)(below—bottom right).
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The Hawaiian music scene was well-represented by Anthony Kauka Stanley and Friends (@anthonykauka) (below-top); Kala Hawaiian artist Steven Espaniola (@stevenespaniola), and Slack Key 'Ohana (@slackkeyohana) (below-bottom row); with their beautiful four-part harmonies
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Additional performances featured bluegrass band Water Tower (@watertowerband) (below-top); Ron Telpner (below-bottom left); The Breedloves, and Tommy Rocks Anderson. James Hill (@uketropolis) (below-bottom right); concluded the showcase with an interactive performance where he also unveiled his new signature ukulele line!
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Take a closer look at just some of the instruments you can expect in 2025!
