The Ukadelix

(from left to right)

• Heather Gilmore: Accordion, concert ukulele, melodica & vocals

• Michele Petit-Jean: Songwriter, soprano ukulele, vocals & percussion

• Kirsty McNeil: Drums, percussion & vocals

• Gill Abela: Songwriter, concert ukulele, harmonica & vocals

• Angie Bain: Bass, guitar, vocals & arrangements

In the Press:

'The real riot women' by Wendy Rigg for Woman&Home Magazine November 2025

Meet the band

Heather Gilmore: Vocals, Accordion, Concert Ukulele & Melodica

"It's funny how I avoided pursuing my first love - music (along with motherhood of course) for so long. I studied Community Theatre Arts, worked in radio broadcasting, The National Theatre,,Age UK,, Community Arts and development, Campaigning, and quite a bit of low profile acting work. Here I am, years into playing music with this wonderful bunch of old trouts, blind as a bat, and even getting my first TV acting role. Physically life has its challenges, but who says getting older is all downhill?

Angie Bain: Vocals, Bass & Guitar

"The Ukadelix started with all 5 of us playing ukuleles. Soon we wanted
some other sounds in there, so I said I'd like to have a go at playing
bass, and I'm now completely addicted !! I've worked alot as an actor in Community and regional Rep theatre. both of which, often need actors who can play and sing so you often learnt on the hoof! Actors do need fill-in jobs and along the way I've done stints as a van driver, glass blower, jewelry seller, a Clerk to the Court, cook in a residential home, gardener and tour guide.
It's fun being in the Ukadelix which is blessed with 2 great songwriters whose tunes it gives me great pleasure to arrange harmonies for!! ...keeps me out of trouble!!

Michele Petit-Jean: Songwriter, Vocals, Soprano Ukulele & Percussion

Michele is a relaxed clown with a tiny ukulele and a little yellow dog who also loves to perform. Audiences watch her in case she forgets the words and they have to sing them for her, but secretly she likes to keep them on their toes. She and Angie have played together since before the last Ice Age in duos and trios with names like The Fine Young Gnomes. She started out aged nine, strumming a tennis raquet in a Sombero and has not changed her look.

Kirsty McNeil: Vocals, Drums & Percussion

"It's been fantastic to discover that playing in a band is so much more fun than managing a band - I'm very glad I changed sides. I've always adored music, especially dancing to it and, hopefully that translates to my drumming with the Ukadelix - I've learned so much from working with this lot! AND It's absolutely true what they say about drummers.....whatever that is! I'm never happier than when I'm bashing things repeatedly with absolutely no thoughts in my mind......."

Gill Abela: Songwriter, Vocals, Concert Ukulele & Harmonica

Brought up in North London till 10 and then Wales till 15, I’ve always been into music. I have fond memories of listening to the Beatles played by older sisters on a rickety old Danset record player. I started playing the guitar from 13 and playing in bands in Bristol when I was 19. After settling permanently in SE London in the early 90’s, having a son, finding work in my friend’s Nursery, (apart from singing nursery songs) music seemed to take second place in my life. When I got my Teaching Diploma and worked for Lewisham Council in the Supported Learning for Adults Community, I realised how important music is for everyone.The Ukadelix have been going for over 10 years and I look back with pride and am grateful at being able to see us develop from a very basic Ukulele outfit into the band we are today.