Experience a Beautiful, Authentic Hawaiian Tradition at the Slack Key Festival

The renowned Slack Key Festival in Hawaii has delighted tens of thousands of fans since its inception in 1982. South Jersey audiences now have the opportunity to enjoy this authentic Hawaiian experience as the Hawaiian Slack Key Festival tour stops at Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theatre, Thursday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. Presented by Mainstage Center for the Arts, the line-up includes prominent artists in the genre including: Ikaika Brown, Blayne Asing, Stephen Inglis, Michael Keale, and Chris Lau, along with local artists Bill Wynne and the Aloha Boys. It is hosted by Harry B. Soria of Territorial Airwaves fame.

“Many people who attend our Slack Key Show in Hawaii live throughout the US where we will be traveling on tour. It will be great to bring a taste of Hawaii to these areas through our music. We can’t wait to performing in Blackwood, NJ where Mainstage audiences gave us a warm welcome last time!” said Milton Lau, founder Ka-Hoku Productions.

The performance features the sounds of the slack key guitar, the ‘Ukulele; and Hawaiian vocals. The slack key guitar, kī hō‘alu, is one of the world’s great acoustic guitar traditions. Slack key was developed by Hawaiian cowboys who “slacked” the strings of guitars brought by Mexican cowboys hired by King Kamehameha III to teach Hawaiians better ranching methods. Slack key is a finger-picked style, and the tradition continues to evolve from techniques and tunings handed down through the generations.

The festival originated in 1892 in memory of Charles Phillip Pahinui, known as Gabby “pops” Hahinui, the modern father of slack key guitar. Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls the event a “must see.”

About the artists

Kevin and Ikaika Brown are famous as Maui’s “father-son slack key duo,” performing together for over 20 years. In 2006 they contributed to the Grammy nominated compilation CD, Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Volume 1 and then once again to Volume 2, which was both Grammy nominated and also a Nā Hōkū Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy) winner for Best Compilation in 2009.Kevin is the soft spoken leader of the popular Maui group “Ola Hou”. One of Hawaii’s finest musicians and instructors, his easy-going style has deeply influenced a generation of musicians both in Hawaii and on the mainland. Kevin’s son, Ikaika has expanded his repertoire into other styles of music including Classic, Rock, and Jazz. Ikaika was the music director for the Royal Lahaina Luau for ten years until he recently relocated to Las Vegas.

Blayne Asing. In addition to his expertise in playing a variety of instruments, Blayne Asing is a prolific songwriter. His original songs range from country/folk to Hawaiian and island music, but he also loves performing the music of his favorite Hawaiian legends. He released his debut album Young, Old Soul in 2015, which earned him the 2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Most Promising Artist.

Stephen Inglis, the versatile guitarist and singer-songwriter, Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Hawaii Music Award winner and Grammy nominee best known for his prowess with Hawaiian slack key guitar. He released his seventh solo album. Learning You By Heart in June 2015. This album painted the most complete picture to date of the depth of Stephen’s talents. His love of many forms of American roots music shine throughout, with the heart of Hawaiian slack key still beating in time. The album’s 13 original songs include four co-written with the award-winning and world renowned author, historian and filmmaker Gavan Daws. Regarded as one of Hawai’i’s most diverse artists, Stephen played in a concert hall piano recital at age five and formed a group with legendary Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzman when he was barely out of his teens.

Michael Keale. Michael released his debut album Remember in 2010 at the age of fifty-six. Featuring his crooning, silken bass vocals, Remember received positive response from fans and critics for its mix of music from Hawai‘i’s past and present. Songs like “Ahulili,” and “Kamalani O Keaukaha.” as well as traditional English standards such as “Waikīkī” and “The Way You Look Tonight,” earned Michael two prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Nominations. His second album, No Ka Beauty, was released in 2015 and was nominated for three Na Hōkū Hanohano Awards.

One of Michael Keale's early influences in music was his Uncle Wilfred “Moe” Keale. Uncle Moe started playing music in his teens and eventually became an accomplished actor and Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning entertainer.

Chris Lau, bassist and record producer, is a highly skilled musician as well as an award-winning recording engineer with an ear that musicians seek. He is a seven-time Grammy nominee who co-produced the acclaimed album Hawaiian Slack Key Kings (2008). He also has won many Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards.

Bill Wynne's first love is Hawaiian falsetto singing. In 2005, Bill won the Aloha Festival’s Falsetto Contest and a Hula Records recording contract. Since then, the Ewing, NJ resident, has performed with many of his musical heroes. He has appeared on the Pakele Live TV series – broadcast around the world via the internet. After years of study, Bill possesses the uncanny ability to identify legends of slack key, steel guitar, and 'ukulele by ear. Bill has put this rare skill and his vast collection of Hawaiian music to use by creating the 24 hour-a-day Hawaiian music radio station "Ho`olohe Hou Radio" at Live365.

The Aloha Boys Born and raised in Hawai'i and transplanted to the Washington D.C. area to pursue careers, the Aloha Boys, Glen Hirabayashi, Isaac Ho'opi'i and Irv Queja - met in 1996 while playing music for their children

at Halau O 'Aulani, a school of Hawai'ian culture, in the Washington, D.C. area. A special bond grew musically among the Aloha Boys, who love to kanikapila or play an acoustic down-home, backyard-style Hawai'ian music. This style includes everything from the very traditional to contemporary songs and styles. They all sing lead and backing vocals. Their voices blend in a nahenahe (soft pleasant) style.

Special Guests

Closing for the Hawaiian Masters is MCA’s High School Show Choir, Harmony. They are performing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and a song written by Pops KoAloha called “America’s Song.” In 2015, Harmony toured on the Island of Oahu, performing for local residents and learning Hawaiian culture. During their visit, they had the opportunity to meet Pops KoAloha. He presented each of them a new Wow Ukulele that is the first creation in a new company he and his wife, Trish, have launched called Ukulele Specialties America, LLC.

Tickets to the Hawaiian Slack Key Festival range from $20 -$35. To order, visit www.mainstage.org or call toll free( 855) 936-2467 ext 3 About the Hawaiian Slack Key Festival

About the Slack Key Guitar Festival
The history of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festivals had its early beginnings in 1982. It was grounded in aloha and for the love of the music and man that was synonymous with the music. It was an opportunity to pay tribute to the contributions of a man who contributed so much to the music of Hawaii, and at the same time, continue his legacy and help to perpetuate and preserve a unique Hawaiian acoustic guitar art form known as "Ki-ho'alu”.

In 1980 Charles Phillip Pahinui, also known as Gabby 'Pops' Pahinui, passed away. A giant in his own time and legendary to many around the world through his music, he was one of the few that led the way for what is now referred to as the "Hawaiian Renaissance" that had its roots in 1960's. Through his music and style, Gabby was able to inspire and motivate young Hawaiians to be proud of their cultural heritage. Further, through sincerity and passion for his music, he showed that Hawaii's traditional music, and in particular, Ki-ho'alu, was an art form that was special and unique to Hawaii and worthy of being played in front of a large audience and quality venues. He believed that the art form that began 180 years ago on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii and was worthy of his time and devotion. Till this day, he is recognized as the "Modern Day Father" of the slack key guitar and its greatest master.

In tribute to him and other giants of the genre the festival was started as a way to honor all of their efforts and accomplishments. That first festival drew several thousand people and led to its continuation on an annual basis on the island of Oahu in Honolulu. After the first 10 years of the festival, the festival began touring statewide as well as overseas.

About Mainstage

Mainstage Center for the Arts, located in Blackwood, NJ, is committed to making the arts experience enjoyable for all its patrons. In an effort to make the shows, concerts, events, workshops, classes, and offices accessible to as many as possible, Mainstage offers many services for patrons requiring assistance. For anyone in need of assistance, please notify the office at (855) 936-2467 at the time of purchasing tickets, or at least five days prior to the event you are attending.

Mainstage Center for the Arts, the parent program for Summer Stage, is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization committed to providing a creative, vibrant, and nurturing environment for youth and adults. This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.