Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Brings "Must See Event" to Southern New Jersey

What began as a one-time tribute to a revered Hawaiian musician has grown into a 32-year tradition performed annually on all of the Hawaiian Islands, California, Oregon, Washington state, Virginia, and now, New Jersey.

Rated one of “50 Must See Events in America Today” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival comes to Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theater, Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. It is presented by Mainstage Center for the Arts.

“We’re looking forward to introducing local audiences to the beautiful style of guitar playing. Some of the musicians are also vocalist, which really adds to the beauty,” said Milton Lau, founder of the festival.

Lau organized the first festival in 1982 in memory of Charles Phillip Pahinui, known as Gabby ‘Pops’ Pahinui, the modern father of slack key guitar.

“I was privileged to play with Gabby. Prior to meeting him, I had only played top-40 music. Then we met and my whole mind set changed,” said Lau. “Never did I imagine that first year that 32 years later we’d still be holding the festival in Hawaii, let alone the mainland, with plans to take it to Europe.”

Ki-ho’alu, which literally means “loosen the key,” is the Hawaiian language name for the solo finger-picked style (slack key) unique to Hawai’i. In this tradition, the strings (or keys) are “slacked” to produce major chord. 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.

Mainstage Center for the Arts has hosted several Hawaiian concerts and events in recent years.

“Surprisingly there are quite a few people living in NJ who are Hawaiian music lovers, like me. For these people, Ed Fiscella and Mainstage Center for the Arts are a real blessing. Ed has brought many shows to our part of the mainland. For a few dollars we can relax, close our eyes and be back in the islands again,” said Stan Wichowski, of Gloucester Township.

The festival features 30 artists who rotate on different tours. The following six artists will be featured in the Mainstage concert:

• Ian O’Sullivan, 2014 Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalist, is a classically-trained guitarist and composer from the North Shore of Oʻahu. Skilled at Hawaiian slack key guitar and ukulele, O’Sullivan regularly tours around the United States and released his debut solo album Born and Raised in 2013.
• LT Smooth, the stage name of Leon Toomata, says it all. This New Zealander’s velvety voice pairs perfectly with rapid finger picking. His second album, My Journey (2011), includes perceptive original songs along with covers like “Redemption Song.”
• Danny Carvalho has performed on A Prairie Home Companion, was featured on The Descendants soundtrack, and released his third album, Ke Au Hou, in 2013.
• Stephen Inglis is a Grammy-nominated and multi-time Hōkū award winner. He recently released Soul Sound Slack (2013), his first all instrumental solo slack key album.
• Chris Lau, producer and bass player is a seven-time Grammy nominee who co-produced acclaimed album Hawaiian Slack Key Kings (2008).
• Andy Wang, New Jersey native, developed an insatiable love for Hawaiian slack key guitar due to his family ties to O’ahu,. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, and with Hawaiian greats such as the Mākaha Sons and HAPA.
• New Jersey-based Bill Wynne took first prize at Hawaii’s Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest for both Singing and Hawaiian Language categories. In addition to singing, he is known for his ukulele, slack key guitar, and steel guitar playing.

“These artists will showcase different styles of Ki-ho’alu. Andy and Bill add a local connection to the event. And, I am so glad they are joining us in our first New Jersey concert,” said Lau. “Everyone has been so welcoming to us. We can’t wait to share the happiness of this music. It’s good for the soul.”

Tickets for the Hawaiian Slack Key Festival range from $20 to $35. To order, visitwww.mainstage.org, or call (855) 936-2467. ext 3. This event is sponsored by Comegno Law Group, P.C.

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.