Announcing 15th Annual Southern California Slack Key Festival and Island Market
Kala Koa Entertainment will be celebrating 15 years of having some of the biggest and brightest names in Hawaiian music on the continent with the return of the Southern California Slack Key Festival 2022 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Sunday, January 16, 2022.
One of the most acclaimed Hawaiian concerts to ever leave the islands, the Southern California Slack Key Festival takes fans on a musical Hawaiian journey featuring GRAMMY-winning slack key guitarists, the world’s best hula dancers, special guest artists and an Island Public Market.
Since 2008, the Southern California Slack Key Festival has been the largest Hawaiian music concert event in the Americas and features the most respected names in Hawaiian guitar and hula music today. Taking its name from a style of guitar playing that originated in Hawaii (as heard on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack for “The Descendants”), the Slack Key Festival brings the art of the guitar ki ho’alu at Redondo Beach.
This year’s Southern California Slack Key Festival lineup includes George Kuo, Jim “Kimo” West, Jeff Peterson, Patrick Landeza & Sons, Ian O’Sullivan, Pomaika’i & Malie Lyman, Alan Akaka
Jeff Peterson was born on the island of Maui and raised on the slopes of Haleakala where he was introduced to the rich heritage of Hawaiian music by his father, a “paniolo” (Hawaiian cowboy), at the Haleakala Ranch. Recognized as one of Hawaii’s most versatile musicians, Jeff Peterson is today at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene, having contributed to two Grammy Award-winning recordings and winner of eight Na Hōkū Hanohano Awards in Hawaii, including the Slack Key Album of the Year for “Maui on My Mind” in 2010, “Slack Key Travels” in 2014 and “O’ahu” in 2016 which also earned him Instrumental Song of the Year for the song “Old Pali “. His latest album “Wahi Pana” is a feature film, documentary film and CD soundtrack.
Patrick Landeza & Sons are from “Berkeley Island, Calif.” Patrick is an award winning guitarist and teaches slack key guitar in camps and music lessons across the country. He has become the man of choice for Northern California – even the West Coast – for all things Hawaiian music, a vital bond that unites the Hawaiian community in California. Congratulations to Patrick for winning the 2021 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for the Hawaiian album of the year Slack Key! Patrick performs today with his sons Justin Firmeza and PJ Landeza on guitar and steel bass, respectively.
Ian O’Sullivan has been proclaimed by Classical Guitar as “a player of great depth and sensitivity” as well as a “composer who forged a unique repertoire that honors both his Hawaiian roots and his many years of formal training” , Ian O ‘Sullivan is a classically trained guitarist and songwriter from the North Shore of O’ahu. Well versed in Hawaiian music and the ‘ukulele, in addition to the classical Western repertoire, Ian has performed internationally and across the United States both as a soloist and with various groups. Past performances include Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, New York Guitar Society, Minnesota Guitar Society, Tokyo Dome, and the Hawaiian Islands. From 2012 to 2016 Ian taught at the University of Hawaii and is currently Director of Guitar / Ukulele at Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Campus.
Pomaika’i & Malie Lyman: Sound piece from the past seems to haunt the soul when you listen to the voice of a young woman who looks like a beloved aunt Genoa Keawe in her youth – Pōmaika’i was able to learn and develop the unique style of “ha’i” that his Tutu Genoa Keawe has mastered and performed across Hawai’i and in many parts of the world. Now, many who enjoy listening to the music of Genoa Keawe are happy to hear that Pōmaika’i has continued the honor and kuleana of carrying on this musical tradition and legacy. Mālie, 16, is one of the Ke Kula Mele Next Generation steel guitarists. Versatile, she can dance the hula, sing and play several other instruments including the ‘ukulele.
Malie has been playing steel guitar since 2013. His interest and enthusiasm have allowed him to develop his playing skills and his self-confidence. It is obvious that she enjoys entertaining, whether it is hula hoops, singing or playing a musical instrument.
Alan Akaka is inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame and has created his own steel guitar sound and style, incorporating the styles of the masters: David Roger, Benny Rogers, Jules Ah See, Billy Hew Len, David Keli’i, Jake Keli’ikoa and his teacher Jerry Byrd. He has recorded with a number of artists including Genoa Keawe, Owana, Nohelani Cypriano, Nina Keali’iwahamana and Karen Keawehawai’i as well as with Swedish Simons and a number of Japanese artists and groups. Alan founded and directed the Na ‘Opio Singers and Hawaiian Ensemble of Kamehameha Middle Schools and was the principal of the Performing Arts Academy in Kamehameha for 16 years. In 2009, he established the Ke Kula Mele Hawai’i School of Hawaiian Music.
For more information visit: http://kalakoa.com/slackkey/
