Grade 8 – 12 Music Students:

Enter Code “Student” for $10 Tickets

Perfecto De Castro is the quintessential guitarist’s guitarist. Well-versed in a multitude of musical styles, his affinity with the instrument is evident in everything he does; from unleashing an emotion-laden solo with an overdriven electric guitar, to navigating complex musical counterpoint on his 10-string classical guitar.

Perf, as he is known to Filipino music fans, is best recognized as the original guitarist for 90s Pinoy Rock supergroup  Rivermaya. He has produced platinum-selling albums by Wolfgang and Marc Velasco, lent his guitar wizardry to Philippine Music Icons Mike Hanopol and Francis M, and garnered awards such as NU 107’s Guitar of the Year as well as from Philippine Music organizations Awit and Katha.

Perfecto continues to pursue a diverse musical career which ranges from solo Classical and World music concerts performed on the 10-string classical and flamenco guitar, orchestral coalescence with the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra to hard hitting, down and dirty Rock N’ Roll.

Hawaiian slack key guitar (ki ho’alu) is one of the great acoustic guitar traditions of the world, dating back to the 1840’s when guitars were first brought to Hawaii and relatively unknown outside the islands until recently. “Slack Key” means that some of the strings are slacked from standard tuning, with the bass, melody, and improvisation played at the same time, and is often played to accompany traditional dance or song. Many players use their own special tunings that often remain proprietary secrets.

Ken Emerson is a San Francisco bay area born/ Hawaiian island bred slide guitarist who covers many musical genres. Having played with the great Gabby Pahinui and many of the slack key icons, he has played his special blend of Blues/Jazz Hawaiian guitar for 40 years and running. His original compositions and performances on ‘Slack Key Guitar Vol. 2’ (Palm Records) helped bring in the first ever 2005 GRAMMY award for Hawaiian music.

Jim “Kimo” West first visited Hana, Maui in 1985. As the sounds of Gabby Pahinui, the Sons of Hawai’i, Sonny Chillingworth, The Sunday Manoa, and others played on the turntable, he jammed along for fun and relaxation. Already a devotee of open tunings, he was immediately drawn to the gentle rhythms of ki ho ‘alu (slack key guitar) and soon began writing his own songs. The rich physical and cultural landscape of the Hana Coast has provided the inspiration for many of his compositions.

While always retaining the heartfelt essence of traditional slack key, Kimo brings much of his own musical heritage to his original ki ho’alu instrumentals. His style can best be described as “nahenahe”, meaning “soft, sweet or gentle voice”, a fusion of old and new but still rooted deeply in tradition.

Drawing from diverse stylistic approaches and his Chilean roots, Dani Vargas brings a unique take to the acoustic sound.  His seasoned artistry and technical proficiency, canorous melodies, and harmonic maturity has an introspective yet uplifting feeling by virtue of the beauty and honesty that so naturally accompany the acoustic guitar.

With his on stage collaboration of the multi talented violinist Jenna Colombet, Dani’s live performances create a beautiful, lyrical and colorful blend of modern acoustic instrumental music.

Ukulele Blues Party with Del Rey

Join Del for jugband and blues songs orchestrated for the ukulele, with playing and singing parts for several levels of player. We’ll work on getting that old-timey sound on your uke, with the right rhythm, chord positions and where to find the melody. Plus we’ll try and listen to each other and play together.  We’ll add parts of varying difficulty for basic chords, strumming, picking and singing. Basic level: be comfortable and confident with first position chords and able to keep time while changing between them. By ear, no TAB.

Come to both the Party and Concert, and save $5.