Music Festival
On Saturday October 23rd from noon to 9 pm, the Hawaii Spirit Festival will feature an incredible music celebration with the intention and dharma of giving back to the community! The Festival Features a lineup of local artists along with some very special guest musicians and the proceeds from this event will go directly into the preservation of the Hawaiian Culture and Environment.
John Cruz
John has distinguished himself as one of the most talented artists that has ever come from Hawaii and was named the Best Singer Songwriter by Hawaii Magazine in 2008. After a classic hit first album, this well-earned reputation became even more solidified when he released his long-awaited second album, One of These Days in 2007. After its debut week, the album landed firmly at #1 in Hawaii, #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart for the Pacific Region and #6 on the Billboard World Chart. Critics described it as “brilliant” and “one of the year’s finest albums, local or otherwise.” The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts gave the CD its highest honor in 2008, by awarding John the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Contemporary Album of the Year. It delivers more of the warm, heartfelt melodies and passionate, soulful vocals that John’s fans have grown to know and love.
Go Jimmy Go
Celebrating 13 Years Of An Original Island Sound…Go Jimmy Go has been the front-runner in Hawai’i’s music industry, creating original rhythms since the mid ‘90s. With a wholly unique sound, the key to their success has been the band’s feverish chemistry of musicians. With a foundation of driving beats, drummer/vocalist Shon Gregory and bass man Jayder set the pace for Ian Ashley’s melodic guitar/vocals. Ryan Kunimura on trombone and tenor saxophonist Eric White add the sweet memorable flavor of “old Jamaica” while the frenetic moves and soulful vocals of lead singer Jason “Bison” Friedmann never cease to amaze audiences the world around. In 2009, look forward to the Hawaiian Punch AsiaTour, West Coast Mainland Tour and a 5th album toward the end of the year! Go Jimmy Go!
Chris Berry/CB3
Chris Berry Trio (CB3) Chris Berry (Vocals, Mbira, percussion) Aaron Johnston (Drums, Vocals) of the Brazilian Girls http://www.braziliangirls.info and Jesse Murphy (Bass, Vocals) from John Scofields Uberjam and original Brazilian Girls Member. Chris Berry is a widely celebrated Mbira player, singer, percussionist, and songwriter who has sold over 1 million albums in Africa. Since his return from Africa back to the United States, he has been playing main stage at some of the biggest festivals in the country, and collaborating with some of the most recognized musicians in many different genre’s from all over the world.
Rocky Dawuni
Ghana’s international music star Rocky Dawuni has leveraged his popularity within and without of the Continent to champion social causes and inspire a generation of artists and fans alike. Dawuni’s eloquence as well as his successful melding of musical celebrity and social action has made him a spokesperson for various causes worldwide. Over the last few years, Rocky’s music and electric live performances have attracted thousands to his concerts. Superstars such as Stevie Wonder and Peter Gabriel have joined him on stage at his shows to tremendous response.
Rocky’s 5th studio album, “Hymns for the Rebel Soul” was pre-released through Whole Foods Market in the United States in late 2009 and was officially released on May 25, 2010 by Aquarian Records. Rock Paper Scissors, Giant Step and the Sanford Company have all gotten behind the title which has been charting heavily on CMJ. The new 11 song album was inspired and written over the course of his travels around the world particularly Israel, Finland, Jamaica, U.S. and Ghana in his quest to articulate and craft a record that reflected the common spiritual, political and social aspirations of ordinary folks around the world. Rocky sees this album as a musical exploration in global consciousness.
In the US, Dawuni’s progressive fusion of Reggae, Soul and traditional African sounds, have been making steady inroads in the entertainment industry. He can be seen/heard alongside Bono from U2 in the video and song remake of “War /No more Trouble” for the highly successful “Playing for Change: Songs Around the World” album which was released by Concord Music in April 2009 and has sold over 300,000 copies. Rocky Dawuni is also featured with other global stars on “Tribute to a Reggae Legend” with his genre bending rendition of “Sun is Shining” by Bob Marley was just released by Putumayo Records in July 2010!
Guy Forsyth
It’s been a long and dusty road for Austin singer/songwriter Guy Forsyth that’s led to a surge in praise over his dazzling live shows and his rich Americana roots sound. Guy Forsyth is best known as a fantastic live performer and for his multi-instrumentation talent (guitar, harmonica, ukulele, saw, lead vocals). His music brings a unique flavor that generally makes for a crowd enthralling, memorable experience. Forsyth’s music is a unique mixture of styles, such as folk, rock, country, and Tin Pan Alley to create a sound that’s as heterogeneous, raw and compelling as America itself. You’ll hear powerhouse vocals deliver energetic yarns about love, the government and the apocalypse, to name a few, as Forsyth squeezes everything he has into each song and rarely comes up for air.
Ty Burhoe
Ty Burhoe has been a disciple of the great tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain, since1990. He has become well known not only for his talents as a tabla player, but also for his extensive experience as a recording and live concert producer. He has been featured on many soundtracks for film and DVD, including the academy award winning documentary, “Born into Brothels.”
His studies included violin, trombone, guitar, and voice, as well as an intensive focus on sculpting and painting. In 1990, Ty was introduced to the great tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and it was love at first sight. In 2004, after 11 years of producing, Ty opened “Tala Records”,a home-spun company focused on producing CDs, projects and tours presented by the many artists with whom Ty is involved.
Ty is also the North American tour assistant for his teacher, Zakir Hussain; a versatile job involving concert production, stage management, sound board engineering, light design and operation, repairing/maintaining instruments, playing tamboura, managing the artists, and much more. He currently lives part time in Boulder Colorado, part time in Maui Hawaii and part time in Japan.
Rara Avis
Six Degrees recording artist Rara Avis has a deep love for the place where yoga and music meet. A pioneer in the world of ethno-techno fusion, Rara has produced and collaborated on many celebrated yoga music projects, ranging from his work with Shaman’s Dream and Desert Dwellers, to remixes and music production for Jai Uttal, Deva Premal, Donna DeLory, Shiva Rea, Duncan Wong, Hemalayaa Behl, Karsh Kale and more. His musical styles are always seeking to blend genres as he has an eclectic array of training in blues, jazz, classical, ethnic, electronic, and contemporary song writing. Rara’s sets combine live instruments with lush downtempo grooves, heart felt melodies and motifs, ethnic and traditional elements, all while keeping the dance floor moving and grooving. It is through his devotion to both fields that he has found ways of facilitating healing music journeys that give listeners a deep sense of connection to their divine nature.
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo w/ Tempo Valley
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo is the founder and lead singer of the music group The Rock by Funk Tribe. Iyeoka is at the forefront of creating a new artistic genre that gracefully interweaves spoken word poetry with jazz, blues, gospel and electronic soul. Iyeoka & the Rock by Funk Tribe is one of the most sought after supporting acts for touring artists showcasing in New England. As a dynamic sensation in the Boston music scene, Iyeoka and the Rock by Funk Tribe have been invited to locally support touring artists including FEMI KUTI, ZAP MAMA and Slick Rick. In April 2010, Iyeoka performed at Jazzmouth, The Seacoast Poetry & Jazz festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, alongside former US poet laureate Robert Pinsky, Ray Manzarek of the Doors, and original beat poet Michael McClure. Iyeoka’s latest hit single, “the Yellow Brick Road song” received national placement in an episode of the new hit HBO series “How To Make It In America”, gaining many positive reviews for both lyrical content and musical composition. Embracing the power of words from writers such as Sonia Sanchez, Patricia Smith and Alice Walker, Iyeoka is a powerful songstress whose lyrical prowess invokes the spirit of the renowned soul-shaker Nina Simone. A story teller to the core, Iyeoka’s hope-filled poems come from within and build momentum with truth transformed into songs that reemerge as unique, emotionally complex gifts to her audience, touching on a wide range of issues-love, women, culture, struggle, relationships, among many others. In 2008, Iyeoka’s vocal talents on a cover of U2’s 1988 hit song “Desire” was showcased on a compilation of U2 covers Produced by Shawn Amos and Paul Heck, In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 features Grammy Award-winning/nominated African artists including Angelique Kidjo, Les Nubians, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Vieux Farka Tour, Vusi Mahlasela and the Soweto Gospel Choir where proceeds benefited the Global Fund.
Honolulu-based music collective Tempo Valley working its atmospheric, otherworldly melange of downtempo hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul, trip-hop, slightly psychedelic world beat and occasional oddball sonics. Wicked inventive, funky eclectic and trippy original, the music of Tempo Valley showcases a gathering of musicians who have gained a loyal, growing grass-roots following.
Justin Ancheta
Justin Ancheta is a native Californian with roots from Hawaii, the Philippines, and Spain. His sounds reflect world reggae, flamenco, and classical guitar, with a tinge of rock to jolt you to the moment. He has broken barriers of genre multiple times throughout his youthful career by diving into indie-rock, folk, electronic, and countless other flavors of life. Multifaceted didgeridoo, guitar, vocals, percussionist, Ancheta brings a new flavor of life and a touch of clarity to the chaos theory. Between the layers and tectures of sound, he intertwines deep rhythm and healing sound that evoke revelation of mind – body – and spirit. An environmental scientist that has dove into the ethereal world of healing, Ancheta is on a path to changing the world through his music, infusing deep heritage and culture into our roots and spirits so that we can sustain truth in existence once again. He is blessed to be surrounded by all the amazing musicians that help in creating the timeless moments over and over again.
Organeek
Organeek is a dynamic blend of percussion and vocal styles from Africa, the Carribean, and Brasil. Featuring Hawaii based percussionists Jesse Seymour, Reggae Mcgowen and Craig Kohland (Shaman’s Dream), as well as Dancer/vocalist Starr Anastasio and special guests. Orga-neek electrifies with danceable grooves to shake your body and soul.
David Ralicke
David Ralicke is a saxophone and trombone player and song writer who hails from Venice Beach, California. He has toured and recorded with Beck, Ziggy Marley, Macy Gray, KD Lang, and other pop luminaries. David is also a member of Dengue Fever, a Cambodian retro-psych-pop band that has performed in Phenom Penh and in music festivals across the globe. Ralicke’s solo efforts include Mad Finder/ “Hit the Grass” (2007, Lovecat Music) and “Salty Plum” (2003, Noon Key Music). Both can be found on My Space, CDBaby.com.
Daphne Tse
Daphne is a soulful singer/songwriter originally from Texas currently calling Bali, Indonesia home. Since her initial yoga class, she has merged her spiritual practice with her contemporary folk singer/songwriter style. She has shared her music at music festivals, conferences, and retreats worldwide from Europe to the Americas and Asia and beyond. She studied music at UT in Austin, The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and kirtan music with Jai Uttal. She is committed to expanding consciousness on the planet through global community events focusing on music, yoga, dance and all forms of art that inspire peace in action. She has released music on Shiva Rea’s yoga music compilations, Jala and Nataraja. Her solo CD, Mata, was released in 2008.
