Kahulanui brings its Hawaiian music to Fallon later this month.
Poet Daryl Chinn will be reading his poems tomorrow in the Classroom Gallery at the Art Center.
There’s a meet-the-author reception from 5-6 p.m. and the reading will begin at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Grammy nominees, Kahulanui, will be bringing their unique brand of Hawaiian Big Band Swing to the Oats Park Art Center on March 25.
The band is led by Lolena Naipo Jr. and he found his inspiration for the ensemble in his grandfather, Robert Kahulanui, who was a founding member of the Royal Hawaiian Band during the era when horns and drums were an integral part of Hawaiian music.
The Wall Street Journal’s positive review noted that the band successfully “updates the musical bridge between Hawaii and the Mainland.”
The group’s music blends traditional Hawaiian sounds with the early Jazz sounds of Big Band Swing which as popular with U.S. servicemen stationed in the islands during World War II.
The nine piece band — four horns, drums, ukulele, guitars, bass and steel — forge energetic, dynamic arrangements. This sound resulted in their being nominated for a 2014 Grammy for their debut album “Hula Ku’l” in the Regional Roots category.
The performance here in Fallon is part of a national tour and the group will also be performing at art centers if Alaska, Washington, California and Minnesota.
The band will also hold an informal conversation on Hawaiian musical styles and their influences at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the performance. This free event will be a great opportunity to talk with band members in an informal setting. Doors to the show and the Art Bar will open at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the evening performance are $17 for CAC members, $20 for non-members and can be picked up at Jeff’s Copy Express on Maine Street, at ITT @ NAS Fallon or by calling Churchill Arts at 775-423-1440.
There are also several offerings coming up from Churchill Arts this spring. These include the opening of a new visual art exhibition “CollAssemblage” an invitational show of recent works by 25 regional and national artists in early April. Also on tap are a performance by the French-American electro-swing band Ginkgoa and a one woman theatrical performance, “The Other Mozart,” which is the story of Mozart’s sister who has been lost to history.
We’ll have more information on these in the coming weeks.
Kirk Robertson covers the arts and may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com