Makana
Miners Foundry Cultural Center
325 Spring St
Nevada City, CA 95959
Feb 20, 2019
8:00 PM PST
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About this concert
The Miners Foundry is pleased to present Makana on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Virtuosic and versatile, Makana's music defies description. His solo performance is an exhilarating ride through the breadth of slack key, folk, rock, bluegrass, ethnic and jazz and his distinctly original songs are infused with the spirit of Hawai'i. Doors are at 7:00 p.m. and the show begins at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 in Advance and $30 at the Door. Tickets are available online, by phone, or in person at the Miners Foundry Box Office, or in person at Briar Patch Co-Op. Ticketing fees waived for purchases made by phone or in person at the Miners Foundry Box Office.
"A dynamic force within the style [of slack key]... dazzling." ~ The New York Times
Hailing from the isle of O'ahu, Makana is an internationally acclaimed slack-key guitarist, singer, composer, philosopher, activist, and one of Hawaii's cultural ambassadors to the world. He is recognized as one of the top guitarists in the United States by Guitar Player magazine and was invited for an official showcase at the renowned SXSW Musical Festival. NPR included him on the Austin 100 list of must-see shows. His songs range from traditional to highly original, both instrumental and lyrical, exploring a broad spectrum of themes: cultural, philosophical, sociopolitical, interpersonal, sensual, and universal, often through the lens of humor and sharp wit. His music is featured on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack of the award-winning film The Descendants.
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Makana Biography
A protégé of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar legends, including Bobby Moderow & the late master Uncle Sonny Chillingworth, Makana has dedicated his life to perpetuating as well as evolving the traditional Hawaiian art form of Slack Key or "Ki Ho’alu". From this tradition Makana has evolved his own dynamic, high-octane style, coined “Slack Rock”: slack key infused with elements of bluegrass, rock, blues and raga. Makana’s playing has garnered praise from such guitar luminaries as Kirk Hammett (Metallica) & Pepe Romero (Spanish Flamenco Master). A contributor to the Grammy-nominated “Hawaiian Slack Key Kings”, Makana is considered one of the “greatest living players” (Esquire Magazine) who’s “instrumental brilliance bears comparison with the work of such groundbreaking acoustic guitarists as John Fahey and Michael Hedges” (Maui News).
Hailing from the isle of O’ahu, Makana—whose name means “a gift given freely”—began singing when he was 7 years old, took up ‘ukulele at 9 and began learning the ancient art of slack key at 11. By 14, he was already performing professionally, and before long playing four nights a week. His reputation as the youngest master of slack key spread like molten volcanic lava throughout the islands. With each successive year, more and more music fans—both on and outside of the islands—are experiencing the Makana phenomenon. In addition to his own headlining tours, Makana has opened shows for the likes of Sting, Santana, Elvis Costello, Paul Rodgers, Chris Isaak, No Doubt, Jason Mraz, and Jack Johnson, and in 2008 he won 2nd runner-up in Guitar Player Magazine’s National "Guitar Superstar" Competition.
Read MoreHailing from the isle of O’ahu, Makana—whose name means “a gift given freely”—began singing when he was 7 years old, took up ‘ukulele at 9 and began learning the ancient art of slack key at 11. By 14, he was already performing professionally, and before long playing four nights a week. His reputation as the youngest master of slack key spread like molten volcanic lava throughout the islands. With each successive year, more and more music fans—both on and outside of the islands—are experiencing the Makana phenomenon. In addition to his own headlining tours, Makana has opened shows for the likes of Sting, Santana, Elvis Costello, Paul Rodgers, Chris Isaak, No Doubt, Jason Mraz, and Jack Johnson, and in 2008 he won 2nd runner-up in Guitar Player Magazine’s National "Guitar Superstar" Competition.
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