Concerts, jam sessions and fireworks.The 2008 Maui Invitational Band Festival continues to July 5 with a blues fest, special concerts and jam sessions.
“Blues Fest,” a night dedicated to one of America’s most enduring musical forms, includes an impressive lineup of national and local blues musicians featuring guitarists Colin John and Michael Hill, vocalist Sheryl Renee, Claude Hopper and the Vince Esquire Blues Band. “Blues Fest” takes place on Saturday, July 5, at the ‘Iao Theater, 68 N. Market Street in Wailuku, beginning at 7 p.m. A suggested donation of $10 will benefit music education programs.
The Maui Community Band debuts a special piece commissioned for the band especially for the festival by Arts Education for Children Group on July 4 at the Lahaina Town Concert in the Park. Entitled Maui Waltz Medley, it is comprised of three well-known Hawaiian waltzes—The Maui Waltz, Pua Lilia, Kamehameha Waltz—arranged by Siuai Laufou, band director of Kamehameha Schools Maui. The band will also perform The Symphonic Beatles, Pictures at an Exhibition, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Lustspiel, Southwest Saga, Liberty Bell, 1812 Overture, and Stars and Stripes Forever.
Sheryl Renee, Michael Hill and Colin John will also perform with the band. This free concert begins at 6 p.m. on the Lahaina Library lawn with a fireworks display at 8 p.m.
The Festival Jam takes place at Café Marc Aurel, 28 N. Market Street, Wailuku. The jams begin at 7:30 p.m. and there is no cover charge. On Thursday, July 3, Sheryl Renee and the Diggable All-Stars perform. On Saturday, July 5, enjoy the “Before During and After Party” with the Hand Jive Trio and a variety of performers who will join in after the “Blues Fest.”
Presented by Arts Education for Children Group (AECG), the Maui Invitational Band Festival is supported by the County of Maui, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, South Maui Learning Ohana, and Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa.
AECG, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for artistic and cultural enrichment for the youth of Maui.
For more information and a complete Maui Invitational Band Festival schedule, call 667-2805 or visit www.aecg.org.