Aloha to the Ukulele faithful!
 
Now that the summer is in full swing, I wanted to share my upcoming performance schedule with you.  I hope to see you there!
 
7/24 – Book ‘em Danno in Concert at Loveland Cherry Pie Days, Loveland Museum, FREE to the public! 5 – 6:30 pm
7/28 – Book ‘em Danno in Concert at Wheat Ridge City Concert, Anderson Park, 4355 Field St. Wheat Ridge CO, FREE to the public! 6:30 – 8 pm
 
Don’t forget that Jake Shimabukuro is coming to town:
 
6/26 6/29 – Jake Shimabukuro in Concert, Chautauqua Amphitheatre in Boulder, 7:30 pm

The Big News for ukulele fans: Jake Shimabukuro is coming to Boulder on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at the Chautauqua Auditorium (big Mahalo to Debbie Turner for alerting me to this event!).

If you're interested in getting tickets as a group, let me know.  There's a 25% discount for a group of 10.

I played with Book 'em Danno this past weekend (August 16) at the New West Fest.  The music was sponsored by the Bohemian Foundation, and they did an outstanding job.  Props go out to Courtney and Carson and the sound guys at the Old Town Square stage.

The day was perfect: sunny skies, temperature in the mid-70's, a covered stage (it's the little things that count), and very cool artist passes.  Everyone made us feel like we were special.  The sound crew worked hard to make us sound great, and there was even a green room catered with very ono grinds.

Book 'em Danno played a fun gig this past weekend at the Lundeen House (famous bronze sculture artists and foundry owners in Loveland, Colorado).  What a gorgeous property right off the Big Thompson river!  It was a benefit for the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County.  Kathi Wright, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, welcomed us with the Aloha Spirit. Good food, too, from the Outback Steak House.  They really treated us right. Sometimes it pays to be a musician :-)

Even though this isn't directly related to the ukulele, if you want to watch a real slice of Hawaiian culture and music, check out the Merry Monarch Festival that is held annually in Hilo, Hawaii.  If you listen closely to many of the meles (songs) that are played, you can hear the Olapa Strum.  Let me know if you can hear the rhythm.

Hilo is a sleepy little town on the Windward side of the Big Island (that's the one with all the active volcanoes).  But once a year it becomes the home of the best hula performances in the world.

They have the performances available on the Internet from a local TV station (KITV).  Here's the link: http://www.kitv.com/video/19221425/index.html