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For our December HOLIDAY POTLUCK JAM on O`ahu, we're wandering back to Wahiawa! Please join us on Sunday, December 14 at WAHIAWA BOTANICAL GARDEN from 10:30 AM till 3:00 PM, and then a very special OPEN MIC BENEFIT at WAHIAWA'S HIGHER GROUND CAFE at 4:00 PM! And yes indeed, our jam at the Botanical Garden will include an EARLY Slow Jam Workshop by the amazing LISA GOMES at 11:30 AM SHARP!
Also, the very next KAUAI Pickin' In The Park jam session will take place on December 31 at Salt Pond Park in Hanapepe. Keep reading for details! Happy Holidays to all, and may you have a well-tuned New Year!
Warm aloha from Caroline Wright
President and Founder of Bluegrass Hawai`i
ON O`AHU We'll kick off our day at the beautiful Wahiawa Botanical Garden. Lisa Gomes will conduct her continuing SLOW JAM WORKSHOP in the Multi-purpose Room between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM. (Not interested in the workshop? There are lots of places to jam elsewhere in the garden; it's filled with benches and stumps to sit on, there are several covered pavilions, and the trees provide a perfect canopy!)
At 12:30, we'll ALL assemble in the Multi-purpose Room for POTLUCK PUPUS and of course, MORE PICKIN'! (Please bring your favorite pupu to share--sweet or savory, as long as it's your favorite!) Join us if you can; it's a FREE event and it'll be a wonderful party!
Then, we'll head down to Higher Ground Cafe for our OPEN MIC BENEFIT! Keep reading for details.
Event: Bluegrass Hawai`i's HOLIDAY POTLUCK JAM
OPEN MIC BENEFIT for BLUEGRASS HAWAI`I Higher Ground,
Wahiawa's fabulous new cafe, will host our exciting OPEN MIC BENEFIT immediately following our Holiday Potluck Jam on December 16! Yes, folks, this is a BENEFIT event for Bluegrass Hawai`i! We'll be signing up acts for Open Mic performances at our Potluck Jam at the Botanical Garden, and right up until the Open Mic begins at Higher Ground at about 4:00 PM!
Event: Bluegrass Hawai`i's OPEN MIC BENEFIT
ALL ISLANDS
Don't miss these OTHER cool recurring events, with focus on traditional music, here and there all over the Hawaiian Islands! Some happen monthly or even quarterly. Others have gatherings several times per month! All are listed on our RECURRING EVENTS page.
Sunday, December 14
BLUEGRASS HAWAI`I
HOLIDAY POTLUCK JAM and OPEN MIC
at WAHIAWA BOTANICAL GARDEN
and WAHIAWA'S HIGHER GROUND CAFE
Y'all come! We've scheduled our HOLIDAY POTLUCK JAM at lovely Wahiawa Botanical Gardens on California Avenue in Wahiawa. Immediately afterwards, we'll head down the hill to Higher Ground Cafe on Kam Highway in Wahiawa for Bluegrass Hawai`i's OPEN MIC BENEFIT!
Date and Time: Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 10:30 AM--3:00 PM (Garden closes at 4PM.)
Location: Wahiawa Botanical Garden
Address: California Avenue in Wahiawa
Directions: Click here for map! Find your way to H2 North, going towards Mililani and Wahiawa. Take exit 8 for Wahiawa, just before the highway ends near Schofield Barracks. At the end of the exit, go right; stay in the right lane. You'll be on KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY. At the third light, take a right onto CALIFORNIA AVENUE. Go about a mile or so, past Foodland, Longs, Blockbusters; past a Buddhist Hongwanji on your right and a community park on your left. Look for the Botanical Garden on your left!
Parking: Click here for map! The Garden's small parking lot on California Ave. holds about 20 cars. If you need to park very very close, try to arrive a little early (the Garden opens at 9AM daily!) There's also plenty of parking along the fenceline on California Avenue, but you'll have to turn around in the parking lot at Leilehua High School, just up the hill, and come back down California. There is also a parking lot on Kilani Avenue/Glen Avenue. Kilani runs parallel to California Avenue, and becomes Glen Avenue just before the Botanical Garden. If you park in the Kilani/Glen lot, walk down a moderate hill, and then you'll go left, across a scenic bridge into the main lot/entrance. It's a lovely stroll, but not for those with lots of gear, or who have a tough time walking.
What To Bring: A POTLUCK PUPU DISH! Bring your favorite entree or dessert pupu to share with the gang!
Who's Welcome: EVERYBODY! If you play an unplugged traditional instrument, and like acoustic bluegrass, newgrass, mountain, roots, traditional country, Hawaiian, Americana, folk, Western, Celtic, and Irish music, you are welcome to come and jam along! (Listeners, of course, are welcome, too!) Y'all come!
Carpoolers: Please CARPOOL if you can! If you need a ride, OR if you're willing to give a ride to another picker who doesn't drive, email caroline@bluegrasshawaii.com.
Workshop: Our continuing Slow Jam workshop, conducted by fiddler LISA GOMES, will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM sharp! If you're a beginner, you won't want to miss this. Lisa's workshop will be an easy review of some tunes she's covered in past workshops. Go practice! :o)
at Wahiawa's Higher Ground Cafe
4:00 PM, Sunday, December 14 (immediately after Holiday Potluck Jam)
Date and Time: Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 4:00 PM till ?
Location: Higher Ground Cafe
Address: 101 North Kamehameha Highway in Wahiawa
Directions: Click here for map! Higher Ground and Hawai`i Music Supply are located in the same little mall, at 101 North Kamehameha Highway in Wahiawa. Take H2 North to Exit 8 Wahiawa. Merge right onto Kamehameha Hwy and pass through three intersections. Just past the intersection of Kam and California Ave., you'll see Hawai`i Music Supply on your left, across from Zippy's. Higher Ground is the fifth door in the strip.
What To Bring: A $10 donation (or whatever you can give) to benefit BLUEGRASS HAWAI`I!
Who's Welcome: EVERYBODY! If you have some music to share, why not sign up for our Open Mic? (Listeners, of course, are welcome, too!) Y'all come!
Carpoolers: Please CARPOOL if you can! If you need a ride, OR if you're willing to give a ride to another picker who doesn't drive, email caroline@bluegrasshawaii.com.
DON'T MISS THESE OTHER COOL EVENTS!
ON O`AHU:
THE SALOON PILOTS
Our favorite crackers! Lesley Kline on fiddle and vocals, Kilin Reece on guitar and vocals, Paul Sato on banjo and vocals, and doghouse bassman Alex Morrison deliver a heapin' helpin' of progressive, traditional, and original bluegrass! They've now added drummer Russ Lundgren to their lineup for selected performances, and Bill Griffin of California's legendary Cache Valley Drifters is now contributing mandolin and vocals! Mmmmm tasty! Check out their blog at www.MySpace.com/SaloonPilots for their appearance schedule, photos, music, tall tales and more!
And don't forget: you, too, can hire the Saloon Pilots for your private (or public) event! They can perform in several different capacities, ranging from good, clean family fun to loud, low-down, and danceable. They can also provide a professional sound system, and even teach your guests how to squaredance! Contact Paul at paulsato@hotmail.com.
ON O`AHU:
THE CELTIC WAVES
The Celtic Waves play a lively blend of traditional jigs and reels with a sprinkling of slow airs and songs that lend an Irish pub feel to the music. Performed on acoustic instruments, their repertoire ranges from rollicking, newly composed tunes to lyrical 17th-century harp compositions. Band members include Clark Ratliffe on Irish flute and whistles; Katie McClellen on harp, mandolin, whistle, and vocals; Lawson Cannon on guitar and vocals; Susan Reinhart on bodhran, African Djembe, acoustic bass and vocals; and Kevin Craven on fiddle and vocals. They are sometimes joined by fiddler Lisa Gomes. Visit their website and find out where they're appearing at http://home.hawaii.rr.com/celticwaves. For bookings, contact Clark Ratliffe at clarkr@hawaii.edu.
The Happy Enchalata Bluegrass Band is always ready for fun and music on the island of Kaua`i! They also host a PICKIN' IN THE PARK jam session; they're currently planning a New Year's Eve jam at Salt Pond! The band has six members, and they also have several friends who join them when they can. The band plays at various venues around the Garden Island; visit their website for info. Members of the Happy Enchalata band are Marty Sheffer (mandolin, banjo, guitar and vocals), Denice Sheffer (vocals, percussion), Michael Barretto (vocals, guitar, banjo), Bill Dick (violin) and Larry Heller (box bass and electric bass).
Email HappyEnchalata@yahoo.com or visit http://home.hawaii.rr.com/happyenchalata/ or their MySpace at myspace.com/thehappyenchalata. They're also on www.youtube.com; search on "Enchalata" to find 'em! And remember, you gotta be HAPPY to be a Happy Enchalata!
Kauai PICKIN' IN THE PARK
ON KAUAI:
THE HAPPY ENCHALATA
December 31, New Year's Eve: Pickin' in the Park (hosted by The Happy Enchalata), Salt Pond
ON MAUI:
RANDALL ROSPOND
AND THE HAIKU HILLBILLYS
Check out Randall Rospond and the Haiku Hillbillys and catch some of the finest acoustic and trad-roots music on Maui! For more info, please contact Randall at liquidrosetoons@yahoo.com
The brand-new HAIKU HILLBILLY CD will be released this summer and will contain four new studio recordings, two "live in the studio" cuts engineered by Barry Shannon and Don Lopez, some live recordings from shows in 2007, and "perhaps a little secret moonshine magic for good measure." Ask Randall about Haiku Hillbilly t-shirts (sizes are limited) and his solo cd recorded at Walter's Becker's upcountry studio!
IMPORTANT: As Bluegrass Hawai`i works on becoming a 501(c)(3) non-profit association, we have been advised by the Internal Revenue Service that we have to do a few things differently. Unfortunately, we will no longer be able to accept classified ads for merchandise. Ads for folks that want to find pickin' partners and jam sessions will still be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact caroline@bluegrasshawaii.com.
ONGOING WEEKLY JAM IN WAIKIKI
If you're looking for a weekly jam, and you're a confident musician, here's a group for YOU! This session for advanced players meets every Wednesday from 2:30-4:30 PM in the auditorium of the Waikiki Community Center at 310 Paoakalani. Participation costs $1 for members, $3 for non-members, and one need not live in the area to be a member. WCC membership is $15 for six months, $25 per year. All instruments are welcome, with permission to plug in and try your expertise with the microphone. The parking's good, with entrances off (both) Ohua or Paoakalani. Chairs are Hawaiian style "in the round", and there's music sharing. You'll likely see some familiar faces from our Pickin' In The Park jams in this beautiful location, and you'll have plenty of good fun. Thanks for supporting Waikiki's neighborhood Community Center! Please come!
GIVE THE GIFT OF
BLUEGRASS HAWAI`I!
Please visit our
store for your gift needs. T-shirts, sweatshirts, license plate frames, magnets, childrens' t-shirts and hoodies, cap-sleeve and ladies'
shirts, golfers' shirts, messenger bags... we've got it all! You and your pals will be the coolest cats at any pickin' party with great bluegrass 
bling-bling--tee-shirts, sweatshirts, mousepads, coffee mugs, pet shirts, baby bibs, bumperstickers... everything you need! A small portion of each purchase will help Bluegrass Hawai`i with its mission: to grow and promote bluegrass & traditional music in the Aloha State. Shop with confidence
at Café Press!
Join Bluegrass Hawai`i! Would you like to become a part of one of America's newest bluegrass and traditional music associations? It's easy, it's quick, and it's FREE! Click here to sign up today! It's as simple as that! You'll be added to our mailing list--almost 800 people as of July 2008--and you'll receive periodic email messages about upcoming bluegrass and traditional music events in Hawai`i. (By the way, our mailing list is private; we never sell or trade it with anybody!) Y'all come!
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
WE LIKE MIKE!
Our friend Mike Kear in Australia has generously provided us
with server space for Bluegrass Hawai`i. Mahalo nui loa, Mike! Mike's Bluegrass Australia pages can be found at http://www.bluegrass.org.au/. Mike hosts this website on his servers
and has provided endless encouragement and support for our adventures. On
behalf of Bluegrass Hawai`i, THANKS, MIKE!
Mike is the host of a wonderful radio show, heard on the
Web by thousands of people all over the world, called Music From Foggy
Hollow. It can be heard at http://www.bluegrasscountry.org/.
He even interviewed Caroline (that's me!) about Bluegrass Hawai`i, way
back in May 2003 when we had our first jam--check it out here.
It is with sadness that we note the passing of Art Todd, irrepressible tenor banjo player and man-about-town, who died on October 10, 2007 at the grand old age of 93. Art came to many of our jams in the early days, and was known for his astonishing ability to play just about anything, even bluegrass! With his late wife, Dotty, Art had two top-ten hits in the U.S. and UK, but with different songs. In 1953, they scored a #1 hit in England with, "Broken Wings." In America, their "Chanson d'Amour" peaked at #6 on Billboard's Top 40 list, remaining on the charts for 11 weeks in 1958. Art and Dottie appeared several times on The Ed Sullivan Show and on The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show, and they also had their own CBS radio show. In their later years, they performed regularly at the Dunes and MGM Grand Hotels in Las Vegas, until their retirement in 1980. Art regularly gave 'ukelele lessons in and around Waikiki, and for many years, he and his buddies Del Courtney and Martin Denny got together for a weekly Wednesday jam session! He was a remarkable musician and he had a great deal of respect for bluegrass music. He will be missed.
Carmencita Cerna, the beloved mother of one of our brightest young stars, mandolinist Chris Cerna, passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, after a brave battle with illness for several months. On behalf of Bluegrass Hawai`i, mahalo to Carmen for her endless friendship and kindness to our community, and especially for producing and raising Chris to be an incredible talent. You will not be forgotten. For those of you who do not know the Cernas... please click here.
Mabel Trent, a dear lady
in faraway Pennsylvania, was tremendously supportive of our efforts to sow
the seeds of bluegrass and traditional music here in Hawai`i. Sadly, Mabel
passed away of a massive heart attack on December 29, 2004. She became a
legend in the worldwide bluegrass community--for her kind heart, her
unique and original crocheted designs, and her deep and abiding love of
music. For a moving tribute to Mabel by DJ Mike Kear, please visit http://atalkingdog.com/. Mahalo and
aloha to you, dear Mabel; may you rest in peace and sweet harmony.
ALOHA 'OE TO OUR FRIEND ART
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
CARMENCITA CERNA
MAHALO, MABEL
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED KEEPING TRACK: