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Elaine
Akahai
USA
98 Posts |
 Posted - 10/07/2008 : 5:31:34 PM
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Hi Clay,
Go ahead and pick a time. I'll create a place.
Elaine |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2008 : 9:13:53 PM
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Clay,
I think maybe we can all meet briefly just before the lunchtime workshop (what, no eating lunch time allotted for?) or we can have a mini happy hour between 4:45 and 5:00. This schedule is packed, no one seems to think we might need a break here or there....
Julie |
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 08:32:49 AM
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Hi Elaine, Julie, Mike and other fellow Taropatchers,
I'm planning to arrive at the festival tomorrow morning and would love to meet any fellow Taropatchers. I'll be lugging around my uke and guitar and would be game for any impromptu kanikapilas too. Who else is planning to come?
Aloha,
Doug |
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cwilson
Aloha
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2008 : 2:51:20 PM
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Elaine,
Let's do what Julie suggests and meet at 12:15.
My only other thought would be to try and meet at 9:00am before the workshops start.
Hopefully since some of us know each other we can introduce others when we see them.
Looking forward to the day's fun and meeting new friends.
See you Saturday.
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Dominator
Lokahi
USA
115 Posts |
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les_maverick
Lokahi
USA
238 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2008 : 09:19:30 AM
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Doug:
I wish I could be there.
I am stuck working today.
Hopefully I can make it to the jam tomorrow in Sam Jose.
Les |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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Teri
Aloha
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2008 : 12:08:40 PM
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I must agree with Konabob. It was a wonderful festival with many unique and wonderful musicians. Many thanks to Elaine, Suzie and Nimbus Arts for pulling together a fun time for all. The concert at the end of the day was a wonderful ending to a packed, lovely day. There was much aloha all around.
Teri and Susan |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2008 : 7:23:25 PM
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YIKES!
I don't even know where to begin! First of all, we got to enjoy time with some very phenomenal musicians. I regret that there are only 24 hours to a day. Huge kudos to Elaine, Suzy, Jaymie of Nimbus Arts. It is really difficult to pull off an event of this magnitude for the first time. You never know how it will turn out, but these folks made the very best of it. The musicians were first class. Not only the workshop classes, but the performances on stage were superb.
THE FOOD! for the Lu'au! Keoki and his crew, Herb Ohta Jr, and all the folks who helped him cook, did such a beautiful job of cooking AND presentation, that most of us were loath to leave the Nimbus Art Center for the next concert. And of course, being in the midst of Wine Country, we got to sample some very tasy wines with dinner.
I also got to meet some TaroPatch members new to me. There were just so many activities to participate in, so many beautiful ukes for sale, so much wonderful food to eat, it will take me days to sort out my memories. Thank you to all my dear friends that I had a chance to visit with!
Aloha nui loa, Julie |
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Elaine
Akahai
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2008 : 7:38:28 PM
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Wow! It was a day full of miracles, from Liko Puha's
blessing of the festival and the beautiful opening chant he wrote just for the Napa Valley to the beautiful hula performed by Robyn Kneubuhl while Keoki Kahumoku played slack key and sang. Talk about grace in motion.
I must say the highlight for me, personally, was when the Santa Cruz 'Ukulele Club produced a "second" Kala spalted maple cut-away tenor 'ukulele (which was the prize) so that both contestants in the "Crazy G" contest, sponsored by Kala Brand 'Ukuleles, walked off that stage a winner! (Now aren't you sorry you didn't enter?) Another act of perfect grace. Thank you, Andy.
People who came for the free performance had no idea they were going to get to see Kimo Hussey, (yes, the Kimo Hussey), The Dominator, Faith Ako and Steven Espaniola! And how delightful it was to also have The Victor Ohana Band, The Happy Haole, the Napa Valley Flea Jumpers, the Santa Cruz Ukulele Club, and Templebar's Royal Hawaiian 'Ukulele Band. The Open Mic was an inspiration that included Julie and Larry (Go team taropatch!) and two great performances by a couple of 13-year-old local boys, proving the future of the 'ukulele is secure. And who could ask for a better moderator than Andy Andrews?
The people who attended the lu'au got a beautiful, surprise performance by Robyn Kneubuhl, Liko Puha, KonaBob, and Mark Nelson. Liko's Ulupalakua is something else! And Robyn, that voice could be what's responsible for the melting of the polar ice caps! And there was a prize drawing for an Ohana 'Ukulele--just for people at the lu'au, in addition to the amazing meal prepared by Keoki Kahumoku, who was up most of the night before prepping and cooking away just make sure no one went away hungry (and they didn't.) (A word to the wise: buy your tickets early next year!)
On to the Tucker Farm Center for the evening performance. Oh my gosh! Ralph Shaw drew a standing ovation, right out of the shoot and all I could think about when he and James Hill did their 'ukulele/chopstick/yodeling duet (yep, that's what I said) was, "Man, there are going to be plenty of people who are going to be sorry they missed this!" I don't think anyone enjoyed it more than those guys from Hawai'i. Herb Ohta, Jr., admitted he had a tough act to follow, but had no trouble rising to the occasion. And Keoki (after washing the pots and pans from the lu'au) closed the show with another knock-out performance.
There were lots of tired but happy campers at the end of the day. Thank you to everyone who came. And special thanks to the volunteers (Teri, Susan, Sue, Erich, Eva, Peter, Lois, Jeanne, Julie and Larry) It was indeed, the First Annual Wine Country Ukulele Festival--on to the second!
Elaine
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Edited by - Elaine on 10/13/2008 04:18:14 AM |
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Tonya
Lokahi
USA
177 Posts |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2008 : 07:15:02 AM
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Mahalos to everyone involved with this inaugural event. In spite of threats of unseasonable cold (Thursday nite's meet & greet was brrrrrr-city!) and Friday's nearby fire; the day was warmed by the aloha of all the participants, venders, artists & organizers. Blue skies, warm sun, interesting classes and great music all around.
Sorry you missed the luau & concert, Tonya, cuz they were awesome. The food was ono beyond compare, and I had a ball playing with Robyn and KonaBob. Watching Liko dance is always a treat... and you should see it from the band's perspective. 
I wasn't sure I'd make it to the concert, it had been a long day, but I'm glad I did. It is not every day that the first act gets a standing ovation, but Ralph did, and he earned it. Elaine has alluded to the duet of Ralph and James-- that was one for the books. I hope some of the guys with video camera's post a bootleg on YouTube.
James is known as an `ukulele virtuoso, but there is so much more. He oozes music out of every pore.
Herb -- what can you say? The man has such sublime musical taste! And Keoki charmed everyone in the house by inviting a decidedly kolohe aunty to dance "Mele of My Tutu E." We all joined hands to sing "Hawaii Aloha," but the crowd would not let Herb and Keoki leave the stage, so they invited Robyn up to dance one final hula. The perfect ending.
Yep, the whole Wine Country Ukulele Festival was great from start to finish. Mark your calendar for next year!
Did I mention the wine?? |
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2008 : 11:37:55 AM
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I’m so glad I was able to make it to the Uke Festival. Since I didn’t pre-register, I got there early on Saturday morning to ensure I could get tickets to the workshops and the Grand Finale Concert. Unfortunately, the luau was sold out a week or so before, but I knew that going in.
The 75-minute workshops were very educational and fun. In the morning I took two classes from James Hill, “’Ukulele, Pass It On,” and “Swing, ‘Ukulele Swing.” I had never met James before and only saw him via YouTube. I knew he was a phenomenal player, but I didn’t know he was a gifted teacher. Not a bad way to start the day!
Although I didn’t want to, I opted out of the 12:30-1:45P workshops so I could eat lunch, say “Hi” to a few friends, and see some of the Mainstage performances. In the afternoon, I took Ralph Shaw’s “Strumzercises & Ornamentology,” and Taropatch’s own Mark Nelson’s “Fun With Your ‘Ukulele.” Both classes were very fun and I learned a lot of new techniques and ideas. Plus, I was glad to finally have met Mark and also Tonya, another fellow Taropatcher.
Unfortunately, since I was in workshops for most of the day, I didn’t have much time to mingle out in the courtyard or even check out the beautiful ukes. And quite frankly, there were so many great workshops going on simultaneously, that it was hard to choose. I would definitely have come back the next day to take the other classes.
The concert was not just a concert. It was an Event--very entertaining and unpredictable. Those wacky Canadians, Ralph Shaw and James Hill, were awesome. They are truly originals. How can you forget that chopstick/percussive/Bobby McFerrin mouth sounds/yodeling/dance number? Or Ralph’s song about how to make a homemade ‘ukulele case. It was so hilarious and clever, and he performed in a tuxedo to boot. James’ virtuosity is as jaw dropping as it is innovative.
Herb and Keoki were fantastic and funny as usual. I’m glad they both got to play a solo set as well as together. Herb’s the master of subtleties, has an incredible touch, and plays so beautifully that you just close your eyes and get taken back to the islands. Keoki mesmerizes you with his soulful singing, an old Hawaiian voice from the past. And of course, his slack key is very expressive, with those signature Kahumoku bass runs. Herb and Keoki never fail to make me homesick.
I didn’t get home until well after midnight, but what a fun and educational day it was. A BIG Mahalo to Elaine, Suzie, Nimbus Arts, and all the volunteers for putting this wonderful festival together. The aloha was overflowing. Can’t wait till next year!
Aloha,
Doug
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2008 : 12:01:40 PM
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| Aloha E Doug - you write a very good review; makes me feel almost like I was there. I am glad you had such a spectacular experience. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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cwilson
Aloha
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2008 : 1:33:07 PM
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Elaine,
The Festival was great. Made some new friends from the Taropatch bunch.
The music in the courtyard was very good and the workshops were wonderful.
It was just hard to choose from so many different workshops. Also got to play
with Robyn and KonaBob and that was really fun, what a great experience. The luau
food and music were a perfect ending for our day. Sign us up for next year. See you at AMC.
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