FRIDAY
Bonobo drops moody beats at Nextdoor
British musician Simon Green, aka Bonobo, brings his moody electronic-acoustic sensibilities to Hawaii for a DJ set at Nextdoor.
Bonobo has produced five albums, the most recent of which, 2013’s “The North Borders,” merged electronics, bass and drums in collaboration with Erykah Badu (“Heaven for the Sinner”), Grey Reverend (“First Fires”) and other artists. Described as “easy listening for those who’ve reached the dazed dawn after a wild night out” by the BBC, the album reached No. 4 on the UK Dance and Independent Albums charts and No. 29 overall.
Along with his DJ skills, Bonobo plays guitar, double bass, drums and keyboards, featuring those instruments along with strings and horns in his album “Days to Come.” He also developed the light shows to accompany his performances. He’s given shows in 30 countries across three continents in the past few years.
Opening will be DJs Timo, newly returned from a stint in New York City, and Ramyt.
When: 9 p.m. today
Where: Nextdoor, 43 N. Hotel St.
Cost: $25
Info: flavorus.com or 855-235-2867
SATURDAY
Evening of traditional dance will honor legendary kuma hula
The legacy of kuma hula Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake will be celebrated by one of her most accomplished disciples, Kumu Mapuana de Silva, pictured, in “Holomua Ka Noeau 2016: My ‘Ilima Souvenirs,” a hula presentation at Hawaii Theatre on Saturday.
Lake, one of the most influential kumu hula of the last century, focused on traditional kahiko hula, studying with several older masters. In 1952, she was allowed to establish a halau, Halau Hula O Maiki, the first school to receive that title in the 20th century.
De Silva completed her studies with Lake in 1975 and founded Halau Mohala ‘Ilima shortly thereafter. Since her halau’s inception, de Silva estimates she’s trained about 2,000 dancers in 40 years of teaching, taking them to venues such as Disneyland and throughout Polynesia to perform.
The show will include dancers led by Vicky Holt Takamine, a classmate of de Silva who teaches hula at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and other guests.
When: 6 p.m Saturday
Where: Hawaii Theatre Center
Cost: $27-$37
Info: hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506
Saxophonist Richard Elliot and guitarist Gerey Johnson perform smooth jazz at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, 8 p.m. Saturday. $20-$70. Tix.com or 951-696-0184.
SATURDAY, SUNDAY
Percussionist Colin Currie will perform an energetic concerto
It’s always exciting to hear something new and different in classical music, and with performances of Bela Fleck’s banjo concerto three years ago and Byron Yasui’s ukulele concerto, performed by Jake Shimabukuro last year, the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra has not disappointed in this regard.
Next comes Jennifer Higdon’s “Percussion Concerto,” performed this weekend by Colin Currie, who’s been called “the world’s finest and most daring percussionist.” He modestly said that description reflects the coming of age of percussion as a symphonic instrument. “It’s a whole movement that has taken this art form forward,” he said.
Currie’s fascination with percussion began early. “Even as an infant, I was fascinated with drums generally,” he said. “I enjoyed the energy of percussion. I loved all kinds of music, starting out with pop jazz and big band, but once I discovered classical music, there was absolutely no way back from that.”
Higdon’s concerto will have him traversing the stage to play instruments like the marimba, vibraphone, Chinese opera gong, standard drum kit and brake drum — yes, from a car. “It’s a particularly good sound,” he said. “It’s sharp and it has a focus, and it’s sort of clangy.”
He was drawn to Higdon’s work because of her “incredible colorful orchestration. It’s often very bright and vivacious. When I first heard her music well over 10 years ago, I was struck by this sonic balloon she has, this wonderful orchestration and richness. And there’s often this fast-paced change of colors.”
Currie’s recording of the work won the Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition in 2010.
Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $34-$92
Info: ticketmaster.com or 866-448-7849
SUNDAY
Las Cafeteras delivers unique Chicano sound
Chicano music with an edge comes to town with L.A.-based band Las Cafeteras.
Las Cafeteras’ music blends social and political commentary into what the Los Angeles Times called “a uniquely Angeleno mishmash of punk, hip-hop beat music, cumbia and rock.” Band members play a diverse set of instruments like a donkey’s jawbone, a variety of guitar-like instruments, and an African bass instrument called the marimbol.
Band members Daniel French, David Flores, Denise Carlos, Jose Cano, Hector Flores and Leah Gallegos formed in 2008 with the intention of studying their culture through music. Their original inspiration was Son Jarocho, a style of music from Veracruz, Mexico. The band took its name from the Eastside Cafe, a community space where the members started performing; Las Cafeteras translates as “that band from the cafe.”
Where: Hawaii Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $10-$30
Info: hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506
