SUNDAY
Relay features international music festival
If you haven’t already registered, it’s too late to enter the local ekiden, a marathon-length relay race popular in Japan, but all are welcome to enjoy the festivities that come along with it.
The Fourth Annual Honolulu Ekiden and Music Festival will run its race early Sunday morning. On Sunday evening it will bring a program of international entertainment to the Waikiki Shell.
Headlining the concert is Magic!, a reggae-rock band from Canada featuring frontman, songwriter and producer Nasri, guitarist/vocalist Mark Pelli, drummer Alex Tanas and bassist Ben Spivak. Their 2013 debut single, “Rude,” about a father rejecting his daughter’s suitor, spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reached the top 10 in seven countries, received a Juno Award for Single of the Year and earned the group another award as Breakthrough Group of the Year. Another Magic! hit explored the darker side of romance in “No Evil,” in their debut album, “Don’t Kill the Magic.”
The group hit the trifecta in 214, performing on the Latin Grammy Awards show, the American Music Awards show, and on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” They also toured with Maroon 5 in 2015.
The evening includes an appearance by Hiromi Go, a major entertainment figure in Japan who’s had hits there since the 1970s.
Where: Waikiki Shell
When: 5:45 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $30-$80
Info: hnlekiden.org or ticketmaster.com or 866-448-7849
WEDNESDAY
Anna’s hosts contenders for comedy Hoku
Wednesday night is comedy night at Anna O’Brien’s, and this week you can enjoy the work of this year’s nominees for the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for comedy.
Two of the acts show that music mixes well with comedy: Oil in the Alley, pictured, nominated for “Sacred Snail,” and Harold Wong, creator of “Death by Snu Snu.” Oil in the Alley, made up of R. Kevin Doyle, Sean T.C. O’Malley on guitar and vocals, Bri X on bass and Dan Cutter on drums, takes on the persona of an over-the-hill big-hair band while improvising rock tunes from audience cues. Wong’s witty, sometimes snarky tunes take off from references to pop culture, such as “Star Wars” and zombies.
Stand-up comedians Patrick Tyrrell (“I’m Not That Guy”) and Anthony Silano (“Library Mafia”) are also up for the Hoku. Tyrrell is a former Marine who makes obscure observations with a dry, deadpan delivery, while Silano has a self-deprecating sense of humor.
L.A.-based comedians John Gilligan and Alex Powers join the fun, with an open mic afterward.
Where: Anna O’Brien’s, 2440 S. Beretania St.
When: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
Cost: $5-$7; ages 21 and over
Info: www.facebook.com/ComedyU.HI
FRIDAY
Songwriter Leilani Wolfgramm draws from her musical upbringing
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Leilani Wolfgramm returns to Hawaii with her soulful reggae tunes.
The Florida native with Tongan ancestry grew up with traditional Polynesian singing and dancing, performing in a traveling kids show that performed at fairs and carnivals with her three brothers.
Growing up with three brothers apparently gave her an independent streak that has guided her career. After a year playing in her brothers’ reggae band, she struck out on her own, releasing the EP “I Burn” in 2013 and her debut album, “Rebel,” a year later. She also wrote and directed videos for several of the tunes for the album.
Early on, she toured with Fortunate Youth and the Supervillains, and has shared the stage with Ballyhoo, Dirty Heads, Tribal Seeds and the Movement. Last year she opened for Incubus and Common Cause at The Republik.
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Cost: $20-$25
Info: flavorus.com or 855-235-2867
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Comic convention features cosplay, lectures and demos
You’ve read the stories. You’ve seen the movies. Now meet some of the people behind the comics at the Amazing Hawaii Comic Convention, which returns to the Hawai‘i Convention Center this weekend.
From “Star Wars” to “Dragon Ball Z” and “My Little Pony” to “Godzilla,” comics will be the subject of the day at the weekend-long convention, with writers, artists, voice actors and others in the industry appearing in panel discussions and giving presentations.
Among the most noted guests are Robert Kirkman, creator of “The Walking Dead,” appearing at 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday; DC Entertainment’s Jim Lee, whose work has appeared in Batman and Superman comic books, giving a drawing demonstration at noon Saturday and Sunday; writer Chris Claremont, credited with developing the “X-Men” stories, speaking 1 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday; and Kevin Eastman, creator of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” speaking at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Of course, cosplay is expected, if not obligatory. Get the red-carpet treatment and show your stuff at 7 p.m. Friday, with an all-comers contest at 7 p.m. Saturday and a kids contest at 4 p.m. Sunday. If you need some tips or just inspiration for your next costume, join celebrated cosplayer Linda Le, aka Vampy Bit Me, for her presentation at 4 p.m. today. Presentations on cosplay will be held at noon and 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Hawai‘i Convention Center
When: 3-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $25 daily, $60 three-day pass, VIP tickets $160-$200. Kids under 10 free with adult.
Info: AmazingHawaiiComicCon.com
———
TICKER: Honolulu indie band the Bougies celebrates its new video, 9 p.m. today at Hawaiian Brian’s; $7, Hawaiianbrians.com or 946-1343.
