SATURDAY
>> Colorful, energetic Korean Festival comes to Kakaako
Korean culture will be celebrated in all its vibrant glory at the 17th Annual Korean Festival this weekend in Victoria Ward Park.
Headlining the daylong event will be two popular music acts: singer-songwriter eSNa and K-pop group Ladies Code, beginning at around 7 p.m.
eSNa was born in Southern California and studied jazz at UCLA before moving to South Korea in 2010, where her first song wound up on the soundtrack of a television show. Singing in both English and Korean, she has a Norah Jones vibe with a bit of rasp in her voice.
Trio Ladies Code suffered a tragic loss early in its career when two of the original four members were killed in in a car crash, but has returned as a trio. Their tunes have an upbeat, pop sensibility with an ’80s flair, emphasizing vocals rather than snazzy beats. The music is eminently danceable and fun.
Cultural activities will take place throughout the day, starting at 11 a.m. with a traditional farmers dance and drum performance. K-pop dance groups perform at 1:10 p.m. and 4:35 p.m. Check out a taekwondo demonstration at 1:30 p.m. or put your tastebuds to the test at the kimchee eating contest at 3:30 p.m. Crafts, cultural displays, food and cooking demonstrations will be held throughout the day.
The festival, presented by the Hawaiian Korean Chamber of Commerce, funds service projects and schoarships for the community.
17TH ANNUAL KOREAN FESTIVAL
>> Where: Victoria Ward Park, 1020 Auahi St., Ward Villages
>> When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
>> Cost: Free
>> Info: koreanfesthawaii.com
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
>> Southern California rapper YG bares his soul in his music
Rapper YG has produced a series of top-charting works over the last few years, starting with debut studio album “My Krazy Life,” which hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2014. This year’s “4Real 4Real” reached No. 7.
His work is semiautobiographical, and there’s plenty to tell. Growing up in gang-ridden Compton in Southern California, he was jailed while still a teenager — one of his early songs “Meet the Flockers” is about burglary. In 2015, he was wounded in a shootout outside one of his concerts.
He spoke out about the incident, discussing his feelings of paranoia and the alcohol abuse that stemmed from the shooting, and eventually went into therapy. The rapper’s journey was aired on a well-received cable special, “YG and the Therapist,” which was seen as possibly inspiring other rappers to seek help of their own.
Born Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson, YG showed an early facility at music, performing at large parties when he was still in high school. By the time he was making “My Krazy Life,” he had enough credibility to attract stars including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj to guest on his tracks.
YG
>> Where: The Republik
>> When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday (Friday sold out)
>> Cost: $45-$50
>> Info: 941-7469, jointherepublik.com
SATURDAY
>> ’70s nightclub reunion welcomes “Tower” member Brent Carter
The first ’70s Nightclub Reunion took place in 2005 as a one-time reunion by the members of Greenwood, the youngest of the great Waikiki nightclub bands of the 1970s, and other Hawaii groups from that era. It was so successful that Greenwood leader Robin Kimura took on the responsibility of producing many more.
Kimura presented only groups that played in Waikiki in the ’70s or early ’80s, with some groups reuniting solely for the Nightclub Reunion concerts.
Two years ago, Kimura presented Richard Bean, composer and lead vocalist on Malo’s 1972 hit, “Suavecito” as a special guest. Last year Peter Rivera, original drummer/lead vocalist of Rare Earth, rocked the house on drums and vocals.
Special guest this year is Brent Carter, known for his recent work with Tower of Power, as a current member of the Average White Band, and as a solo recording artist.
Asian Blend, Power Point and Nueva Vida are joining Greenwood in representing the old-time Waikiki club scene. The inimitable Tiny “Nitro” Tadani will emcee.
— John Berger, Star-Advertiser
’70S NIGHTCLUB REUNION
>> Where: Hibiscus Ballroom I & II Ala Moana Hotel
>> When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
>> Cost: $50-$60
>> Info: 944-4330, 70snightclubreunion.com
SATURDAY
>> Slack key festival pays tributes to greats
Slack key guitarists and fans will pay tribute to slack key guitarist Bla Pahinui and longtime Hawaii radio personality Skylark Rosetti at the Waikiki Aquarium on Saturday.
The 37th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival “Waikiki Style” will feature some of the best performers of the distinctively Hawaiian style of guitar playing, known for its “nahe nahe” (smooth, sweet) style, its rich resonance created by multiple open-string tunings of the instrument and its rich blend of harmony, melody, chimes and other effects that makes a single instrument sound like many.
The festival will be a memorial to Pahinui, a rare left-handed guitarist and one of the sons of the seminal slack key guitarist Gabby Pahinui, and Rossetti, who in addition to hosting Hawaiian music radio broadcasts for decades also co-founded the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Pahinui died in July. Rossetti passed away in March.
The festival features established masters like Makana, Brother Noland, Kawika Kahiapo, Stephen Inglis and George Kuo, as well as a younger generation of virtuosos like Ian O’Sullivan, Danny Carvalho (with Nani Edgar) and Aja Gample. The Harmony Show Choir of Blackwood, N.J. will make a special appearance.
37TH ANNUAL SLACK KEY GUITAR FESTIVAL “WAIKIKI STYLE”
>> Where: Waikiki Aquarium
>> When: Noon-6 p.m.
>> Cost: $5 (aquarium donation)
>> Info: 440-9054, waikikiaquarium.org
