Love the sound of slack key guitar? Can't get enough of the ukulele? Enjoy Hawaiian bands and hula dancers? No matter what your pleasure, you'll find it at the 4th Annual Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival, hosted by Patrick Landeza!

Na Hoa is one of Hawaii’s hottest bands. Individually, Ikaika Blackburn, Keoni Souza, and Halehaku Seabury are well-known in the Hawaiian music community as talented vocalists and musicians. Collectively, as Na Hoa, they elevate traditional Hawaiian music with their soaring falsetto harmonies. In 2013, they swept the Na Hoku Hanohano awards, winning Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, and Most Promising Artists of the Year. Tonight is Na Hoa’s first time performing for us here on the mainland.

Ian O'Sullivan, Hawaii’s newest guitar sensation, teaches Classical Guitar at the University of Hawaii and also plays slack key, as well as being an accomplished ukulele player. Classical Guitar Magazine describes his music as “thoughtful” and the Honolulu Advertiser calls it “delightful.” Ian earned a Master’s at Yale University’s School of Music and is currently based in Honolulu. His debut album, Born and Raised, received a Na Hoku Hanohano nomination.

John Cruz, winner of a Grammy and four Na Hoku Hanohano awards, is known for his soulful vocals, sensitive songwriting, and heartfelt slack key style, with hits like “Shine On,” “Sitting in Limbo,” and “Island Style.” His first album, Acoustic Soul, was a huge success, and Honolulu Magazine named his follow-up, One of These Days, one of the greatest albums of the decade. John has collaborated with Jack Johnson and Trey Anastasio, and has performed for President Obama.

Freight favorite Patrick Landeza, Hawaiian slack key guitarist extraordinaire, is the first musician based on the mainland to win the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Slack Key Album of the Year. Born and raised in Berkeley to Hawaii-born parents, Patrick studied slack key from masters like George Kuo, Ray Kane, and Sonny Chillingworth. Patrick is not only one of the top slack key performers in the world, he is also a musical bridge between Hawaii and California – he plays, in his words, “traditional Hawaiian music with a Berkeley twist.”

visit the festival page for more information and 2-day passes

visit the Na Hoa Facebook page

visit the Ian O'Sullivan website

visit the John Cruz website

visit the Patrick Landeza website