Weekend Concierge

The Who’s Tommy Comes to Boca Black Box

Aug 172018

The Who’s Tommy is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Pete Townshend based on The Who’s 1969 rock opera Tommy. The musical originated in San Diego, California, on July 1, 1992. The Broadway theatre debut took place the following year at the St. James Theatre and closed on June 17, 1995, after 899 performances. The play subsequently was produced by various touring companies throughout North America and Europe. In Boca Raton, local theater company Q2Q partnered with Boca Black Box to bring the show to Boca Raton on August 16, 19, 23 and 26, 2018.

About Tommy

Based on the iconic 1969 rock concept album, The Who’s Tommy tells the story of a pinball-playing, deaf, mute and blind boy who triumphs over his adversities. Theatrical wizard Des McAnuff translated this five-time Tony Award-winning musical into a high-energy, one-of-a-kind musical theater event featuring music and lyrics by Pete Townshend. After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother’s lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia and, as the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbors. As an adolescent, he’s discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball and, when his mother finally breaks through his catatonia, he becomes an international pinball superstar.

To fully appreciate all that this musical has to offer, read the act by act description via Wikipedia.

Tickets

General Admission: $30 VIP $40

Purchase online at: www.bocablackbox.com

A limited number of discount tickets may be online via our partner: Goldstar

Symphony of the Americas presents Summerfest 2018

Aug 072018

The Symphony of the Americas, a designated Major Cultural Institution in South Florida’s Broward County, and Broward Center for the Performing Arts performance partner, presents internationally acclaimed guest artists from around the globe. Its 30th Anniversary season celebration continues this July and August, with its acclaimed summer music festival presenting one month of performances throughout Florida and the Americas.
Refreshing cool waters and the Oscar winning movie Shape of Water, are all inspirations for Ft. Lauderdale’s own Symphony of the Americas annual Summerfest – The Shape of Music.

As the longest running music festival in Florida, the masterful sounds of
Summerfest’s Chamber Orchestra will reach audiences in corners of the world who have never before experienced the exhilaration of live orchestral performance, as well as perform for thousands throughout South Florida, including a July 21st concert in its performance home, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Summerfest traditionally features musicians and soloists from acclaimed orchestras throughout Europe, including Mission Chamber Orchestra of Rome, the Hungarian Virtuosi, I Musici (Italy), Orchestra Symphonique du Mont Blanc (France), and others, performing several styles of classical and popular music for strings, all joined in a cultural exchange by principal musicians of our own Symphony of the Americas. Summerfest outreach includes a July week of performances for residents and students of Panama in partnership with the US Embassy, Bern Resorts, Junior Achievement and Rotary Clubs.

Presented in association with Europe’s Musicfor, the festival aligns with their international mission of promoting music, donating musical instruments and their work with young students. More than 10 different countries are represented on stage at Summerfest concerts.

Nourish your artistic soul under the baton of Artistic Director, Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese, in the music of Bach, Handel, Saint-Saens, Mozart, Delibes, Ginastera and the legendary Argentinian, Carlos Gardel. Included also is a commissioned composition by Italian composer in residence, Lorenzo Turchi-Floris, Soloists are the festival’s Concertmaster, Orlando Forte of Cuba, the Symphony of the Americas Principal Oboe, Marco Key-Navarrete and acclaimed international organist Tim Brumfield, among
others.

Summerfest features two performances of varied musical repertoire in a special 2-Night CONCERT SERIES SUBSCRIPTION: Fri. July 20 at St. Gregory’s Boca Raton, and Sat. July 21 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, both at 7 pm. Tickets begin at just $ 30 per person for the Series.
Summerfest is sponsored in part by Riverside Hotel, ACE Rent-a-Car, Wells Fargo, Helen Ingham Foundation, Il Circolo, Musicfor, Broward Cultural Council & Board of County Commissioners and the Madelyn Savarick Trust.

2018 SUMMERFEST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERTS
Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese, Artistic Director

FLORIDA PERFORMANCES IN JULY-AUGUST
Sat. July 14 John Knox Village . 2:00 PM
Pompano Beach, FL Musical Program One
Box Office 954-783-4040 Closed to the Public
Sat. July 14 Miramar Cultural Center Theatre 7:30 PM
Miramar, FL Musical Program One
954-602-4500 www.miramarfl.gov

Sun. July 15 Tradition of the Palm Beaches 2:00 PM
West Palm Beach, FL Musical Program Two
561–209–6100 www.morselife.org

Thurs. July 19 Dor Dorim Auditorium 7:00 PM
Weston Philharmonic Society Musical Program Two
Weston, FL $30 / $50 VIP / $10 students
www.westonphilharmonic.org

Fri. July 20 St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church 7:00 PM
Boca Raton, FL Musical Program Two
Info. 561–395-8285 $20 | VIP $45 (VIP seat & postwww.stgregorysepiscopal.org
reception)

Sat. July 21 Broward Center for the Performing Arts 7:00 PM
~ Amaturo Theater Musical Program One
Fort Lauderdale, FL $20 / $35 / $60 VIP seat & post954-462-0222
reception) www.browardcenter.org

Sun. Aug. 5 Sunrise Civic Center Theatre 2:00 PM
Sunrise, FL Musical Program Two
954-747-4646 www.sunrisefl.gov

Thur. Aug. 9 Susan B. Katz Theater 7:00 PM
Pembroke Pines, FL Musical Program Two
954-322-2597 www.ppines.com

Fri. Aug. 10 Pompano Beach Cultural Center 7:30 pm
954-545-7800 Musical Program Two
www.ccpompano.org $20 / $35 cabaret seating w/
refreshments

Sat. Aug. 11 Miami Lakes Methodist Church 7:30 PM
Miami Lakes, FL Musical Program One
305-364-6100 www.miamilakes-fl.gov

Sun. Aug. 12 Cultural Council of Indian River County 2:00 PM
Christ by the Sea, United Methodist, Vero Beach Musical Program One
772-770-4857 $35 www.cultural-council.org/summerfest

The Cover Band Checklist for Event Promotion

Jul 232018

So you’re in a cover band and it’s Monday morning. Time to get out the checklist! Where will you be performing this coming weekend? Do you have a Facebook event page set up to invite friends and fans? Do you have a simple flyer that shows where and when you will be performing? Have you emailed your fan base? (What do you mean you don’t have an email list!?) Is your cover band listed on the calendar at weekendbroward.com or whatever website serves the area where you are playing? Is your Facebook and website band pages showing an up-to-date list of all your upcoming gigs? How about the venue where you are playing – do they have your band listed on their Facebook page and website? This isn’t rocket science! 🚀

Here are some tips and basic instructions for those of you who are new to all of this.

Facebook Event Pages

Whether you are in a cover band or a solo act, Facebook event pages serve two purposes. First, they act like a calendar. If you click on the EVENTS tab on any band’s page, you can see where they will be performing and where they have been previously. Second, they are a great way to spread the word. Here are some tips based on my experience:

Make sure the event page is set up under the band’s page, NOT your personal page.
Upload a cover photo that is appealing to the eye and does not look like your band is rehearsing a garage filled with junk.
Make sure the title is catchy like a newspaper headline and includes both the band’s name and the venue’s name. This will make it easier to find when anyone searches Facebook using either name.
Fill in ALL of the blanks. That means writing out a description that talks about the band, the venue and includes drink specials and any special celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. The more exciting, the better!
There are some metadata blanks that are used by Facebook to better understand when they should show your event to people who are interested in other events that are similar. So, for category, be sure to indicate MUSIC. Is there anything else? For tags, you might have to try a few different keywords before you figure out which ones are in the Facebook dictionary. For example Nightlife, Drinks, Dance Music, etc… You won’t find Rock Music or Party or other keywords that you might think should be there but work with what is available – you only get to use three.
If you look carefully, you will see another blank for co-host. Be sure to add the venue as co-host so that when they accept it, your event will automatically be listed on their Facebook page. If the venue is not showing up as a valid name, visit their page on a separate browser and look for the menu option “Like as page” then make sure your page likes the venue page and ask the venue to like yours. Note that this is not the same as you personally LIKEing their page.
Ask each band member to RSVP and invite friends from their personal Facebook page who live within driving distance of the venue. I always find it ironic when I get invitations from cover bands and less people RSVP than exist in the band itself. Also, be careful who you invite! The worst thing you can do is invite out of town friends and then have them comment “wish I could attend but I am attending your aunt’s birthday party in Rhode Island”. Also, try not to invite musicians from other cover bands who you know will have a gig the same night as your event. They will end up leaving comments advertising their gig instead and that’s a faux-pas as far as Facebook etiquette in my book.
If you run into technical difficulties with any of the above, it might be due to the fact that Facebook mobile is not exactly the same as the desktop version which usually offers more features.

Make a Flyer

Why is it that you have a cover band filled with artistic people but nobody knows the first thing about using Photoshop? No problem! Try my favorite online tool that is so easy to use that even a non-artsy person such as myself can make a decent looking flyer in just a few minutes. Here’s the link: www.canva.com It’s free! Here are some tips:

Set yourself up with a username and password. They will then let you store all of your creations at no charge at all!
Pick a size and shape for your flyer or click the button that says “use custom dimensions” and use a minimum of 500 px for the width and 700 px for the length if you want a standard 5×7 vertical flyer.
Click the UPLOADS button in the side menu and upload your band’s photo, logo and venue logo while you’re at it.
Drag the uploaded images onto your blank canvas and stretch them to make them bigger or smaller depending on where you want them placed.
Add text using the TEXT button. Try not to use too many different fonts no matter how excited you might be about making your first flyer. Be sure to include the time, date, location and phone number of the venue (not your band’s phone number!). Optionally, add in the venue’s website.
Click DOWNLOAD and save your creation to your laptop or phone. It’s that easy!
Now that you have a flyer, you can share it with the other band members on Facebook by simply tagging them in your post. You can also post it on Instagram and Twitter.

Email your fans and followers

Don’t have an email list? Set one up using www.mailchimp.com and they’ll give you all the tools to create professional looking email blasts with up to 2000 emails for FREE! They will even give you the code to insert a sign-up form on both your website and Facebook page.

Submit your gigs to websites that will list them for free

Don’t assume everyone uses Facebook. And even if they do and your page has thousands of followers, Facebook will only show your posts to a select number. Find new ways to reach people. Here are a few websites you can use to get your gigs showing up on Google when people are searching for live music in their area:

WeekendBroward – Lists live music, comedy, karaoke, and more on hour by hour calendars specifically for Broward county (Fort Lauderdale area) and Palm Beach county (generally Boca Raton to West Palm Beach). Submit using this link several days to weeks ahead of time: www.weekendbroward.com/add-to-calendar/
Eventbrite – A great source for upcoming events in any city. Create a free account and anytime you create a gig, it will be saved so that the next time you play at the same venue, you can simply hit the copy button (under manage events tab) and within minutes, your event will be live on the internet. Here’s the link to get started: www.eventbrite.com
Yelp Events – Since Yelp is at the top of Google’s search results for just about anything, why not take advantage and submit your gig using their EVENTS tab. Once again, set up a personal Yelp account if you don’t already have one, then look for the EVENTS option on their main menu. Get started at: www.yelp.com

You can easily find many more websites to submit your events by using Google or Bing to search for “Live Music in (insert city)” and look at page 1 results. You might be surprised at what you find!

Good luck!

It took me years to learn all of the above but I’m sharing this with you because there’s nothing worse than playing to an empty room, especially if your band is any good, right!? If you want to speak with me, one-on-one, with personal help with any of the above, you can reach me via the contact-us page on this website. If you just want to buy me a virtual drink 🍸for helping you out, there’s a DONATE button on the About-Us page.

Best of luck!

Rob “Weekend” Concierge

Rock the Dock at Shooters Waterfront this Summer

Jul 102018

Shooters Waterfront kicks off its’ annual Rock the Dock concert series this Saturday, July 14th, the first of three monthly outdoor musical performances hosted at the popular waterfront restaurant. The three-part weekend event will take place on July 14, August 18, and September 29 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy live, classic Rock ‘n’ Roll performed by South Florida’s beloved local bands as well as food and drink specials on the sparkling Intracoastal Waterway.

The summer soiree will take place on Shooters’ lawn, and the party will span the venue’s more than 4,000 square feet of breathtaking waterfront space, offering a prime location for guests to arrive by land or sea.

The Fourth Annual Rock the Dock Concert Schedule Includes:

Saturday, July 14, 2018

• The Livesays – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Big Rock Band – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

• Jeffrey James Gang – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• True Rumours: The Definitive Fleetwood Mac Show – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

• Pee Wee Lewis and the Hues – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• The Pixels – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Shooters Waterfront is located on the Intracoastal Waterway just south of Oakland Park Boulevard. Rock the Dock concerts are free and open to the public. The restaurant boasts 340 feet of dockage and valet parking. For reservations, please call 954.566.2855.

About Shooters Waterfront:

Shooters Waterfront proudly embodies the memories and historic spirit of good times, great food and incredible views of the Intracoastal Waterway. After the 2014 remodel, Shooters reemerged as a destination restaurant with a modern look and new menu serving as Ft. Lauderdale’s best take on waterfront dining. The new ownership has successfully revitalized the restaurant while preserving Shooters’ one-of-a-kind atmosphere that loyal customers have come to know and love. From the sophisticated outside lounge to the contemporary dining room accompanied by three state-of-the-art bars, patrons can enjoy scenic Intracoastal Waterway views from day into night. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, with a popular weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday (dogs welcome). Boasting 340 feet of dockage and complimentary valet parking, guests are welcome to arrive by land or sea. For more information, visit http://shooterswaterfront.com/ or call 954.566.2855.

Third Annual Sweepstakes Series at Friday Night Sound Waves

Jun 252018

For the third year in a row, organizers and sponsors of Friday Night Sound Waves will treat attendees at the free beachside concerts, the opportunity to register and win an array of unique experiences – just for showing up for the free weekly concert on the beach! Kicking off June 22 and running through September 21st, the 13-week Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes features prizes and gifts ranging from adventure experiences and dining certificates to hotel stays and round trip tickets to any destination Friday Night Sound Waves official airline partner, Southwest Airlines flies.

Locals and visitors attending the weekly free music series will have a chance to register onsite between 6pm and 8pm each Friday, with the winner announced at 9pm, immediately following the performance. Complete details on each giveaway night and rules for entry are viewable on their official website, www.FridayNightSoundWaves.com.

About Friday Night Sound Waves

Friday Night Sound Waves takes place every Friday night, March 16 through November 2 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm, where the beach meets the boulevard at Las Olas & A1A. The family-friendly event, sponsored in major part by the beach business community, is free to the public and open to all ages. For those unable to attend in person, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau broadcasts select dates throughout the series live on www.Facebook.com/VisitLauderdale, as well as Hello Sunny TV, viewable on AppleTV Gen4 and www.Sunny.org/TV.

For more information on the Friday Night Sound Waves live music series, performer bios, special sponsor activations, and theme performance nights, visit www.FridayNightSoundWaves.com.

Schedule of Performances and Sweepstakes Prizes:

June 22: Gypsy Lane, presented by Southwest Airlines

Bring your boogie shoes and get ready to get down (get down) to the disco inferno songs of
the 70’s. Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Round Trip Air Travel on Southwest Airlines

June 29: Guavatron, presented by W Fort Lauderdale

Guavatron, the hip, fresh groovy band will dazzle you with catchy dance, rock & jazzy tunes.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Live it up at W Fort with bottle service for up to six guests in
Living Room

July 6: Spred the Dub, presented by Southwest Airlines

Spred The Dub keeps crowds dancing with their own brand of “Good Time Reggae” music –
infusing elements of Soul, Funk and R&B with a foundation of Rock-steady, Ska and Roots
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Round Trip Air Travel on Southwest Airlines

July 13: Young Trees, featuring Shauna Sweeney sponsored by Las Olas Association
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Shauna Sweeney, sets the tone for this midsummer
night with clever original songs and unique blend of pop, alt-rock and tunes under her
new band. Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Family Four Pack South Florida Adventure Pass

July 20: Danny Garcia, presented by It’s Better On The Beach Restaurant Group

From Flamenco to Salsa to Electronic-Rock, Danny Garcia and his bandmates promise to bring
an ebb and flow that will keep you on your feet and begging for more.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Four All-Day Passes on Water Taxi Fort Lauderdale

July 27: Rogue Theory, presented by The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale

Go Rogue, as in the Rogue Theory Band for this special Full Moon Friday performance, the high
energy band with as bright a future as the moon which will shine from above.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: $250 Gift Card for Galleria at Fort Lauderdale Mall
TIP: Tax-Free Week runs August 3-5, 2018 for back to school shopping

August 3: JM & The Sweets, presented by 104.3 The Shark

Making a name for themselves as Miami New Times Best Unknown Band of 2017, JM and the
Sweets, will dazzle you with their brand of #SouthFloridaSoul for a night you will soon not forget.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: $250 Dining Gift Card valid at Spazio, Tsukuro and Café
Ibiza

August 10: Orange Sunshine, presented by Florida Power & Light

Go back in time with Orange Sunshine performing the greatest songs from the 60’s, from
Beatles to Blues to Pop tunes and Rock Classics.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: TBA

August 17: Fireside Prophets, presented by MyFortLauderdaleBeach.com

Laid back and soaked in Florida sunshine Fireside Prophets are a cool group of musicians who
turn up the heat with a twisted up in reggae-rock sound that exemplify the fun-loving Fort
Lauderdale Beach vibe.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: TBA

August 24: Electric Piquete, presented by Florida Power & Light

A three-peat performance for the band named “Best Latin Band” by the Miami New Times in
2009 and 2015, Electric Piquete is a melting pot of jazz, salsa and funk, and spiced with
everything in between. Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: TBA

August 31: The Boss Project, presented by The BID and 102.7 The Beach FM

Kick off your Labor Day weekend with the one and only, Boss Project – the ultimate tribute to
the music of the legendary Bruce Springsteen.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Oceanfront Suite with breakfast for two at Bahia Mar

September 7: The Free Rads, presented by Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fasten your seatbelts for the Free Rads – a sub groove experience, a musical rollercoaster ride
packed with a wide range of your favorite classic and current hits infused with high energy,
intense soul and uninhibited passion.

Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: 2 Night Stay and welcome cocktail at Courtyard by Marriott

September 14: Tito C. Band, presented by Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Join the Tito C Band for a night of cool classics, some catchy dance tunes and a fun night of
fan favorites to dance to by the shoreline.
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Courtesy of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Details TBA

September 21: B Side Jones, presented by B Ocean

South Florida’s premier Funk/Rock A-listers, B-Side Jones, brings their brand of high energy and
unique repertoire of the songs you love from decades past to the current scene to create a
fun and funky night of music and dancing on Fort Lauderdale Beach
Summer Lovin’ Sweepstakes prize: Oceanfront Suite with breakfast for two daily at B Ocean

Surf rock bands flock to The Hukilau for 17th Annual Tiki fest

Jun 042018

The Hukilau is widely known as the East Coast’s largest and longest-running festival celebrating Polynesian Pop culture. Now in its 17th year, the event spotlights all things retro and Tiki, giving thousands of attendees a chance to immerse themselves in the subculture that includes a heavy emphasis on rum and tropical cocktails. But the Fort Lauderdale event is also an overlooked surf music extravaganza, bringing together some of the top instrumental rock bands from across the country. For 2018, organizers have assembled a high-caliber lineup of surf and exotica that includes Los Straitjackets and The Martian Denny Orchestra from Tennessee; The Madeira from Indiana; Mr Ho’s Orchestrotica Quintet and Czarna Wolgastar from Massachusetts; The Exotics from Wisconsin; The Black Flamingos and The Royal Pacifics from New Jersey; and The Intoxicators and Skinny Jimmy Stingray from Florida.

Festival attendees can catch live music, DJs and other entertainers all five days of The Hukilau, from a 7,500-square-foot ballroom the Pier Sixty-Six hotel to the 150-capacity Molokai bar at The Mai-Kai, the legendary Polynesian restaurant that has served as the event’s nerve center since 2003. Other entertainment will include modern burlesque queen Angie Pontani; exclusive aquatic performances by Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid in the Wreck Bar on Fort Lauderdale Beach; a dozen pop-up bars featuring acclaimed mixologists from around the world; plus Tiki and rum symposiums, classes and tastings. The Tiki Treasures Bazaar will be open daily featuring artists and vendors selling everything from fine art to aloha shirts.

Among the special guests in 2018 is Boston’s Brother Cleve, a mainstay of the cocktail and music scenes for more than two decades. He toured with The Del Fuegos, was a member of Combustible Edison, and became a pioneer in the craft cocktail movement. He’s also known for his work as a DJ and musicologist. Brother Cleve will DJ, host his own pop-up bar, and present a special symposium.

While the U.S. West Coast is widely considered to be the hotbed for instrumental surf and exotica music, The Hukilau’s 2018 lineup proves that bands from the Southeast, East Coast and Midwest should not be overlooked. Here’s the latest lineup:

Los Straitjackets: Returning to The Hukilau for the first time since 2009, the mysterious masked marvels of instrumental rock will headline Friday’s High Tide Party. Formed 20 years ago in Nashville, the Grammy-nominated band released “What’s So Funny About Peace Love And …” in 2017, its 14th studio album since 1994.
The Martian Denny Orchestra: This revved-up exotica supergroup features guitarist Eddie Angel (Los Straitjackets, the Planet Rockers), guitarist Bob Irwin (Pluto Walkers, reissue label Sundazed Music), bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp, et al.), and drummer Jimmy Lester (Webb Wilder, ex-Los Straitjackets). Based in Nashville, the group has been unleashing their dazzling atomicinstrumentals on the unsuspecting public for the past five years, including The Hukilau 2012.
Mr Ho’s Orchestrotica Quintet: Led by visionary percussionist Brian O’Neill, this Boston-based ensemble will perform exclusively at Thursday’s LuXotica party in the Pier Top Lounge at Pier Sixty-Six. Melding jazz and chamber music into adaptations of mid-century exotica, the quintet will present O’Neill’s original compositions along with unique adaptions of Bach, Gershwin, Shostakovich and John Adams “into cinematic, layered music for armchair travelers ready to journey off road.” Czarna Wolgastar, O’Neill’s surf music band, will also perform at The Hukilau.
The Madeira: Founded in 2004 by guitarist Ivan Pongracic of 1990s surf music icons the Space Cossacks, this Indianapolis-based band continues to push the boundaries of instrumental rock. Their 2015 album, “Ancient Winds,” was hailed as a seamless blend of traditional surf and modern progressive rock. The band will be making its first appearance at The Hukilau.
The Intoxicators: After a one-year respite, the boys from Tallahassee return to rock The Hukilau for the 13th time since 2005. The ultra-tight trio of Gary Evans (guitar), Brian Crum (drums), and Adam Watson (bass) meld classic surf, rockabilly, and pure guitar-driven instrumental rock into a rousing sound all their own. Also, don’t be surprised if the primitive alter ego of The Intoxicators (aka The Disasternauts) also make an appearance.
The Exotics: The Hukilau welcomes back Milwaukee’s long-running and acclaimed surf band for the first time since 2011. Formed in 1994, the band has been releasing albums and playing special events across the country for more than 20 years. They’re also the house band at Foundation Bar in Milwaukee, where drummer Don Nelson is manager and co-owner.
The Black Flamingos: This New Jersey instrumental trio has been busy bringing their combination of surf, spy and spaghetti western to the masses since forming in 2014. Their debut full-length album, “Neon Boneyard” (2017, Hi-Tide Recordings) was followed by tours of the United States and Europe. High profile gigs have included the Surfer Joe Summer Festival in Italy, a support slot on the Messer Chups tour, and the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival with Dick Dale and Los Straitjackets in August. A spin-off band, The Royal Pacifics, will also perform.
Skinny Jimmy Stingray: South Florida’s own king of the surf guitar will return for a sixth straight year to rock The Mai-Kai. In addition to his instrumental trio playing surf classics and originals, Stingray now plays around the area with a totally different lineup specializing in spaghetti western and rockabilly.
King Kukule: The Hukilau’s emcee since day one, the Southern California comedian, actor and ukuleleist otherwise known as Denny Moynahan can always be counted on to keep the show running smoothly with many laughs thrown in for good measure. “The King” is not only a fixture at Tiki events across the country, he’s been a regular performer at Hollywood premieres, Disneyland, Universal Studios and more.

ABOUT THE HUKILAU

This year’s Hukilau takes place June 6-10, 2018 at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale with different events at each location. Multi-day passes and special event tickets on sale now at TheHukilau.com along with hotel reservations, a daily schedule and more.

HISTORY OF THE HUKILAU

The Hukilau began in 2002 in Atlanta and moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2003. It has grown from a small gathering into an international event, drawing up to 1,500 visitors annually. A “Hukilau” is a traditional Hawaiian festival at which villagers cast a large net into the sea to bring a wide assortment of fish to shore. It’s followed by a feast that celebrates the spirit of ‘ohana, or family and community. The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale was designed as a modern equivalent that attracts lovers of Tiki culture from all over the world for a unique, vintage-styled celebration. The Hukilau has proudly kept Polynesian Pop’s past alive and well, while also stirring interest among a new generation of talented artisans, performers, mixologists, and enthusiasts from all walks of life.

MORE INFO

Official website: http://www.thehukilau.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thehukilau
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/thehukilau
Keep up with the latest news on The Atomic Grog blog at http://atomicgrog.com

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