Talk about staying true to its roots. Reggae in the Valley is keeping Maui in mind by offering some of the best Hawaii-grown bands this weekend, along with affordable ticket prices so the whole family can join the biggest local reggae celebration of the year.
And with the mix of old-school and new-school performers - Fiji, Ten Feet, Natural Vibes, Sly Dog, Rushouze All Stars, Dani Girl, Maoli, Kolohe Kai and Mana'o Company - skanking is sure to be in full force.
"I wanted to make it all local music, all from the islands," said organizer Josh Carvalho of C.N.A. Entertainment.
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TEN FEET
No one band will headline the show on Saturday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; instead, the nine performers will collaborate to bring fans to their feet, dancing to the sounds of one of Hawaii's most-loved music genres.
Carvalho, one of the founders of the annual Reggae in the Valley, said he's excited to see how the show has grown over the past five years. Fans typically pack the venue each show and residents have dubbed it Maui's version of the Birthday Bash, Oahu's renowned reggae show.
"I went to all the Birthday Bashes, and I wanted to give Maui something like a Birthday Bash," he said.
Just as important, Carvalho said, was working to keep prices affordable so island residents could make it out. "I tried to make tickets as cheap as I could so everybody could come and bring their families," he said.
Rushouze will open around 4:30 p.m.; Dani Girl will jump in; Sly Dog is up next, with their first concert since coming back from a brief retirement; then Maoli; Ten Feet; Kolohe Kai; Mana'o Company; Natural Vibes; and Fiji.
Gates open at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 4:30. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 day of show. For tickets, visit Green Banana Internet Cafe in Paia; Old Lahaina Book Emporium in Lahaina; Request Music in Wailuku; Da Kitchen in Kahului and Kihei; or call the MACC box office, 242-7469.
