Ukulele Festival

Wine Country ‘Ukulele Festival

St. Helena, California October 10 – 11, 2008

A celebration of the ‘ukulele and the rich cultural heritage

of the Hawaiian Islands, open to the public with proceeds

to benefit Nimbus Arts, a not-for-profit corporation

supporting art and music in the Napa Valley

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 10

Cooking with Keoki

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cook with Grammy-award winning musician Keoki Kahumoku (renowned in the kitchen and on the stage) will leave you begging for more: lomi salmon, kalua pig, laulau, poke, haupia, and, of course, poi. Rumor has it that Keoki will be bringing some of his free-range, macadamia-nut-fed pork with him from the Big Island to share. As they say in Hawai‘i: “It broke da mouth.” Space is very limited for this very special, very authentic event, so please sign up early. For the full experience, be sure to join us for the ‘Ukulele Luau on Saturday, as well.

1:00 – 4:00 p.m. $35.00

Nimbus Arts, St. Helena Marketplace

3111 St. Helena Hwy, Ste. 1B, St. Helena, CA 94574

‘Ukuleles at the Market

Join us for a free ‘ukulele performance by that master of ‘ukulele entertainment, Ralph Shaw, at the St. Helena Farmer’s Market in Crane Park. See and be seen listening to great ‘ukulele music while perusing the organic fruits and vegetables and artisan foods at the market. Nimbus Arts will also be on hand with a related craft activity for the little ones and we’ll be selling raffle tickets for a veritable fruit salad (pineapple, kiwi, and watermelon) of ‘ukuleles provided by Kala `Ukuleles.

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Free

St. Helena Farmer’s Market

Crane Park, St. Helena, CA 94574

‘Ukulele Live at the Veteran’s Home

Turns out the veterans were hankering for a little hula, so they will be treated to a command performance by Robyn Kneubuhl, Konabob, Mark Kailana Nelson, and Liko Puha. Sponsored by Nimbus Arts and Friends of the Veteran’s Home.

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Free to residents and employees of the California Veteran’s Home in Yountville

Saturday, October 11

‘Ukulele Festival Extraordinaire

Fun for the whole family with free performances all day long on the Main Stage and our very own International Marketplace where you’ll find everything from Hawaiian-style shave-ice to the finest hand-made ‘ukuleles. And don’t miss out on a chance to win something wonderful to take home—including, of course, a number of beautiful ‘ukuleles—at our prize drawing. And, thanks to the wonderful generosity of our friends at SkullCandy, there will be fabulous giveaways all day long.

Do you have an old ‘ukulele in the closet that used to belong to Uncle Harry? Bring it along and find out what it’s worth at our ‘Ukulele Roadshow. And if you have some working instruments gathering dust in a closet, bring them in to exchange for raffle tickets. We’ll make sure your old trombone winds up in deserving hands.

And we’ll have workshops for those looking to improve their skills. Want to learn to hula? Or has your ‘uwehe lost its pop? Never strummed an ‘ukulele before? Or do you long to shred like Jake Shimabakuru? Need a clue on slack key? Or do you simply need some fine tuning? Want to twist your tongue around humuhumunukunuku ā pua’a? Or would you just like to string a lei? In any case we’ll have enough workshops available to keep you busy all day long.

With a $45 workshop pass you can attend any number of classes offered through-out the day with some of the finest musicians available: Keoki Kahumoku; Herb Ohta, Jr.; James Hill; KonaBob Stoffer; Ralph Shaw; Robyn Kneubuhl; Liko Puha; and more.

We’re also offering an $85 family pass (no more than 3 members per family, please) that will get you into workshops on Kid’s ‘Ukulele, Hawaiian Stories & Keiki Hula, Building and Playing a One-String ‘Uke, Lei Making, Hawaiian Crafts, and more enlightening activities from Nimbus Arts. (Some crafts may require an additional materials fee.)

Closing the day on the main stage, we’ll be sponsoring a “Crazy G Face-Off,” where those holding workshop passes will be able to pit their skill against each other in an ever-faster rendition of “Crazy G.” Through the process of elimination, the last ‘ukulele player standing will win a brand-new, spalted maple, cutaway tenor ‘ukulele with equalizer from Kala Brand ‘Ukuleles. Download the tab for Crazy G and start practicing!

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Upper Valley Campus, Napa Valley College

1088 College Ave., St. Helena, CA 94574

Free, except for workshop admission which is $45 for all day

Family pass (for family activities only) is $85 all day

Workshop passes are limited, so please order yours early.

‘Ukulele Luau

Brought to you by Ohana Hand-crafted `Ukuleles

After the festival, join the festival musicians at Nimbus Arts’ home base in the St. Helena Marketplace for a traditional Hawaiian Luau prepared by Keoki Kahumoku and crew. Music and entertainment will be provided island-style—so bring your instruments and be ready to sing. Sign-up early, this is sure to sell-out.

5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Adults $25 /Kids (12 & under) $10

Nimbus Arts, St. Helena Marketplace

3111 St. Helena Hwy, Ste. 1B, St. Helena, CA 94574

Grand Finale

Brought to you by KoAloha `Ukuleles

After dinner, hurry on down to the Tucker Farm Center where we’ll be rocking and rolling all night long with this amazing line-up of ‘ukulele talent. We’ve come a long way since Arthur Godfrey and Tiny Tim so you can forget all your preconceptions about the ‘ukulele and be prepared to be amused and amazed by the lightening-quick fingers of Herb Ohta, Jr., Keoki Kahumoku, Ralph Shaw, and James Hill, who each bring a different voice and style to this tiny, oft-maligned, four-stringed instrument.

8:00 – 11:p.m. $30.00 ($35 at the door)

Tucker Farm Center

1201 Tucker Road, Calistoga, CA 94515

The Wine Country ‘Ukulele Festival is brought to you by:

Nimbus Arts Hawai’i Music Live Kani Ka Pila

Save the Date!