2017 Kauai Steel Guitar Festival Lineup Announced

December 9, 2016 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

Featured steel guitar players for the 2017 Kauai Steel Guitar Festival have been announced. Maui steel guitarist Geronimo (Geri) Valdriz will join Alan Akaka, Greg Sardinha, Bobby Ingano, Eddie Palama, and Kaua'i steel guitarists Ed Punua and Kilipaki Vaughan and the Waipa Serenaders for the festival's main program on February 4, 2017. Additional steel guitar masters will be announced as they are added to the festival's program. The annual festival will again be held at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach in Kapa'a, Kaua'i.

Also in the main program will be youth steel guitarists from the Ke Kula Mele Hawaii School of Hawaiian Music appearing in performances accompanied by student musicians from local area (Kaua'i) schools. Malie Lyman, 12-year old great-granddaughter of legendary songstress Genoa Keawe, will appear with the Kapa'a Middle School Choir and 'Ukulele Band led by Mary Lardizabal, and 17-year old Alexis Tolentino will appear with the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School 'Ukulele Band led by Elias Gonzales.

The festival's open stage performances are being split across two days, with the first group of performers appearing on Friday afternoon and the second on Saturday. Instructional workshops will be conducted Friday evening, and a kanikapila jam session open to everyone will be held in the restaurant's lounge area beginning at 8:30 on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

The 2017 Kaua'i Steel Guitar Festival will be held on February 3-4, 2017. Hotel reservations at festival group rates are available via the festival's website at http://www.kauaisteelguitarfestival.com.