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THIS MARCH, KIRKLAND PERFORMANCE CENTER PRESENTS
Tickets On Sale Now – (425) 893-9900; www.KPCenter.org
HAPA
Friday, March 14
7:30pm
$35
This year, HAPA celebrates its 30th anniversary. Like the islands themselves, HAPA’s music is an amalgam of influences ranging from ancient Polynesian rhythms and genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fisherman and Mexican cowboys with inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. Add a dose of American acoustic folk/rock, and you have what has been described as the “most exciting and beautiful contemporary Hawaiian music the world knows!” (Maui Times). The HAPA name itself reflects the diverse backgrounds of its musicians and the mix of cultures that converge in Hawai’i. Brilliant guitarist Barry Flanagan has been the guiding force of HAPA since its beginnings in 1983. He is joined by Ron Kuala’au, one of Barry’s first teachers in Hawaiian music and culture, and one of the early influences on the HAPA sound. These ingredients come together musically to evoke the unique flavor of the Pacific, of Hawai’i, and of the HAPA sound: “beautiful, fragile, spiritual, powerful…” (L.A. Times)
Kyle Eastwood
Sunday, March 16
8:00pm
$40-$65
Today, Kyle Eastwood is less and less known as the son of Clint Eastwood and more of a universally respected musician and leader in his own right. A virtuoso bassist on electric and upright, as well as a talented composer with a keen ear for great tunes as well as the subtleties of modern jazz, he is right at the forefront of the contemporary scene, having chosen to immerse himself in the music he loves. Dynamic and pulsing, full of swing, great rhythms and memorable melodies, “Songs From The Chateau” is Eastwood’s fourth U.S. effort on Rendezvous Music (licensed from Candid Records-one of the leading independent jazz labels in the UK). With this new album, Eastwood set out to capture the sounds and energy with which his band regularly tours the world to sellout crowds.
Solas
Friday, March 28
8:00pm
$35
Solas is the quintessential Irish-American band recording and touring in the U.S. today. 15 years ago, in a manner befitting their name (Gaelic for “light”), Solas burst onto the Irish music scene and instantly became a beacon – an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions without ever stooping to clichés. Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran) and Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), Solas is rounded out by Mick McAuley (accordians, low whistle, concertina, vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and newest member and lead singer, Norianna Kennedy. Through fresh and unexpected arrangements of age-old tunes, compelling and topical originals and covers, and unparalleled musicianship, Solas continues to define the path for the Celtic music world and drive the genre forward.
yMusic
Sunday, March 30
7:00pm
$15
Hailed by NPR’s Fred Child as “one of the groups that has really helped to shape the future of classical music,” yMusic is a sextet of young performers equally comfortable in the overlapping classical and pop music worlds. The “six hip virtuosi” (Time Out NY) play a unique combination of instruments: string trio, flute, clarinet and trumpet. This exciting orchestration has inspired an expanding repertoire of works by some of today’s most important artists. Indie rock luminaries Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Ryan Lott (Son Lux), have crafted instrumental works specifically for the ensemble. On yMusic’s debut album, “Beautiful Mechanical,” the group pairs these works with pieces by emerging composers Judd Greenstein, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and Gabriel Kahane, a result that was recently named Time Out New York’s #1 Classical Record of 2011.
About Kirkland Performance Center
KPC provides cultural enrichment by offering a home for the presentation, support and promotion of the performing arts. Located in downtown Kirkland, this 402-seat theatre hosts an average of 300 music, theatre and family-oriented performances a year from acclaimed regional, national and international artists. With an annual operating budget of $1.2 million KPC serves more than 70,000 patrons and over 20,000 students each year. Since opening in 1998 over 800,000 patrons have walked through KPC’s doors.
