Hot tickets for cold nights: Willie K, Makaha Sons and more

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If there's a Hawaiian music lover on your gift list, you might want to consider tickets to one of the following upcoming shows by a top island act. Local promoters and restaurateurs could use little love, too; four Bay Area showcases for island music have shut down in the past year, so it's good to support those we have left. (The fallen: Tiki Tom's in Oakland, Templebar Tiki Bar & Grill in Berkeley, Sundance Kitchen in San Francisco, and Miyako Kitchen in Union City.) The big-name concerts start tonight and continue through the end of January.

This weekend: Soulful singer, fast-fingered slack-key guitarist and showman Willie K, who recently released his second Christmas album, "Willie Wonderland," plays two holiday shows with his band. The first is at 6 p.m. tonight (Friday, Dec. 17) at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz; tickets are $26, available at Aloha Island Grille. Bay Area contemporary Hawaiian Band Ka Nalu joins him at 6 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 18) t Menlo College Theater in Atherton. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door; click here for a list of ticket outlets.

Dennis Kamakahi appears at Yoshi's in Oakland Jan. 30 with equally renowned Nathan Aweau and Ledward Kaapana.

Dennis Kamakahi Productions

Dennis Kamakahi appears at Yoshi's in Oakland Jan. 30 with equally renowned Nathan Aweau and Ledward Kaapana.

January jams: The Mākaha Sons, who've had an illustrious career long after the passing of their renowned former bandmate, IZ, make at least two Northern California appearances next month. Currently scheduled are concerts at the Montalvo Arts Center Carriage House in Saratoga Jan. 16 (tickets $30 and $35) and at Harlow's in Sacramento Jan. 18 ($25 in advance, $30 at the door.)

Singer-songwriter John Cruz starts a California tour Jan. 14 in San Diego, with stops in West L.A., Ventura and Felton before alighting in the Bay Area Jan. 20 at Club Fox (formerly the Little Fox) in Redwood City on Jan. 18 ($16 advance, $18 door.) The tour wraps up Jan. 23 in Newcastle; see his Web site for details.

The triple threat of singers, songwriters and slack key guitarists Dennis Kamakahi, Ledward Kaapana and Nathan Aweau play two "Hawaiian Legends" shows at Yoshi's in Oakland, at 5 and 7 p.m. Jan. 30; tickets are $25 and $20, respectively.



Posted By: Jeanne Cooper (Email, Twitter) | December 17 2010 at 09:00 AM

Listed Under: Entertainment