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Full Hukilau 2011 coverage from The Atomic Grog
After announcing a date change to April 2012, organizers of The Hukilau have been busy confirming an outstanding lineup of entertainment for the 11th installment of the Southeast’s biggest annual celebration of mid-century and Polynesian pop culture.
The event is scheduled for April 19-22 in Fort Lauderdale and is centered around the historic Mai-Kai restaurant, plus the Bahia Cabana Beach Resort. A new host hotel is expected to be named soon.
While designers are still crafting the official Web site for its upcoming re-launch and promotional press releases are being prepared, announcements are trickling out to followers of The Hukilau’s Facebook page and members of its Facebook group. Become a fan of the page or join the group to stay updated and share your thoughts and ideas.
The biggest news so far is the addition of The Martian Denny Orchestra, presumably as the Friday night headlining act. After performing at The Hukilau in 2009 and 2010 with Los Straitjackets and The Neanderthals, acclaimed Nashville-based guitarist Eddie Angel returns with this new, out-of-this-world project.
The Martian Denny Orchestra blends surf, spy and space sounds while covering instrumental classics by Duane Eddy, the Ventures, the Rockin’ Rebels and Santo & Johnny. Joining Angel in the band is a who’s who of top Nashville musicians, who boast resumes that include work with Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp, NRBQ and others.
Other bands that have been announced:
Miami’s Gold Dust Lounge, led by guitarist/songwriter Russell Mofsky, is an amalgam of surf, jazz, spy-fi and spaghetti western, filtered through a film noir lens with a bit of groove.
The Intoxicators from Tallahassee are as much a part of The Hukilau as The Mai-Kai itself, and the event wouldn’t be the same without them. The immaculately dressed band is a revved-up throwback to the 1960s instrumental surf scene and always puts on an energetic live show.
The Stolen Idols reach back in time even further, performing classic mid-century exotica music as popularized by Martin Denny and Les Baxter. The Tampa area quintet is one of only a small number of ensembles in the world presenting exotica authentically, with acoustic instruments and a Latin jazz sensibility.
Also announced via Facebook: The return of New York City DJs Jack Fetterman and Gina of the Jungle, plus a mysterious promise that “Elvis” will be in the building. Apparently well-rested after taking some time off, the King is rehearsing a “Blue Hawaii” set for The Hukilau, founder and organizer Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White has posted. More musical acts are expected.
Also part of the 2012 event is the return of Paul Roe from British Ink Tattoos in Washington, D.C., to present another symposium on Hawaii and its tattoo history.
White is expected to release more details soon, including:
* A new host hotel including a new Tiki Treasures Bazaar setup.
* A visit to one of Florida’s oldest roadside attractions.
* A new cruise through the Intracoastal Waterway.
* Events at The Mai-Kai every evening.
* Plus poolside, easy-living experiences throughout the weekend.
Latest updates: Hukilau Facebook page | Hukilau Facebook group
More Hukilau links: TheHukilau.com | Flickr | Go11Media photo galleries
Venues: The Mai-Kai | Bahia Cabana Beach Resort