The Hawaii Blues Festival — Hot as Kilauea Lava & Cool as Mauna Kea Snow Summit – brings
Fernando Jones and My Band from Chicago to share the meaning and message of
Blues music in Hawaii. Jones comes to Hawaii on his Roots, Rhythm & Rights
tour honoring the values and vision of Martin Luther King Jr.
Fernando Jones, an educator and entertainer, will share
the story of the blues from slavery to economic-social conditions facing
America today with a focus on making positive change in our community and the
power of nonviolence and freedom. Jones, the founder of Blues Kids of America,
will speak to our keiki providing an educational experience about the music
woven into the fabric of America. Jones will speak to elementary school
children at Kamalii Elementary, Kaahumanu Elementary and Maui Headstart. Jones
will also speak at Seabury Hall. Jones
coordinates Blues Kids of America: Blues You Can Use in Your Schools program.
He will bring this program to our keiki on Maui and Oahu. The first talk is at
Seabury Hall School at 1:25 p.m. on 22 January. The second and third talk with
keiki is at Kamali’i Elementary School at 9:00 a.m. on 23 January and MCC Headstart at 11:00 a.m. on 23
January. The fourth talk will be at Queen Ka’ahumanu Elementary at 9:30 a.m. on
25 January.
Fernando Jones will speak to courses and play free
concerts for students and faculty at various University of Hawaii campuses
during the ten day Roots, Rhythm & Rights tour. Fernando Jones is not only
a musician but also a fellow educator at Columbia College in Chicago. He
teaches a course on The Chicago Blues Scene: Past to Preservation and serves as
the Blues Ensemble Director. Jones will first speak at Kapiolani Community
College on 17 January at 9:15 in Music 107 course with Professor Lina Doo.
Jones will play a concert at University of Hawaii at Manoa at noon on 18 January.
Jones will also speak at Leeward Community College Waianae branch on 18 January
at 7 p.m. in Political Science 110
course. Jones will participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. concert at
Kapiolani Bandstand following the annual march in Honolulu on 21 January.
Jones will speak and play at Maui Community College on 22
and 23 January. Jones will play an evening concert at Maui Community College on 22 January and a noon concert at Pa’ina on
23 January. Jones will play a concert at Windward Community College on 24
January. The grand finale of the campus tour of Hawaii Blues Festival is
University of Hawaii at Manoa Campus Center stairs at noon on 25 January.
Fernando Jones will also play concerts at the hottest
nightclubs on Oahu and Maui. The premiere concert will be at Anna Banana’s in
Moiliili on 19 January from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Jones will play at Mulligans on the Blue on Maui on 21 January from 9
p.m. – midnight. Jones will also play Ward Rafters in Kaimuki on 26 January
from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Bar 35 in downtown Honolulu on 26 January from 9 p.m.
– midnight to conclude the Hawaii Blues Festival. UHPA members will be able to
attend the evening concerts at the lounges and nightclubs for free with their
UHPA/NEA cards. There will be a nominal charge ranging from $5 – $15 for other
shows. The proceeds will also benefit human rights education programs in
Hawaii.
The co-sponsors are Pacific Asian Affairs Council (PAAC),
United Nations Association – USA Hawaii, Amnesty International USA and Hawaii
Institute for Human Rights.
For more information please contact Joshua Cooper at 542–7204 or Fernando Jones at 773 841 5262.
