Weekend Offerings Include Some Weird Stuff

By Vanessa Wolf

But where are all the tigers??? Courtesy photo

School’s out for summer and for some of us, school is out forever.

It’s high school graduation weekend all over the island!

Celebrate your freedom by whooping it up at some of the (weird. Sorry, but read on and see what we mean) happenings below.

Best Reason to Be Upcountry

It’s Makawao Third Friday and since there ain’t no Friday without a Friday theme, you shouldn’t be all that surprised to learn that this one is dubbed “May Makawao Thrive.”

It promises to “celebrate the uniqueness and importance of our upcountry businesses and community.” In due order, the Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band will be gracing the Makai Stage with their banjo goodness from 6-7 p.m.

They’re followed by Conner Snow from 7-9 p.m.

Want to be mistaken for a tiger or a cast member of Cirque du Soleil? Then get your face painted with Rachel Deboer.

The evening will also include a “Makawao Collective Fashion Show” at Anuhea Flowers which boggles the mind a little bit. We suggest you show up to witness whatever the heck that is.

Best Opportunity to Experience “Sound Poetry”

Jaap Blonk, presumably performing some sound poetry. Courtesy photo

Not ‘out there’ enough for you? Then hold onto your turtleneck, because the Ebb & Flow two day mini-festival cranks up tonight at the Iao Congregational Church in Wailuku.

Dutch poet Jaap Blond will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. and (presumably) blow your pretty little mind.

Blonk has performing “sound poetry” all over the world for three decades.

This unique art form began in the early 20th century and is described as combining “the music of poetry, the humor of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky,’ and the made-up sounds of jazz’s ‘scat,’” which right there sounds so psychedelic you kind of have to check it out.

Blonk will be reciting a 20 minute composition – “one of the first and major sound poems” – “Ur Sonate,” by Kurt Schwitters.

He will also be performing his own original work, including “Dr. Voxoid,” and adding multi-media components to his performances.

Oh yeah.

The event is free to the public.

Best Reason to Drink Eight (Not Full Size, But Still) Beers

This picture just makes me smile. Courtesy photo

The 5th Annual Maui Brewers Festival returns to the MACC this Saturday, May 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.

This year, 33 craft breweries from Hawai‘i, California, Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and Delaware will be present.

This includes first time attendees Golden Road Brewery, Goose Island Beer Co., Iron Fist Brewing and Kaua‘i Island Brewing. The 33 breweries were selected for their commitment to making craft beer with an emphasis on quality, flavor and locally-sourced ingredients.

Your $50 ($60 the day of the event) admission ticket grants you a commemorative glass from which you will be able to sample eight four-ounce pours from a vast selection of 68 craft beers. This seems like an insufficient amount considering the array of options, but we suppose they don’t want to have the lot of you stumbling drunk in the MACC amphitheater.

To further that effort, there will also be island-style dishes and appetizers available from over 20 popular restaurants and food trucks as well as live music, opportunities to buy stuff that says “Maui Brewers Festival” on it, and prize giveaways.

Best Reason to Dig Around in Your Couch and (Hopefully) Come Up With $30

All that and Mishka’s a cutie too. Courtesy photo

On Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Caribbean reggae artist Mishka returns to the Stella Blues Supper Club.

Mishka grew up on his family’s boat, sailing from island to island in the Caribbean and was home schooled until high school. His uncle worked on The Muppet Show and (according to Wikipedia) was the creator of Miss Piggy.

On top of all that, he is a musician currently signed to actor Matthew McConaughey’s record label, j.k. livin, and is touring in support of his latest album, Talk About.

Oh, and he’s also the face of ECO-Neill, surf-clothing company O’Neill’s new eco-friendly apparel line.

Feeling inadequate yet?

Get over it, and check him out tomorrow night. It’s $60 with dinner or $30 for just the show.

Best Totally Coincidental (Psychic Powers?) Mention of Cirque du Soleil

On Sunday, it’s “Cirque Du Sunday” at Emerald City Trapeze Arts Maui in Lahaina.

Isn’t Seattle the Emerald City? Or Oz?

Anywho, this free event features music, food vendors, and aerial spectacularness with Cirque du Soleil artist Anthony Delaney on the high flying trapeze.

Things start off at 2 p.m. and for $10, you yourself can swing on the high flying trapeze.

The aforementioned Cirque du Soleil guy is at 5 p.m., followed by the music of Go Get ‘Em at 6 p.m. and a mystery (meaning a surprise, not necessarily one that features a mystery as the plot) movie at 7 p.m.

Been looking for an excuse to dress up like a clown?

Still wearing the face paint you got on Friday?

This is your big moment as there is a “best circus costume” contest, as well.

Aware of something cool or amazing or incredible or jaw-dropping or WTF that’s happening or going to be happening on Maui? Why are you still sitting there reading these words!? LET US KNOW ABOUT IT: [email protected]