Kapali “Leadfoot” Long
Hawaiiana-Americana, Country, and Blues
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Starts at 7pm
Run-time: 90 minutes with intermission
About the Show
Presented by ProArts Playhouse and Aloha Growers
Opening is Nashville Recording Artist Kris Bradley
Kapali “Leadfoot” Long is a Native Hawaiian, “Hawaiiana-Americana, Country, and Blues,” singer songwriter who is making big waves in the Country Music industry in Nashville where he now resides. His songwriting and guitar playing are deeply rooted in his experiences, focusing on authentic emotional expression and storytelling and his performances are “Music Church,” delivering truth, power, and the healing of music to lift spirits and provide relief.
Kapali is not only a passionate singer/songwriter with a five octave voice, but he is also a highly skilled guitarist, who is known for his slide and lap steel playing. Kapaliʻs Hawaiian roots will take you straight to the origins of “Kika Kila”, or Lap Steel, where Kapali was mentored under master steel guitarist, Alan Akaka. In 2016, Kapali’s guitar playing caught the attention of Gibson Guitars and he has been a signed Gibson artist ever since.
Kapali comes from a family with a long Hawaiian musical history and music was in his life since he could remember. He is the nephew of Hawaiian musical greats Buddy Fo and Mikilani Fo, and his grandparents were well-known musicians and performers also, who raised him with the mindset of music and ʻohana (family) from Waimanalo to Punchbowl, where they played Country, Blues, Bluegrass, and Hawaiian music together.
If you follow Kapali’s musical roots they will lead you to connections with so many musical trailblazers, including; Joseph Kekuku, Jerry Bird, Hank Sr., Ry Cooder, Chet Atkins, Gabby Pahinui, and many more.
Known for his soulful performances Kapali has opened for Artists like legend Robert Earl Keen, Ron Pope, and Howie Day. Kapali has played guitar with Caroline Liar, Nikki Lane and was slated to be the guitarist for Muddy Waters Son Mojo Morganfield before his untimely passing. He has also played at major venues and festivals from; South By Southwest, Echo Park Rising in Los Angeles, Nikki Lane’s Horseshoe Stage at Stagecoach (1st Native Hawaiian to play Stagecoach), Gibson Garage Fest, WhiskeyJam (Nashville), The Bluebird Cafe (Nashville), 3rd & Lindsley, Grand Ole Echo (The Echo), Lancaster Roots & Blues, The Troubadour, Whiskey Jam & many more.
