WAIMEA — Steve Kelly and the Cherry Cherry Band is returning to present the Neil Diamond experience this weekend for two concerts — Friday and Saturday — at the historic Waimea Theatre.
A family senior show will open the doors at 11 a.m. Friday followed by the evening show at 7 p.m. Saturday’s show is also 7 p.m.
“As a musical group, we have planned and saved for two years to return to Kauai, and to give back to Thomas Nizo and all the great folks we have met over the years at the Waimea Town Celebration,” said Kelly who handles vocals for the Cherry Cherry Band. “Thomas has a way of making you feel like family, and we are excited to return to the theater for shows. It will be great to see some of the friendly faces like Puni Patrick who made sure we met all the other musicians and entertainers at the Town Celebration. We also met Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. who gave us Feb. 17 as Cherry Cherry Day.”
The concert, A Neil Diamond experience, is a fundraiser for both the Kauai Humane Society, different Waimea food pantry programs, and the historic Waimea Theatre. Collection bins will be set up in the lobby for nonperishable foods.
“Neil Diamond’s music is timeless and ageless,” Kelly said. “His classic songs evoke memories that every crowd will enjoy. Cherry Cherry will entertain audiences young and old alike.”
Kelly considers himself and members of the band to be lucky to have been kids when Neil Diamond was a buzzword in the entertainment world. He brings back the magic of Neil Diamond with his group.
“We just pay tribute with great respect, the music that he has given the world,” Kelly said. “We really love getting the kids involved, and we are certainly a PG show. The kids and adults who come are able to be a part of the show and share in the fun we are having. No one can be Neil Diamond, and we wouldn’t want to try to fill such shoes. But we can, in our own way, have fun and enjoy all of it for a seamless show.”
Kelly and the Cherry Cherry Band are no strangers to Kauai audiences, having performed previously at the Waimea Town Celebrations on three different occasions, in Hanalei for two appearances, and other sites like the Hanamaulu Beach Park and Poipu as ambassadors of aloha and music.
“We’ve done shows benefiting the food bank, and are always amazed of how folks turn out in support of these great causes,” Kelly said. “Come see the great band performing all of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits and hits from the 60s and 70s at a great venue!”
Kelly handles the vocals for the Cherry Cherry Band that includes Doug Plemmons on acoustic guitar, Dean Babbitt on electric guitar, Chuck Tuck on bass, Ken Eller on drums, Bob Kelly on keyboard, Djin Lim on trumpet and Darryl Estes on saxophone.
Tickets, $20, can be bought at waimeatheater.com and theater box office.
Wow. $20 dollar tickets. Have fun in Waimea.
Why didn’t you just make the concert on stage in Waimea town. Bigger area. I figure about 1000 people can show up in Waimea town. Like by the bank, block off the road. FHB and then sell tickets to enter the town.
I figure making it in Waimea town you can draw in about 2,500 people strong, easily. Only you know. But I must say, you guys now in Waimea town are transparent to me. A concert? Make the concert in Waimea town as I suggested. Some where in Waimea and block off the roads. To enter, tickets only. Then you’ll have a concert. You don’t know what you’re doing. Try this idea and see what you think. I know you’re worried about God or something. This theater is a horrible idea.
Try that idea.