Tens of thousands of people poured into Vidinha Stadium for the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair, which stretched from August 25 to 28. While families enjoyed the carnival rides, games, foods and displays, music lovers descended on the entertainment tent
Tens of thousands of people poured into Vidinha Stadium for the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair, which stretched from August 25 to 28.
While families enjoyed the carnival rides, games, foods and displays, music lovers descended on the entertainment tent to listen to some of the island’s best musicians.
Each day featured a different musical act, but Saturday’s evening concert was the highlight of the four-day run, drawing hundreds people to listen to Jonathan Rivera and the Greenstone Project and Revival.
Augie T set the tone for the concert when he officiated the First Annual Augie T Skank contest, where contestants bent down, raised their knees and waved their stretched hands to win free swag from the comedian and radio host.
Jonathan Rivera’s Greenstone Project kicked off the evening. The westside musician’s love for all musical genres showed through in his eclectic set, which mixed R&B, pop, rock, oldies and soul songs.
Rivera lent his smooth and powerful voice to cover crowd favorites, including Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” and “Superstition,” Ne-Yo’s “Future In You” and Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning.”
Proving to be versatile in range, the band performed a flawless rendition of Carlos Santana’s “Maria, Maria” and Mack Rice’s “Mustang Sally,” and had many toes tapping during a dead-on cover of Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Power of Love.”
Kaua‘i’s own reggae band Revival took to the stage around 10:30 p.m. and played songs from its two albums, “Roots Natty” and “Garden Isle.”
Despite a crowd that barely got on its feet, the band brought energy to the stage and performed a selection from its arsenal of reggae favorites, including “Garden Isle,” “Officer,” “Roots Natty” and “Unko Bejo.”
The six-piece band brought the feel-good vibes to the stage in the form of the band’s three vocalists, Kana Pikini, Ola Akau and Alika Simpson, who alternated turns on the microphone. The band was rounded out by Evan Gobson on the drums, Randall Boyer on lead guitar and D.J. Yaris, who provided background vocals while playing keyboards.
The band’s original strain of reggae music blends heavy hitting drums, thumping bass lines and original lyrics that kept audience members singing along with the lyrics.
For more information about Revival, visit the band’s Facebook or MySpace web page.
Revival’s sophomore album, “Garden Isle” is available online at revernation.com or on iTunes.
