Xavier Rudd will be performing at the third annual Mana Fest at the Church of the Pacific on Sunday, and the Australian roots musician said he’s looking forward to sharing in the island’s aloha spirit. “Every time I’ve come –
Xavier Rudd will be performing at the third annual Mana Fest at the Church of the Pacific on Sunday, and the Australian roots musician said he’s looking forward to sharing in the island’s aloha spirit.
“Every time I’ve come – I’ve played twice on Kauai – it’s a beautiful celebration,” Rudd said. “It’s an honor and a gift to come and share with good folks and there’s good people (on the island). Good people are very special.”
His love of the island is chronicled in one of the tracks from his newest record, “Nanna,” entitled “Hanalei” and based off the North Shore town.
He said the song, which combines a roots feel with tribal music and a strong message of the interconnectedness of humanity, basically wrote itself while he was on Kauai.
“I ran to a waterfall, I don’t remember where I was, but the whole thing just sort of wrote itself,” Rudd said. “Some songs just come through you pretty fast and strong and I just let the music come through. That’s definitely what happened with Hanalei.”
While many people on Kauai have most likely heard the song by now, Rudd said Sunday will be the first time performing it live on the island.
“Hawaii in general is a big part of the record,” he said. “There were about four different power centers around the world that energetically were part of this record, and Hawaii was one — in particular, Kauai.”
Rudd said it’s the nurturing and wild feminine energy of Kauai that draws him back to the island time and time again because it is such a different feel than his Australian homeland.
“Australia is pretty rootsy and strong and it’s always nice to get that nurturing vibration that I feel in Kauai,” Rudd said.
Rudd is kicking off a tour of the United States with four Hawaii concerts, the last of which is on Kauai. He then goes to California and will be traveling through Utah and Colorado.
For the past few years, after spending much of his career as a solo artist, Rudd has been fronting for the band The United Nations, and the group has toured worldwide after recording “Nanna.”
He explained that band is taking a break from touring together for the moment, and Rudd is now carrying a three-member band that will do a few songs from Nanna, but will also be branching out from the record.
“The show is more of a ceremony to give thanks, to let go of the troubles of the day and the week,” Rudd said, “and celebrate through the most natural thing next to childbirth we can do — share in song.”
Gates for Mana Fest open at noon and entertainment begins at 1 p.m. Rudd goes on stage at 7 p.m.
Other performers include Bobby Alu, Shilo Pa, Sashamon, Roothub, Larisa Gosla and Mika Moon.
Tickets for the Mana Fest can be purchased online at Dove Presents (www.dovepresents.com) for $41.70 or at Hanalei Harvest Market, Kilauea Healthy Hut, Papaya’s Natural Foods in Kapaa and Progressive Expressions in Koloa.
The concert is open to all ages, kids 14 and under are free.
Info: Dove 808-635-5556
