KCCN-FM100 17th Annual Birthday Bash Concert

The first night of the 17th annual KCCNFM100 Birthday Bash Concert was held on Friday, July 27, 2007 at the Waikiki Shell. This is the 17th year of the concert series. It is a celebration of Hawaiian music by those who live it and those who love it. The concert is a day two event. The last weekend of July, each year, a Friday and a Saturday night are reserved for this great local attraction.

The tickets go on sale in June. This year that date was June 14th. The radio station announces the sale date and time on air. When that day comes you should get there early. Locals arrive to stand in line well before the sale time. There is a rush for the pool section seats because that is the front stage area. There are other sections of seats available and the most popular with the locals is the grass area. You can take you blankets and sit in the grassy area. It's like a party in your backyard.

The gates opened at 4:30pm. We arrived at 5:00pm. There was a security check at the gate entrance of your coolers, purses or backpacks. Once you have cleared that you enter the gates. Inside there are friendly KCCNFM100 employees handing out their annual birthday bash gifts. This year the gift was a black messenger bag. Each year there is a different gift for each ticket holder. Past gifts include, coolers, beach towels and hats. There are t-shirts representing each year's lineup for sale also. Inside you are greeted by a friendly local who asks if you are planning to drink alcohol. If you, are you need to show ID and you will get an arm band to prove you have been cleared. They do not tolerate any underage drinking . The birthday bash is a safe and fun celebration. The police are there to make sure that rules are followed.

As you walk to your seats, you will see the local vendors set up selling plate lunches (box dinners), french fries, hot dogs and nuts. We walked around before we sat down and saw that there were more vendors on the opposite side of the stage selling more food items. Some sold ice cream, sushi, steak plates, shave ice, slushies, margaritas and beer. Wow , so much to choose from!

The concert began at 5:30pm with a Hawaiian chant. The first group to perform was called Be-On Paradise. They won the ultimate prize of performing first for the crowd after winning the "KCCNFM100 Battle to the Bash" event. The second group to play was called Next Generation. This group formed a band together when still in high school. They released their first cd in 2002. This is their 5th performance at the Birthday Bash. Following Next Generation was the group called Kawao. Their name means "One heart, One soul, One sound". This group started out as a duet and a backyard band. They were formed in the summer of 2003. This is their 1st Birthday Bash. Next, B.E.T. (Big Every Time) members rocked the house with their Polynesian P-funk style. They started back in 1993 providing back up for other performers. They have four cds and this is their 6th Birthday Bash . 'Ekolu followed B.E.T. on stage. This group has very soft vocals and smooth reggae sounds. They formed their group back in 1995 . The three guys were enrolled in the same music class in Baldwin High School. This is their 6th Birthday Bash. The sun has set now and the serious dancing began. The group Kapena arrived on stage. This group has been at the Birthday Bash every year! This is a band that has a reggae beat mixed up with Kelly Boy's ukelele. The group members have changed over the years but the sound has remained consistant. Always a crowd pleaser! The crowd has stood up from their seats now . The band Natural Vibrations has taken their place on stage. The locals refer to this group as Natural Vibes. The crowd was dancing and singing along with them as they perform. This is their 10th Birthday Bash. The final group performing is a group from New Zealand called Katchafire. Just before the band started to play "liquid blessings", (rain) started to fall upon the crowd. It didn't matter that everyone was getting soaked with rain....maybe the word "fire" in their name caused the rainfall ! Katchafire is a reggae band much like we have heard back in the 80's. The group played many of their top hits. This is the second appearance of the group at the birthday bash.

The Birthday Bash will have the second concert night , Saturday, July 28, 2007 with different performers singing that night. A return appearance from Katchafire will be a highlight of the second show. Thanks to KCCNFM100 for another year of great local Hawaiian music!