What's Up!
Advertiser Staff
CONCERT: NOV. 24-25
The "jumping flea" master Jake Shimabukuro, left, joins the Honolulu Symphony Pops for two harmonious evenings. If you blink, you just might miss Shimabukuro's lightning-fast fingers as he teams with other 'ukulele stylists Byron Yasui and Benny Chong and conductor Matt Catingub.
8 p.m. Nov. 24-25 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $15-$78 Nov. 24, $21-$83 Nov. 25 / 792-2000, www.honolulusymphony.com
CONCERT: NOV. 25
Los Angeles-based hip-hop crew Jurassic 5 — Marc 7, Chali 2na, Akil, Nu-Mark and Soup (aka Zaakir) — flows in for its first Honolulu concert since 2002. J5's most recent release is July's "Feedback" — minus former member Cut Chemist (yes, that made them a total of six). The concert is for those 18 and older.
Doors open at 9 p.m. Nov. 25 / Pipeline Cafe / $30 general, $65 VIP, available at Dig Lifestyles, Fitted Hawaii, Jelly's, Pipeline Cafe / www.presaleticketsonline.com
CONCERTS: DEC. 1-3
The bluegrass/folk/jazz/rock/blues band Hot Buttered Rum makes its Hawai'i debut with three concerts, the last of which is a benefit for Hana Honua Life Boat, a nonprofit that provides adventure-based learning for teens. Hot Buttered Rum — whose street team, by the way, is named Butter Spreaders — has performed its virtuoso fusion instrumentals at premiere music festivals and on stage with Ben Harper, Michael Franti, Bela Fleck and others.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 (opening act Paula Fuga) and Dec. 2 (Steve Inglis) / rRed Elephant / $22.50 each concert
6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 (opening act Jake Shimabukuro); doors open at 6 p.m. / Waimea Valley Audubon Center, Hale'iwa / $22 general advance, $25 at the door; $12 kids 5-12; free for keiki 4 and younger
Tickets for all shows are available at www.honoluluboxoffice.com, 550-8457
HOLIDAYS: DEC. 2
Honolulu City Lights, the city's annual gift to the community, is themed "Ku'u Home — Our Home" and features all the festive attractions the thousands of opening-night attendees have come to expect.
The schedule:
4:00 p.m. Dec. 2 / Honolulu Hale and Civic Center grounds / Free / www.honolulucitylights.org
CONCERT: DEC. 2
Tickets for the Pearl Jam concert were a hot commodity even before The Rolling Stones canceled its November gig. And now it looks like only the not-so-close seats are available. The famed Seattle alt rockers, below, one of the founders of the grunge sound and led by Eddie Vedder, also will perform a short set at the U2 concert Dec. 9 at Aloha Stadium.
8 p.m. Dec. 2 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) / Blaisdell Arena / $53 / (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com
DANCE: DEC. 6
Bayanihan, the Philippine National Folk Dance Company, brings traditional folklore, music, dance and costumes of the Philippines to Honolulu — the first time since November 2001.
7 p.m. Dec. 6 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $15, $25 and $4/ (877) 750-4400, 680-0451, www.ticketmaster.com
CONCERT: DEC. 9
The wait is almost over: Superstar rock band U2 — below, from left, Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton, Bono and The Edge — ends its Vertigo tour on O'ahu. U2 originally was to perform in April, but postponed because of illness in a band member's family. Pearl Jam and Rocko and the Devils open the show.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 / Aloha Stadium / $49.50, $95 and $165 / (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com
HOLIDAYS: DEC. 15-17
It just wouldn't be the holidays without the "Nutcracker" — and Ballet Hawaii's version stars Joan Broada from the San Francisco Ballet and Stella Abrera and Sascha Radetsky from American Ballet Theatre. It's the story of a young girl who dreams of a Nutcracker prince only to be confronted by the whimsical creatures of the night shown through the artistry and athleticism of ballet.
8 p.m. Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $25-$75 / (877) 750-4400, 521-8600, www.ticketmaster.com
CONCERT: DEC. 16
Pop music icon Billy Joel, right, comes to Hawai'i for the first time in two decades with six Grammy awards, 100 million CDs sold and 33 Top 10 hits under his belt. The singer, songwriter and "Pianoman" is known for hits as such "New York State of Mind," "Uptown Girl," "Goodnight Saigon" and "We Didn't Start the Fire," to name a few. Billy Joel's live shows are milestones in concert history and this tour are his first major solo concert performances since his fabled 1998-99 run of 64 shows in front of 1.1 million fans.
8 p.m. Dec. 16 / Blaisdell Arena / $65 and $95/ (877) 750-7500, www.ticketmaster.com
Also: Joel performs at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's A&B Amphitheater. $75, $95 (VIP packages also available). (808) 242-7469, www.mauiarts.org