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The Hukilau is the largest Polynesian Pop festival on the U.S. East Coast. It will be held April 19-22 in Fort Lauderdale at several beachside hotels plus the legendary Mai-Kai restaurant.
Guitar slinger Eddie Angel will be making his third appearance at The Hukilau in the past four years, but for the third time he’ll have a different band in tow. Having earlier performed with Los Straitjackets and The Neanderthals, the Nashville-based Angel returns with a new, out-of-this-world crew.
The Martian Denny Orchestra blends surf, spy and space sounds is quickly becoming an underground sensation in Music City. As expected from a Nashville group, the band’s members are some of the best in the business. Joining Angel are: guitarist Bob Irwin, owner of record label Sundazed Music and member of New York’s Pluto Walkers; bassist Dave Roe, who has played with everyone from Johnny Cash to John Mellencamp; multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke (steel guitar, saxophone, flute, etc.), who has showed off his versatility with NRBQ, Toby Keith and others; and drummer Jimmy Lester, formerly of Los Straitjackets and currently with roots rocker Webb Wilder.
The band’s new album, Crossfire, is scheduled to be released during The Hukilau on April 21, National Record Store Day.
In the band’s bio, Irwin promises a live show featuring “dead-on, reverential treatment of instro classics by Duane Eddy, the Ventures, the Rockin’ Rebels and Santo & Johnny.” Also on hand at The Hukilau is burlesque star Angie Pontani, who is sure to join the band on stage with her classic dance moves.
The Martian Denny Orchestra will be headlining The Hukilau’s Friday night main event at the Bahia Cabana Beach Resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The poolside party will run from 7 to 11 p.m. and also feature emcee King Kukulele and live musical performances by Exotik-A-GoGo, and Dan Cunningham as Elvis, plus DJs Jack Fetterman and Gina of the Jungle. Tickets are $27 for the Friday night event, but you can pick up an all-access pass for $170 that gets you into all of the events over the course of the four-day festival. Click here to buy tickets now.
Related links
The Martian Denny Orchestra on Facebook | Bahia Cabana Beach Resort