Vans Warped Tour '99
Less Than Jake performs in Waimanalo Saturday.
With its focus on extreme lifestyles and music, the festival's grounding in board sport culture sets it apart from other musical fests such as Lollapalooza and our own Big Mele.
Tearing up the scene Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., will be pro skaters Steve Caballero, Mike Frazier, Brian Howard, Neil Hendrix and others, plus bands Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Suicidal Tendencies, Less Than Jake, Pennywise, Deftones, 22 Jacks, Hepcat and MXPX.
General admission is $25. Tickets are available at Tower Records-Kahala and Pearl Kai, Tower Video, Hungry Ear Records, Pearl Harbor Bloch Arena, the ITT outlet at Kaneohe MCBH and Schofield, and the Connection, with outlets at the Blaisdell Center box office, Jelly's Market City and Pearl Kai, the University of Hawaii Campus Center and Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel MTI Desk. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 545-4000 or (800) 333-3388.
No coolers, lawn chairs or outside food and drinks will be allowed at the fest. There will be parking on site so no parking will be allowed on the highway.
Feb. 15 -- At Sheraton Waikiki Hawaii Ballroom, 8 p.m. Tickets are $37.50, $32.50 and $25 at Connection outlets, the Blaisdell box office, or charge by phone at 545-4000 or 1-(800)-333-2288. (Ballroom will be set up with tables for 10.) A limited number of $45 VIP tickets are also available in the first three rows. Call 922-4422.
Feb. 16 -- At Maui Arts & Cultural Center, 8 p.m. Tickets are $45, $37.50 and $32.50 at the MACC box office or charge at (808) 242-7469.
Feb. 17 -- At Kona Surf Conven-tion Center, 8 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 in advance from MJS Music-Hilo, Rhythm & Reading-Waimea, Mele Kai Music-Kailua Kona and the Kona Surf Hotel, or pay $30 at the door. Call (808) 322-3411.
Educated in folklore and music at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, Bolat was originally trained as an opera singer. Bolat taught music in Anatolia before settling in Berkeley, Calif.
Bolat is musical director of the Mevlevi Association of America, a Sufi dance group that gave rise to phrase "whirling dervishes."
During the 13th century, the poor Islamic poet and mystic Rumi (more popular today than he was then) was strolling through the town of Konya, Turkey, when the sounds of everyday life coalesced into the phrase "Allah."
He heard it on the wind, in the barking of dogs, in the ring of blacksmith hammers and the rattle of trees in the breeze. Rumi began to spin with joy down the street, and this whirling dance became a form of worship and the start of sufi music.
Bolat continues to spread the gospel of Sufi musical traditions, which he refers to as "devotional" music. Ironically, he's playing purer Turkish folk than his countrymen back home. Influenced by MTV, Turkish musicians have started adding rhythm machines and electronic samplers to their mix.
The Unitarian Church is at 2500 Pali Highway. Donation/admission is $10; $8 students. Information: 732-7717.
Latif Bolat also performs at 7 tonight at Borders, Waikele, and 4
