In Support of Local Original Music in Hawai'i
The Rising Melody is a grass roots original music showcase from Honolulu, Hawai'i. All music is composed and performed by local artists in a variety of musical styles and instrumentation. The showcase aims to enhance awareness of Hawai'i's original music scene and provide a quality stage and support network for Hawai'i's top and upcoming musical artists.
The Rising Melody takes different forms. It is an open mic for youth, a songwriter's showcase, an original music showcase for bands and ensembles, a fundraising event for local music, a variety show of live original music for private parties and events, and a team of local songwriters and musicians that travel and perform to promote original music coming out of the islands.
The Rising Melody began in March of 2006 on the well known roof top patio of Thirtyninehotel in Chinatown, Honolulu. What started off as a pau hana (happy hour) performance by brother and sister Bret (Biku) and Jaena Shimabuku, developed into a variety showcase of talent, musicianship and performance.
Things began to take shape as Honolulu's Downtown music and art scene was blossoming in large part thanks to the opening of art spaces like Thirtyninehotel, Nextdoor, The Arts at Mark's Garage and Ong King Art Center, venues who went above and beyond to support local musicians, artists and performers.
In tune with Thirtyninehotel's support for the artist and the Shimabukus' dedicated support for original music, the Rising Melody became a hot weekly hub for musicians, artists and listeners who were hungry for fresh music. The Rising Melody at Thirtyninehotel showcased Downtown Honolulu's top songwriters, bands and collaborative jams, mixed with poetry, dance, theatrics and live art.
The positive, nurturing and educational aspects of The Rising Melody eventually brought about a number of performers and friends who were under age, and by law unable to participate in the event due to the sale of alcohol. In 2008, the Shimabukus collaborated with Sebastian Hughes to start a Rising Melody Open Mic for Youth at Coffee Talk, in Kaimuki, Honolulu. Coffee Talk, a long time supporter of community arts and music was the perfect venue. The open mic was ready to go, and youth from schools all over Honolulu gathered every month, on the 2nd and Last Thursday of the month, to perform and showcase their music to a crowd of friends and peers.
After 3 years at Thirtyninehotel, in 2009, The Rising Melody moved out of Downtown and into the University of Hawaii District to college bar, Eastside Grill. The change of location brought out a new wave of performers and audience support. The combination of the college crowd and the downtown hipsters took the original music showcase to a new level.
In that same year, The Rising Melody took the showcase to new heights, featuring Hawai'i's favorite local underground bands in it's biggest type of showcase to date, at Hawai'i's Las Vegas-style amphitheater, Level 4 at the Royal Hawaiian Showroom at The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki. This high profile stage and location opened the showcase up to national and international exposure. The success and excitement of the first show led to a short series of successful showcases on the big Waikiki stage. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the event's control, the Level 4 stage closed it's doors in late 2010.
In 2011, The Rising Melody began a yearly US summer tour showcasing local talent and promoting original music from Hawai'i. Between the months of June and August, a hand picked team of local musicians travel stateside to California, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington and Oregon to showcase their music and promote Hawaii's original music scene.
The Rising Melody Original Music Showcase currently features Hawai'i's top and up and coming singer/songwriters, emcees and instrumentalists EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT, 8-11pm at Downbeat Lounge in Chinatown, Honolulu.
And the story continues...
The Rising Melody takes different forms. It is an open mic for youth, a songwriter's showcase, an original music showcase for bands and ensembles, a fundraising event for local music, a variety show of live original music for private parties and events, and a team of local songwriters and musicians that travel and perform to promote original music coming out of the islands.
The Rising Melody began in March of 2006 on the well known roof top patio of Thirtyninehotel in Chinatown, Honolulu. What started off as a pau hana (happy hour) performance by brother and sister Bret (Biku) and Jaena Shimabuku, developed into a variety showcase of talent, musicianship and performance.
Things began to take shape as Honolulu's Downtown music and art scene was blossoming in large part thanks to the opening of art spaces like Thirtyninehotel, Nextdoor, The Arts at Mark's Garage and Ong King Art Center, venues who went above and beyond to support local musicians, artists and performers.
In tune with Thirtyninehotel's support for the artist and the Shimabukus' dedicated support for original music, the Rising Melody became a hot weekly hub for musicians, artists and listeners who were hungry for fresh music. The Rising Melody at Thirtyninehotel showcased Downtown Honolulu's top songwriters, bands and collaborative jams, mixed with poetry, dance, theatrics and live art.
The positive, nurturing and educational aspects of The Rising Melody eventually brought about a number of performers and friends who were under age, and by law unable to participate in the event due to the sale of alcohol. In 2008, the Shimabukus collaborated with Sebastian Hughes to start a Rising Melody Open Mic for Youth at Coffee Talk, in Kaimuki, Honolulu. Coffee Talk, a long time supporter of community arts and music was the perfect venue. The open mic was ready to go, and youth from schools all over Honolulu gathered every month, on the 2nd and Last Thursday of the month, to perform and showcase their music to a crowd of friends and peers.
After 3 years at Thirtyninehotel, in 2009, The Rising Melody moved out of Downtown and into the University of Hawaii District to college bar, Eastside Grill. The change of location brought out a new wave of performers and audience support. The combination of the college crowd and the downtown hipsters took the original music showcase to a new level.
In that same year, The Rising Melody took the showcase to new heights, featuring Hawai'i's favorite local underground bands in it's biggest type of showcase to date, at Hawai'i's Las Vegas-style amphitheater, Level 4 at the Royal Hawaiian Showroom at The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki. This high profile stage and location opened the showcase up to national and international exposure. The success and excitement of the first show led to a short series of successful showcases on the big Waikiki stage. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the event's control, the Level 4 stage closed it's doors in late 2010.
In 2011, The Rising Melody began a yearly US summer tour showcasing local talent and promoting original music from Hawai'i. Between the months of June and August, a hand picked team of local musicians travel stateside to California, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington and Oregon to showcase their music and promote Hawaii's original music scene.
The Rising Melody Original Music Showcase currently features Hawai'i's top and up and coming singer/songwriters, emcees and instrumentalists EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT, 8-11pm at Downbeat Lounge in Chinatown, Honolulu.
And the story continues...
