When I think of Hawaiian music, I first think of the ukulele, but slack-key guitar is just as uniquely Hawaiian. Ledward “Led” Kaapana is a ukulele virtuoso, but to my ear, he shines brightest when playing slack-key guitar.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Crystal La-Caille found herself drawn to the colors and cultures of UniverSoul Circus.
“We’re rolling out the red carpet for the youth circuses of tomorrow who are coming up today. The top hat is a symbol of that,” says ringmaster Tim Mack.
Look into Emma Clarke’s backyard in Sarasota, Florida, and you’ll probably find the 11-year-old performing professional-grade circus routines for a neighborhood crowd.
Family is central to Sheila Kay Adams’s music and identity. She is, after all, a seventh-generation Appalachian ballad singer.
“The first time I performed was when I was in college, and I totally blacked out. I mean, I was completely sober, but when I got off stage, I turned to my friend and I was like, ‘what happened up there?’”
It seemed so surreal, dropping off art to the Smithsonian in preparation for the Folklife Festival, but when I saw the Big Top on the National Mall, I felt like I was coming home.
Kino Musica is a very D.C. band: the product of colliding music scenes, friendships made during Smithsonian internships, and the influence of Ethiopian community.
A lifelong circus performer, Lucky Malatsi started training as an acrobat at the age of four. Now he is the ringmaster for UniverSoul Circus.
The 50th anniversary of the Folklife Festival came to a close Sunday evening with a Salute to Youth Circus and a ceremonial stomp through the sawdust carpet.