Tavana
Ken Garcia
Ticket Price: $12 advanced / $15 day of show / $21 reserved loft seating (available over the phone 858-481-8140 or in person at our box office) (seating chart / virtual venue tour)
Not on the e-mail list for venue presales? Sign up to be a Belly Up VIP and you will never miss a chance to grab tickets before they go on sale to the general public again!
There are no refunds or exchanges on tickets once purchased.
All times and supporting acts are subject to change.
The story began in 2020, when lifelong musician Brian Witkin recruited Hawaiian recording artist Kamaka Mullento refine his skills in the Hawaiian method of slack key guitar. They became friends and formed the first iteration of Slack Key ‘Ohana, a duo.
In 2021, they recorded their first EP, featuring pedal steel player Rand Anderson and released on Pacific Records. The self-titled EP debuted at #2 on the iTunes World Music charts and subsequently earned the group the 2022 San Diego Music Award for “Best World Music Album” and a live performance at the awards ceremony at Humphrey’s By The Bay.
Brian’s parents took notice; his dad, Joe Witkin was a former member of many bands, including Sha Na Na when it performed at the original Woodstock festival in 1969. His musician mom, Carol Witkin, was always in love with Hawaii and, immersing herself in her ukulele music during the COVID pandemic, realized that she was playing the same songs as her son. They asked to sit in at a rehearsal and, at the end of 2021, joined the band. Wonderfully ironic, as “ ‘ohana” means “family” in Hawaiian.
In August 2022, Slack Key ‘Ohana performed a 50-minute set at San Diego’s Tiki Oasis, one of the largest recurring nationwide island music and Tiki festivals. The set was recorded live and released as a full-length album, “Live at Tiki Oasis”, this time debuting at #1 on the iTunes World Music charts and garnering another SDMA nomination. Riding the wave of the increasing popularity of Hawaiian music, Slack Key ‘Ohana performed over 100 shows in 2022, and quickly gained a firm foothold in its genre. Prominent island music festivals played included PIFA (Pacific Islander Music Festival, San Diego), Alohana (Palm Springs), and the Slack Key Festival at Redondo Beach, CA.
For 2023, Slack Key ‘Ohana released an original single, “Nahenahe Ka Leo o Ka Wahine Uʻi”, earning an additional SDMA award for "Best World Music Song". The band again performed over 100 shows, including returns to Tiki Oasis, Alohana, and the Slack Key Festival at Redondo Beach, and a new festival addition, Tiki Caliente (Palm Springs). In September, they performed at the inaugural Slack Key Festival at The Shops at Wailea, Maui, a fundraising event following the Lahaina fires. There, they appeared alongside Hawaiian slack key notables George Kahumoku, Jr, Kevin Brown, and Anthony Fluke. Also in 2023, Romero Creations, maker of the ukuleles played by Slack Key ‘Ohana’s Carol and Kamaka, endorsed Slack Key ‘Ohana as a Romero Creations Artist.
Slack Key ‘Ohana’s latest full length studio album, “Hawaiian Cowboy” was released on April 5, 2024, and again debuted at #1 on the iTunes World Music Charts. Recorded at the state-of-the-art, invitation-only Studio 606owned by Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), this album includes guest artist performances by George Kahumoku, Jr, Brittni Paiva, and ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons. Featuring nine original songs and five Hawaiian classics, the album isavailable on all streaming platforms as well as in CD and vinyl formats.
Slack Key ‘Ohana’s instrumentation includes two guitars, ukulele, bass, lap steel and pedal steel. Brian’s brother Sean Witkin– more ‘ohana! – joins the band on drums on occasion, as do sister Hula dancers Alana and Alyssa Godoy.
Slack Key ‘Ohana’s bassist Joe Witkin was recently endorsed by KALA as a KALA U-Bass artist.
This Summer, one of Hawaiiʻs most explosive talents, Tavana, will embark on a highly anticipated first tour of California’s West Coast. Tavana is a one-man musical wrecking crew from Honolulu, who uses his feet to lay down a variety of grooves while simultaneously playing guitar, banjo, lap steel, or ukulele and singing deep-soulful, island-inspired rock and blues. He consistently sells shows out in Hawaii leaving audiences in awe of his musical energy. The tour is titled after his latest single ‘In the Water’ which was written for and is dedicated to everyone impacted by the fires in Lahaina, Maui, and will be a driving force for this tour.
“He’s more the exception than the rule, he is a great human and I’m glad to know him” —Eddie Vedder
“Tavana is a man on a mission and big opportunities await his arrival. As a human being and friend, Tavana’s a chill guy, honest and easygoing. I believe he’s on the edge of going big.” — Henry Kapono
Tavana is known for his Waikiki jam sessions and regularly jams with a who’s who of players in Hawaii, including Eddie Vedder who invited Tavana to sing ‘Hawaii 78’ - a Hawaii anthem of sorts - with him at the Hawaii Theatre. From a recording of their performance together, Vedder produced a limited vinyl record that was sent out to 10,000 Pearl Jam fans. Vedder also took Tavana out on tour for several dates as his opening act for his solo album. Tavana has jammed with many musical greats, including Jack Johnson, Pat Simmons, Michael McDonald, Henry Kapono, G Love, Willie K, John Cruz, Ron and Thunderstorm Artis, and Leon Mobley (Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals). He also has been the supporting act for Alabama Shakes, Shakey Graves, Xavier Rudd, Jenny Lewis, Julian Marley, and Kaleo to name just a few.
Tavana is a multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy®) nominee and is currently featured on an in-flight video on all Hawaiian Airlines. He was a featured artist on Henry Kapono’s “The Songs of C&K”, and is also a featured “Playing for Change” artist.
Ken Garcia grew up in San Bernardino, California and was surrounded by diverse musical influences, from Hispanic to Polynesian. By the age of five, Ken’s uncles frequently encouraged him to play his guitar at family gatherings.
Recognizing his strong desire to perform and musical potential, his parents eagerly invested in his future by providing him with guitar and piano lessons. Yet, formal lessons could only take Ken’s raw talent so far. He began teaching himself the art of guitar playing with assistance of books and hands on experience. As his talent and confidence developed, Ken began playing school functions as well as private concerts for friends and family. Ken often fondly notes a smile that his most rewarding performances of this era were those for his father, Ramon, and his construction buddies after a hard day’s work and a few cold beers.
Around age of twenty Ken was faced with the difficult decision of pursuing a career in music or following in his older brother’s footsteps and becoming a dentist. Recently married and wanting to start a family, he opted for dentistry. Upon graduation from Loma Linda School of Dentistry, Ken started a successful practice in Fontana California, close to where he grew up, which he sold prior to opening another new office, Island Dentistry, in Laguna Beach California in 2002. All the while Ken retained his passion for music playing lead guitar with various bands in clubs throughout Southern California and especially in Laguna Beach where he has resided with his family for over 30 years.
Ken differs from other artist in numerous ways. Not only has he maintained an impeccable dental career spanning nearly four decades as well as compiling an impressive body of work musically, including 5 CD’s, and live performances that legends are made of.
Ken has opened for, toured and played alongside with national act musicians such as Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Donavon Frankenreider, Pato Banton, Jackson Brown, Marshall Tucker Band, Henry Kapono, Lee Rocker, Lukas Nelson and the late Dick Dale. The list can go on and on.
Ken has always sustained a solid reputation in whichever community he has called home. Ken’s contagious love and zest for life shines through in whatever task he undertakes. Whether he’s performing dentistry, playing music, surfing or spending time with his wife Jody of 45 years or his children Lea & Tayber. Ken gives no less than 100% of himself, 100% of his time. Ken’s multifaceted lifestyle is easily recognizable in his music, be it a soothing melody to provide a healing touch, a rocking jam to lift the spirit, or a simple strummed lullaby to put his daughter Lea or son Tayber to sleep.
Ken’s music is a combination of soulful folk rock with a Latin and Hawaiian flavor. The lyrics, written by Ken, bask in the warm memories of family and friends, often giving thanks to GOD for the opportunity to take part in such an amazing life…. a life that he would like to share with the rest of the world through his music.
Ticket Price: $12 advanced / $15 day of show / $21 reserved loft seating (available over the phone 858-481-8140 or in person at our box office) (seating chart / virtual venue tour)
Not on the e-mail list for venue presales? Sign up to be a Belly Up VIP and you will never miss a chance to grab tickets before they go on sale to the general public again!
There are no refunds or exchanges on tickets once purchased.
All times and supporting acts are subject to change.