Kahilu Theatre presents its next Song Circle, a Nashville-style in-the-round show highlighting local songwriters, on Nov. 5 featuring Don May, Kimberly June and Kelly Hyde.
The exclusive concert will take place at 7 p.m. with in-person and livestreaming viewing options.
May is a Texas born, award-winning Americana singer/songwriter living in Waimea. A veteran of the world-famous Austin, Texas, live music scene, his songs “reflect the grit and emotional honesty of the Texas troubadour tradition and the detailed craftsmanship of Nashville’s finest.”
As a staff writer for Sony/ATV, JENCO music publishing and most recently CURB/WORD music publishing in Nashville, May has honed his songwriting by working alongside many of the most successful songwriters and record producers in the world. He is currently putting the final touches on six songs that he will be releasing over the next year.
June is “like sunshine walking into a room”— radiating from deep within, calling you home with her smile, soulful vocals, honest lyrics and rich, percussive guitar playing. Originally from Maine, raised in the Dominican Republic, and currently based in Hawaii, June is an island-country girl with a deep love for nature and wide open spaces.
After attending Berklee College of Music and Belmont University in Nashville, she signed her first publishing deal in 2011 where she was mentored by some of the top writers, producers, and music executives in the country. She recently landed endorsements with Kala Brand Music and Cordoba Guitars, and had songs featured on TV shows like Nashville and Degrassi High.
At home in Hawaii, June performs on all of the major islands at intimate venues, festivals, as well as supporting larger acts that pass through. Her single, “Love and be Loved,” was a finalist winner at the 2018 Hawaii Songwriter Festival, where she shared the stage with some of LA’s hit writers and Kenny Loggins. Her album “Just KJ” was released in the summer of 2020, featuring all new songs written since her Saturn-return — poetic adaptations of her very own life experiences with a touch of light-hearted sarcasm. New singles include “STOKED” and a collaboration with Hawaii-based rapper, Higgs, called “Grateful for You.”
Hyde grew up in a small town in New York and was exposed to many genres at a young age by her parents. Her musical studies started at a young age with keyboard and trumpet. Soon after, she picked up guitar, mostly learning to play by ear. A spark in 2009 led her to start traveling where she landed on the Big Island.
Here, she found the baritone ukulele and a unique, free environment that allowed words and melodies to come alive and flow effortlessly. After releasing her first album “Incredible Journey” in February 2014, Hyde wanted to share her music with the masses. Her lyrics are clever, uplifting, and comical, bringing awareness and at the same time making light of the human situation. Her music covers an array of folk, reggae, bluegrass, and her own special flavor.
The performance can be enjoyed in-person at Kahilu Theatre, which has a reduced capacity for the concert. Social distancing, mask-wearing, and sanitization protocols are in place. In-person tickets are $30 and can be purchased at www.kahilutheatre.org.
The show can also be watched on-demand online. On-Demand individual tickets for this show, which are good for an entire household, are $9.99 and available at Kahilu.TV.