If you’ve ever traveled to Hawaii, you’ve experienced the island vibe—the slow days, casual atmosphere, and welcoming warmth. It’s exactly what Maoli’s music is trying to communicate. Born Glenn Awong in Hilo and raised on Maui where he still lives, Maoli’s stage name is a Hawaiian word that translates as “native, indigenous, aborigine, genuine, true, real, and actual.”
Maoli plays the Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Saturday, April 18 (doors at 6:30, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $60.10 to $113.80 at ticketmaster.com).
“When I’m not being a father or a husband, I do a lot of island stuff, man,” Maoli explained during a recent Zoom call. “I like to go spearfishing, diving. I do a lot of hunting. Other than that, music, of course. But just living the island life, spending time with family, friends, a lot of get-togethers, enjoying some nice beverages.”
Maoli is a horseback riding, country living family man who comes off as laid-back as his music.
“I just got my daughter into rodeo. We’ve been doing a lot of practice. We’ve been training her. She’s doing really well. I don’t really join the competition because I’m pretty competitive, and I don’t want to get hurt,” he laughed.
His newest album is Last Sip of Summer, his ninth.
“That was my first time ever recording in Nashville,” he explained. “It was with the producers Dann and David Huff, the brothers. It was pretty exciting for me. It was a cool learning experience because I never got to record like that before, where a lot of the musicians would just jump into a studio and we’d just do a one-take kind of thing. I did work with one of our pioneers of reggae music here in the Pacific, George Veikoso, also known as Fiji. I flew him up, so it was a good combination because I wanted to try to have this reggae country vibe, and I felt what better way than to grab one of the pioneers of our music, our island reggae music with one of the greats.”
Maoli also put out another version of the same album with the subhead Island Vibe Edition.
“The Last Sip of Summer was done a little bit more country, which the Huff brothers are really good at. They tried to add a pinch of reggae in there. I would call that more of a Nashville’s version of the reggae feel. It wasn’t ours. So, as we did that album, we just thought it would be cool if we did it our way. So, we grabbed the same songs, and we just redid it in the island Pacific standard of reggae.”
Be ready for an experience if you see Maoli at Vina Robles.
“I do a mix of originals and covers. There’s even a part in our show where we do guitar battles, so I’ll bring out a lot of the ’80s rock. It’s just a fun show. It’s more of an experience. It’s gonna feel like family, you know? It’s just gonna be a party—sing-along songs, high energy, just a great all-around good vibe.”
Niko Rubio opens.
Also at Vina, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Cheap Trick plays on Wednesday, April 22 (doors at 6:30, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $58.45 to $282 VIP at ticketmaster.com). Formed in 1973, the band is on its tongue-in-cheek All Washed Up Tour, named after the bands’ 21st studio album, All Washed Up. B & The Hive opens.
Classic prog rock, DJ tributes, and hip-hop
The Fremont Theater is back, and Good Vibez is filling the theater with fun starting with English prog rock supergroup rockers Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) on Thursday, April 16 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $50.96 to $81.86 at prekindle.com).
ELP was formed in London in 1970 by Keith Emerson (keyboards) of The Nice, Greg Lake of King Crimson (vocals, bass, guitar, producer), and Carl Palmer of Atomic Rooster (drums, percussion). This show was created by Carl Palmer and his management and is presented with the full cooperation of the estates of Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.
“This is not a tribute act—this is the real thing,” organizers explained. “Through modern technology, they will reunite the band: Carl with his two bandmates, playing together along with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, who both passed away in 2016. The show combines video performance of Emerson and Lake from a legendary sold-out Royal Albert Hall show from 1992 with live on-stage performances of Carl Palmer with his own ELP Legacy band (Paul Bielatowicz and Simon Fitzpatrick).”
Euphoric: A Night Inspired by Euphoria comes to the venue on Friday, April 17 (9 p.m.; 18-and-older; $20.57 at prekindle.com). Expect “a high-energy nightlife experience inspired by the world of Euphoria.”
Disco Always: A Harry Styles Night comes on Saturday, April 18 (doors at 8, event at 9 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.78 at prekindle.com). “Feather boas encouraged. Consensual kisses welcomed. Disco energy is mandatory,” organizers said.
Finally, fashion icon and rap superstar Mike Sherm performs on two nights, Sunday, April 19, and Monday, April 20 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $64.86 general to $166.32 VIP meet-and-greet at prekindle.com). The West Coast rapper is noted for his raw storytelling and success in the underground hip-hop scene.
Punk rock, party rock, and country rock
This week at The Siren, prepare yourself for a SoCal punk rock ’n’ roll trifecta with The Jack Knives, Rudy Nuño and The Broadcasters, and Black Guy Fawkes on Friday, April 17 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $10.57 presale at tixr.com). Headliners The Jack Knives are from Orange County and include British singer-songwriter Si Short on guitar and lead vocals, Faris “Dragon” Muhtaseb on lead guitar, Bryan “Brooce” Lee on bass guitar, and Drew Baker on drums, vocals, and percussion.
Local rockers, Scratch, play a free matinee show on Saturday, April 18 (2 to 5 p.m.; 21-and-older). They’ve played venues all over the Central Coast, and collectively the band members have 40 years of experience playing originals and covers. “We are the relief to the ever-present itch for good ole rock ’n’ roll!” they said.
In the evening on Saturday, April 18, Ted Z and the Wranglers perform (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). The SoCal group plays outlaw-country-charged-rock telling “tales of love, regret, getting older, and getting in trouble,” the band said.
Karaoke, punk, and beach vibes
SLO Brew Live at Rod & Hammer Rock starts its week in the most fun way possible: with shots of hot sauce and a karaoke contest. If you’re game to participate or watch, head to The Spicy Singer on Friday, April 17 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $10 presale at ticketweb.com or $15 at the door). Organizers say contestants must “beat the heat by singing through it.”
Iconic hardcore punk act Black Flag plays on Saturday, April 18 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $32.32 at ticketweb.com). Originally called Panic, the group was formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach by guitarist and primary songwriter Greg Ginn, who remains the band’s only continuous member. Ginn still lives the DIY ethic with self-booked tours and releasing music through his own SST Records.
Finally, North Shore surfer and musician Landon McNamara plays on Thursday, April 23 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $32.36 at ticketweb.com), bringing his relaxed, joyful island sounds.
“My dad and my uncle are both professional surfers, so I grew up in a surfing family,” he explained in press materials. “I grew up right by the beach, so I was in the ocean every single day, one way or another. My family and friends are big influences to me. … I definitely wouldn’t have had the nerve to go through with everything I’ve done without them having my back.”
Music matinee
Blues and rock act Dirty Cello returns to the Bay Theatre in Morro Bay for an afternoon concert on Sunday, April 19 (2 p.m.; all ages; $20 at dirtycello.com).
“My band, Dirty Cello, is one of the wildest bands they let indoors, and we’ve got a crazy show full of songs and stories of our travels from how we accidentally became popular with the nudist community to how we ended up playing at a country music festival in Iceland,” frontwoman Rebecca Roudman explained.
Roudman’s got a sultry voice and a tight backing band that takes a unique spin on blues, rock, and Americana. They cover some familiar songs in a fun new way, and the Bay Theatre has excellent acoustics and comfortable seats.
Young jazz lions
The SLO Jazz Federation presents its 2026 Young Jazz Winners Showcase at Cuesta College (Room 7160 at Music & Fine Arts Building) on Sunday, April 19 (doors at 3:30, show 4 p.m.; all ages; free though donations are appreciated. Reserve your free ticket at my805tix.com or get one at the door).
Hear the scholarship-winning student musicians—Nikita Browne, Diego Cardenas, Zoe Carpenter, Greyson Farrar, Mile Johnston, and Tomsen Taylor—play individual and group selections accompanied by Gary Drysdale (guitar), Dylan Johnson (bass), and Jim Stromberg (drums).
Bowling for laughs
Award-winning stand-up comic Atsuko Okatsuka is hotter than Yuzusco right now. Her first special, The Intruder (2022) on HBO, won a Gracie Award for Best Comedy Special. Her second special, Father, is streaming on Hulu. She got a role in Jonah Hill’s new film, Outcome, on Apple TV that stars Keanu Reeves. Now she’s on her The Big Bowl Tour sporting an enormous bowl haircut.
Known for a combination of joy and vulnerability, not to mention her compelling storytelling and ability to effortlessly interact with her audience, Okatsuka is next appearing here. Cal Poly Arts presents comedian Atsuko Okatsuka on at the Performing Arts Center in SLO on Wednesday, April 22 (7:30 p.m.; $39 to $69 at calpolyarts.org). ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in April 16-23, 2026.