Free music festival in Oceanside to raise money for school bands

By: PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, November 23, 2005 7:24 AM PST ∞

If turkey leftovers and televised football don't appeal to you Nov. 26-27, Semisi Ma'u has an alternative form of entertainment for North County music-lovers.

The Oceanside bandleader is hosting his sixth-annual FulaBula Fest 2005 at the Flying Bridge nightclub, and a dozen local bands and solo artists will perform at the free two-day festival that raises money for local school orchestras.

Ma'u, who was born in Tonga and moved to Oceanside in 1978, taught music for many years at a private Del Mar elementary school. But when his two sons ---- Keli (now 23) and Tonga Ross-Ma'u (now 20) ---- attended public school, Ma'u learned that arts funding for public schools was limited. Both boys played in the orchestra at Lincoln ---- Keli played cello, Tonga played viola ---- and orchestra director Denise Day told Ma'u that many students who wanted to join the band couldn't afford instruments. So in 2000, Ma'u asked a group of his fellow North County musicians to lend some time to the first FulaBula fundraiser and a tradition was born. Money raised at the concerts over the last six years has been used to buy 16 violas, violins and cellos.

Last year's festival raised $1,900 and Ma'u said he's hoping to double that this year. His goal is to draw 1,000 people over the two-day period. While admission is free, the audience is encouraged to donate money for the orchestras.

All of the proceeds raised on Saturday will benefit the Lincoln Middle School Orchestra and the proceeds Sunday will be split by the Lincoln orchestra and the Oceanside High School Jazz Band. Besides live music, visitors can enjoy discounted pizza, sausage, hot dogs and beer. Ma'u will be offering his band's CDs for sale, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the bands.

This year's musical lineup is much the same as in previous years, with two new additions ---- the Oceanside-based funk band Functuation and Ma'u's son, Keli, who will open the festival Nov. 26 with his steel drum ensemble. On Nov. 26, the festival will take place in the Flying Bridge's main restaurant area, so Ma'u has scheduled mostly solo, duo and trio jazz, Latin and light rock acts whose music will provide a peaceful environment for diners. On Nov. 27, the festival moves to the Flying Bridge's downstairs terrace, where the larger rock, funk and island-themed bands will be able to perform as loud as they please. Each act will perform a 40- to 50-minute set.

Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. On Nov. 26, the lineup features Keli Ross Ma'u, Eric Foster, Chris Morris, Kisti Murray, CiCi Porter, Jimmy Patton & Adrienne Nims and Jerry McCann. On Nov. 27, the schedule opens and closes with Semisi and FulaBula, with additional performances by Funktuation, Chris Torres, Jeff Ruiz, Jeff Moore & the Witchdoctors and Jerry McCann.

FulaBula Fest 2004 with Semisi & FulaBula, Functuation, Cici Porter, Chris Morris, Jeff Moore & the Witchdoctors, Eric Foster, Jimmy Patton & Adrienne Nims, Kisti Murray, Keli Ross-Ma'u, Chris Torres, Merry McCann and Jeff Ruiz

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26-27

Where: Flying Bridge, 1105 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside

Admission: Donations benefit the Lincoln Middle School Orchestra and Oceanside High School Jazz Band

Info: (760) 722-1151

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.