Multi-Platinum Music Producer Kerry Brown to Produce Vinyl LP

of Live Performances at 2023 Sunflower Farm Music Fest

Ticket purchasers will receive a copy of the vinyl record

compliments of Licorice Pizza Records

Pacific Biodiesel founders Bob and Kelly King along with Mana‘o Radio 91.7FM KMNO today announced that multi-platinum music producer, artist manager and event producer Kerry Brown, headliner for the Sunflower Farm Music Fest, will record the all-day live music event and produce a limited edition vinyl LP. Each person who purchases a ticket to the event will receive a copy of the vinyl record compliments of Licorice Pizza Records!

The Sunflower Farm Music Fest, which will raise funds to support Hawaii’s food hubs to help farmers expand local food production, will take place in a blooming field of sunflowers at the Kings’ family farm in Maui’s Central Valley on Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) from 9AM to 5PM.

Brown will headline the Sunflower Farm Music Fest with his “Licorice Pizza Jam Session” with special guest bandmates including singer/songwriter Julia Gargano (voted fan favorite of the 2020 American Idol season) and others to be announced – adding another exciting aspect to the day-long event. “A jam session is where new music is born, where the seeds of song ideas are formed,” he said. “Playing at this farm surrounded by blooming sunflowers – I’m sure a new song or two will emerge. You’ll have to come see who shows up to jam with us. We’ll play until the sunflowers tell us to go home!”



Brown, who owns a home in Haiku, was drawn to this Earth Day event to help support food security in Hawaii. “Coming together, collaborating and standing up for causes we believe in – that’s what music culture is all about. And that’s what our Maui community is about,” Brown said. “The way our paths came together to collaborate on this event is also very “Maui” – it was a series of serendipitous connections with people who all care about Maui, local farmers and this important cause.”

Producer Kerry Brown joined Pacific Biodiesel's Bob King on the combine to harvest the latest crop of sunflowers. Passionate about the importance of Hawaii's Food Hubs, Brown announced today that his company Licorice Pizza Records would be donating a custom vinyl LP to all those purchasing tickets to the April 22nd Sunflower Farm Music Fest.

In addition to the event’s headliner “Licorice Pizza Jam Session with Kerry Brown and Friends,” other Maui musicians scheduled to perform at this event include George Kahumoku Jr, Drew Martin, Sting Kong, Soul Kitchen, Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band, The Lonely Hearts – Beatles and Beyond, and Marty Dread with Gretchen Rhodes & The House Shakers. Benny Uyetake, who was previously scheduled for a solo performance at the event, will now perform in Brown’s highly anticipated jam session headliner set.

Four-time Grammy-winning musician, master slack key guitarist and Nā Hōkū Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy) Lifetime Achievement Award winner "Uncle" George Kahumoku Jr. has just written an original sunflower-themed song inspired by the cause that he will perform live at the event. His song, written in English and Hawaiian, will be performed as a singalong with the audience; the recording will be featured on the vinyl record of the event.

"I've written 3,000 songs and chants in my career. We are now preparing to move to the mainland to be closer to my grandchildren so I wanted to write this song to leave as my legacy for Maui. My background is in visual arts and writing, but my heart and soul has always been in farming. I've always enjoyed gardening, and growing food for the homeless. Now I’m looking forward to this next chapter when I will have more time to draw and write," said Kahumoku Jr.

This all-day fundraiser event will benefit Hawaii Food Hub Hui’s 14 food hubs around the state that help local farmers grow more and earn more for their efforts as they produce healthy local food for Hawaii's families.

Hawaii Food Hub Hui has a goal to triple the output of Hawaii’s food hubs by 2025. This daylong festival will directly support the Hawaii Food Hub Hui’s 2023 target to raise $3 million to fund high priority needs for Hawaii’s food hubs, including supply chain logistics such as refrigerated delivery trucks, construction of walk-in freezers and other storage at food hub warehouses, and processing equipment for value-added food products that help farmers expand their revenue and minimize food waste. The event will also raise funds for non-profit Mana‘o Radio, Maui’s only independent, commercial-free, all-volunteer radio station celebrating its 21st anniversary this year.

Award-winning music and event producer Kerry Brown will headline the Sunflower Farm Music Fest on Earth Day with his "Licorice Pizza Jam Session." Photo courtesy of Kerry Brown; Photo by Kristin Burns

During this zero-waste event, attendees will be able to view and photograph the sunflowers, take part in farm tours, visit the on-site Farm Stand and enjoy unique food experiences that showcase the food hub model. Parking is a $5/car cash donation at the gate and will benefit the American Red Cross, whose Maui chapter volunteers will help staff the event and medic tent. A complimentary cut sunflower bloom will be given for each parking donation.

Tickets are on sale now for $100 – and 100% of ticket proceeds and donations will benefit the cause thanks to the generosity of event sponsors: Roland, Michael & Deborah Rybak, Hawaiian Electric, Maui Tropical Plantation, Fairmont Kea Lani, King Power, Pacific Current, Gay & Robinson and Maui Screen Printing.

Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased online in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.Biodiesel.com or www.ManaoRadio.com or call 808.866.5101.

About Pacific Biodiesel 

Founded in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel is the nation's longest operating and most experienced biodiesel producer, and the only commercial producer of liquid biofuels in the state. A Maui-based company with nearly 100 employees statewide, we established the first retail biodiesel pump in America and for more than 28 years we've been an innovative leader in the renewable energy industry. With a nameplate production capacity of 5.5 million gallons annually, our refinery on Hawaii Island utilizes advanced technology to produce premium distilled biodiesel. Our company has always focused on recycling with a zero waste philosophy that incorporates development of value-added co-products. Today, our collaborative, community-based "agriculture and energy" production model demonstrates a circular economy approach to fighting climate change and helps Hawaii achieve a clean, sustainable energy future.

Pacific Biodiesel

16 Hobron Avenue, Kahului Hi 96732

Editor: Joy Galatro, Marketing Director

Staff Writer & Layout: Beth Mathias, Marketing Associate

For more information visit our website

biodiesel.com

or contact Beth Mathias at

bmathias@biodiesel.com

STAY CONNECTED