Normal Thursday Last night at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua turned into a once-in-a-lifetime moment for guests as Mick Fleetwood took over the hotel's lobby bar for an impromptu performance of Fleetwood Mac's “Landslide.”
The musician — and longtime Maui resident — was among a small group of guests gathered at the hotel bar to watch American Idol Finalist Oliver Steele was performing a weekly concert at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. Steele was playing the second of two nights at the luxury hotel and was wrapping up his set when he spotted the music legend in the audience. “You’re one of my biggest inspirations,” Steele said, looking excited. “I hope you don’t mind if I play another song.”
While the crowd cheered in support of Hannah is“, the Hawaiian phrase used to encourage sing-alongs at concerts, Steele began playing the familiar opening melody of “Landslide.” It was enough to get Fleetwood out of his seat, as he approached the stage and whispered something in Steele's ear. A few minutes later, the legendary artist returned to the room with his talking drum, and motioned for Steele to begin the song.
Joined by an acoustic guitarist, a bassist and a music icon on percussion, Steele delivered a moving performance of “Landslide” to a stunned audience at the Ritz, who couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. “Somebody tell me they videotaped this,” Steele shouted at the end of the song.
While American Idol The star was in town to perform for Ritz-Carlton guests, and Fleetwood was helping promote the inaugural Maui music and dining experience for the Hua Momona Foundation. The charity event, which runs Sept. 5-7, brings together local musicians and chefs to raise money for victims of the Lahaina fire in August 2023.
For Fleetwood, who lost his eponymous restaurant in the fires, the event is a chance to celebrate Maui’s resilience, but also to remind people of the ongoing need for funding and support amid the ongoing rebuilding efforts in the community. “We don’t want people to forget about the fires,” he says. Rolling Stone.
The Fleetwood Mac legend will perform at the charity event, and will be joined by a select musical line-up including Billy Cox (a founding member of the Band of Gypsys who played in Maui with Jimi Hendrix), Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers, and Deryl Jones of the Rolling Stones.
Among the celebrity chefs who will be taking part in the event is Gordon Ramsay. Next level chef Contestants Zach Laidlaw, Ryan Vaughn Smith, Gabi Chappell, and Christina Meros.
