Fans of Hawai‘i public radio’s “Aloha Shorts” program of local literature readings are no doubt familiar with the offbeat antics of the show’s quirky house band, Hamajang. On Saturday, March 13, the band will for the first time claim HPR’s Atherton Studio as their very own in their Atherton Concert Series debut.

Featuring an idiosyncratic collection of acoustic instruments from washtub bass and steel guitar to accordion, spoons and kazoo, Hamajang specializes in a humorous hodgepodge of down-home blues, swing, country, folk, hapa-haole Hawaiian and other rootsy styles that has fans proclaiming them as Honolulu’s own Novelty Idols. Influences range from Irving Berlin to Stevie Wonder, Bessie Smith to the Police, Ry Cooder to Hawai‘i’s own Poi Dog Pondering – not to mention a bevy of their own endearingly deranged originals.

The band translates their plantation Pidgin name as “delightful disarray.” Their band motto is S.N.A.F.K. – or, Situation Normal ... All Funny Kine.

Three of the band’s members, Derek Ferrar (vocals, ‘ukulele and percussion), Charley Myers (vocals, guitar, steel guitar) and Yash Wichmann-Walczak (washtub bass, accordion) are old friends who have been playing together in various obscure Honolulu bands since the late 1980s, including Melodious Thunk, The Retroglyphs, Jewels of the Jungle, Bon Ton Roule, Palolo Jones and Friends of the Bride. They are joined by newer friend Mark Scrufari (bass and percussion).

Find out more about the Hamajang saga at www.HamajangBand.com.