Save The Waves Film Festival
Jun
12
7:00 PM19:00

Save The Waves Film Festival

Save The Waves Film Festival is proud to return to our hometown and host the WORLD PREMIERE in Santa Cruz!

Save The Waves Film Festival returns for another global tour, bringing together communities for a night of adventurous and inspiring films for a good cause.

What is the “Save The Waves Film Festival”?

Save The Waves Film Festival is the world’s only international surf and environmental film fest. Started in 2008, STWFF is a film tour and fundraiser hosted by nonprofit Save The Waves Coalition.

This year’s lineup of short films features surf breaks from California, Ghana, Portugal, the Azores, Canary Islands, Indonesia, Australia, Peru, and Mexico.

STWFF is also a showcase for surf ecosystem conservation, with new films about those who are the frontlines of coastal protection.

Tickets and proceeds support Save The Waves’ environmental programs.

EVENING SCHEDULE

6:00pm - Doors Open & Welcome
7:00pm - Shorts Session 1
7:45pm - Intermission
8:30pm - Shorts Session 2
9:20pm - End of Evening


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23.18
Advance tickets:www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.savethewaves.org

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Lucinda Williams and Her Band
Jun
18
8:00 PM20:00

Lucinda Williams and Her Band

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An evening with Lucinda Williams and her band

“My dad, as a poet, always told me to never censor myself – that’s one of his cardinal rules of creative writing,” says multiple-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. “That became my motto which I’ve stuck by all these years.” Miller Williams’ advice clearly is born out on Lucinda’s powerful eighteenth studio album, the provocative World’s Gone Wrong. “I felt a sense of urgency in making this record,” she adds.

Filled with gut-wrenching topical songs, the album’s ten tracks were written and recorded in a blast of collaborative creativity as Lucinda and her cowriters ­– primarily husband/manager/co-producer Tom Overby and guitarist Doug Pettibone – grappled with events transpiring during the spring of 2025. A whole other album had been in the works, but that “urgency” to address our current cataclysmic situation motivated Lucinda and company to cut World’s Gone Wrong in direct response. “Music is a powerful weapon,” she points out. “I want this record to make people aware, wake them up. I like to push people’s buttons.”

Lucinda, Pettibone, and Overby returned to co-producer Ray Kennedy’s Room & Board Studio in Nashville to cut the tracks with her newly configured band: guitarist Marc Ford (Black Crowes), drummer Brady Blade (Emmylou Harris), and her longtime bassist David Sutton. On the gripping title track, they’re joined by guest vocalist Brittney Spencer and keyboardist Rob Burger on Hammond B3. Its title inspired by the 1931 Mississippi Sheiks song (repurposed by Dylan in ‘93), the lyrics give voice to the lives of baffled everyday Americans:  a nurse and a car salesman “workin’ long hours” and “lookin’ for comfort in a song.”

Throughout the album, Lucinda is at her most direct, not mincing words via those distinctive, one-of-a-kind vocals. The ominous “Something’s Gotta Give” (also featuring Spencer) is punctuated by Pettibone’s and Ford’s fiery two-guitar interplay – a clarion call that “evil has come to play/you can feel it everywhere.” On the country-blues “Low Life,” co-written with members of Big Thief, Mickey Raphael’s dulcet harmonica livens up this ode to a juke joint where weary souls find relief. Lucinda and her band played the song onstage with Raphael during Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Fest, and “audiences really responded to that one,” Lucinda recalls. After their August 2 tour stop in Saratoga Springs, they reconvened with Raphael at New York’s iconic Electric Lady Studio to cut the vibrant track.

The blues-rockin’ “Sing Unburied Sing,” inspired by Jesmyn Ward’s 2017 award-winning novel of a haunted South, offers soaring background vocals by Maureen Murphy and Siobhan Kennedy. A gutbucket blues, “Black Tears” features Reese Wynan’s Hammond B3 accenting a down-and-dirty dual guitar attack. Accompanied by a serpentine slide guitar, “Punchline” eviscerates “false gods and deceivers/playin’ on our deepest fears” and “people being taught to hate.” Personifying the voice of liberty itself, in “Freedom Speaks” Lucinda reminds us that “apathy will blind you,” urging us to “stand up and fight.” The punk-blues “How Much Did You Get for Your Soul?” is a sequel of sorts to the piercing “Man Without a Soul,” from Lucinda’s critically acclaimed Good Souls Better Angels (2020). Backed by Murphy’s churchy vocals, Lucinda paraphrases biblical scripture, delivering a bit of fire-and-brimstone that’s sorely needed.

The sole cover song on the album, Bob Marley’s formidable “So Much Trouble in the World,” features the inimitable vocals of national treasure Mavis Staples. “It’s the first time I’ve cut a Bob Marley song,” says Lucinda, who’s released a series of albums of songs by the Fab Four (2024’s Lucinda Williams Sings the Beatles from Abbey Road) and Tom Petty (2020’s Runnin’ Down the Dream), as well as blues and country classics. “I was self-conscious about it at first, because the song is so great and it had already been recorded the best it’s ever going to be. But then when Mavis Staples came in to do vocals….” Together, they nailed it.

The hymnlike “We’ve Come Too Far to Turn Around,” featuring Norah Jones on piano and harmonies, is a heartbreaking closer, yet there is an aspirational quality too. “Norah’s voice lifts the song up,” says Lucinda. “Her part is subtle, kind of quiet, but it adds a whole level of something to the song.” That “something” permeates the entirety of World’s Gone Wrong, giving courage to listeners who are – as the title track says – “lookin’ for comfort in a song.”

And that’s what Lucinda fans have come to depend on over the past 45 years – since her sophomore effort comprised of originals, Happy Woman Blues, in 1980. With a back catalog of remarkable albums, including 1998’s game-changing Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, three Grammy awards and countless accolades, including Time Magazine naming her America’s Best Songwriter in 2001, Williams is one of our most revered artists, beloved for her singular vocals and extraordinary songs. And in these troubling times, we need the light she shines on World’s Gone Wrong more than ever before.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $60
Advance tickets:www.ticketweb.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Dan Tyminski Band
Jul
16
7:00 PM19:00

Dan Tyminski Band

Poi Rodgers

Dan Tyminski has left his mark in nearly every corner of modern music. His voice famously accompanies George Clooney’s performance of the classic song, “I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow,” in the film, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and his vocal collaboration with Swedish DJ Avicii on “Hey Brother” was a global smash. His diverse solo projects and years of work with Alison Krauss and Union Station have yielded troves of award-winning music. But the live shows of the Dan Tyminski Band are the true gems of this storied career.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $55 Gen, $65 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.snazzyproductions.com
Artists website: www.dantyminski.com
Event website: www.poirogers.com

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Babe Rainbow
Jul
18
8:00 PM20:00

Babe Rainbow

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They say it ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at. But for Angus Dowling, Jack ‘Cool-Breeze’ Crowther and Dr Elliot ‘Love Wisdom’ O’Reilly, the character of their home, Australia’s idyllic Gold Coast, permeates every atom of the dreamlike, joyful, psychedelic music they create together as Babe Rainbow. “The old Aquarius hippie connection is everywhere around here,” singer Angus says. “We tap into it, and absorb it all.” And their new album, Slipper Imp And Shakaerator, is their most “homegrown” project yet – a suite of maverick, zephyr-light acid-pop following its own north star and chasing subtle, slippery, subterranean grooves to delirious destinations. 

The trio grew up in Rainbow Bay, later relocating to nearby Byron Bay. An area of breathtaking natural beauty, where the waves are always strong, the magic mushrooms grow freely, and old, abandoned farm buildings abound. It was and remains the perfect locale for young dudes to play their music as loud as they want. “We were 16 and 17 years old, working at Tropical Fruit World in Duranbah, cruising around the kiosks and listening to the Nuggets compilations,” remembers Angus, of the group’s earliest days. “Jack and I met in the Australian youth choir as junior songbirds years before that, and he was still the only technical musical guy I knew, but I had the feeling we could all play this music we loved in our own way. We lived on an avocado farm up around then, in the macadamia orchard of the property. And it was so much fun making random noise while surrounded by the mangoes and the bush.”

The trio jammed tirelessly in those abandoned shacks, and as their sound began to develop, they booked shows in Brisbane, the nearest city, a two-hour drive away. While playing Brisbane, they crossed paths with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, who began to book the embryonic Babe Rainbow as opening band at their shows. “This is before Gizz’s ‘stadium-rock’ period,” Dowling grins.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $33.60
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Artists website: www.baberainbow.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Bookshop Santa Cruz presents: Ocean Vuong | EMPEROR OF GLADNESS
Jul
21
7:00 PM19:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz presents: Ocean Vuong | EMPEROR OF GLADNESS

Cosponsored by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz

Event: Bookshop Santa Cruz presents: Ocean Vuong | EMPEROR OF GLADNESS
Cosponsored by The Humanities Institute
Cost: GA: $26.58 | Student: $10.00
Date & Time: Tuesday, July 21st, 7:00 PM
More info & Tickets: https://bookshopsantacruz.com/emperor-of-gladness 

"Heartbreaking, heartwarming yet unsentimental, and savagely comic all at the same time."  — The Guardian

Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive

The hardest thing in the world is to live only once...

One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai's relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink.

Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Ocean Vuong's writing—formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness—are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life's most fleeting mercies: a second chance.

OCEAN VUONG is the author of the critically acclaimed poetry collections Night Sky with Exit Wounds and Time Is a Mother, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and the American Book Award, he was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and currently splits his time between western Massachusetts and New York City. The Emperor of Gladness is his latest novel.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $26.58
Advance tickets:www.buytickets.at/bookshopsantacruz
Event website: www.bookshopsantacruz.com

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An evening with SHAWN COLVIN
Aug
8
8:00 PM20:00

An evening with SHAWN COLVIN

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Over the course of three decades, Shawn Colvin has established herself as a captivating performer and a revered storyteller, well-deserving of the commendation of her peers and the devoted audiences who have been inspired by her artistry. 

As she enters her thirtieth decade as a songwriter and performer, she continues to reaffirm her status as a vital voice in music. We welcome Shawn back to the Rio Theatre, August 8th!


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $40 Gen, $60 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Event website: www.shawncolvinmusic.com

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SNAIL
Aug
15
8:00 PM20:00

SNAIL

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Snailrocks.com is the official website for Snail, an American rock band know for their Billboard charting single "The Joker". Launched before September 2020. Snail has toured nationally, sharing stages with acts including Santana, Thin Lizzy, Styx & The Doobie Brothers. Snail was the biggest Rock Band in Santa Cruz years ago and coined the phrase the band that built the Catalyst!

Band Member Names.
Bob O'Neil-- Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Ken Kraft-- Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Vocals.
Craig Owens-- Bass Guitar, Vocals
Trey Sabatelli-- Drums, Percussion, Vocals


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.snailrocks.com

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The Kirtan Love Experience with Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra
Aug
22
8:00 PM20:00

The Kirtan Love Experience with Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra

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Join Grammy nominated, multi-instrumentalist Jai Uttal for an evening of celebration, kirtan and a very special concert with his world music band, The Pagan Love Orchestra. Performing old and new songs, touching on many moods and colors, Jai & friends return to Santa Cruz and invite you to dance, sing, cry, laugh and celebrate together!


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $35
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Event website: www.jaiuttal.com

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Built to Spill
Aug
26
8:00 PM20:00

Built to Spill

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Since its inception in 1992, Built to Spill founder Doug Martsch intended his beloved band to be a collaborative project, an ever-evolving group of incredible musicians making music and playing live together. “I wanted to switch the lineup for many reasons. Each time we finish a record I want the next one to sound totally different. It’s fun to play with people who bring in new styles and ideas,” says Martsch. “And it’s nice to be in a band with people who aren’t sick of me yet.”

Following several albums and EPs on Pacific Northwest independent labels, including the unmistakably canonical indie rock classic, There’s Nothing Wrong With Love, released on Sub Pop offshoot Up Records in 1994, Martsch signed with Warner Brothers from 1995 to 2016. He and his rotating cast of cohorts recorded six more, inarguably great albums during that time – Perfect From Now On, Keep It Like a Secret, Ancient Melodies of the Future, You In Reverse, Untethered Moon, There Is No Enemy. There was also a live album, and a solo record, Now You Know. While the band’s impeccable recorded catalog is the entry point, Built to Spill live is an essential FORCE of its own: heavy, psychedelic, melodic and visceral tunes blaring from amps that sound as if they’re powered by Mack trucks.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $40
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.builttospill.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Ocean Film Festival World Tour
Sep
4
7:00 PM19:00

Ocean Film Festival World Tour

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Supporting Save our Shores

Dive into the Depths of the 13th Annual Ocean Film Festival World Tour

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour, now in its 13th year, is set to make a splash across the globe in 2026, returning with a powerful and visually stunning line-up of films that celebrate the ocean from every angle — above the surface, beneath the waves, and deep into the stories that connect us all to the sea.

This year’s tour promises an unforgettable night out for ocean lovers, featuring six remarkable films from around the globe.  From high-stakes adventure and record-breaking journeys to intimate portraits of marine life and environmental restoration, the 2026 program is packed with breathtaking cinematography, inspiring characters, and a deep respect for the ocean and the communities shaped by it.

One of the standout films in the 2026 program is The Raftsmen, an epic story of courage and endurance. Twelve unlikely adventurers from seven different countries come together to attempt a feat few would dare imagine — crossing the world’s largest ocean on three handmade wooden rafts, guided only by the sun and stars. Battling storms, starvation, and the psychological toll of life at sea, their six-month journey remains the longest raft expedition ever completed. Now, fifty years later, the original 16mm footage has been beautifully restored into 4K, allowing modern audiences to witness the sheer scale of this once-in-a-lifetime ocean odyssey.

Jemima Robinson, Founder and CEO of the Ocean Film Festival World Tour, says the 2026 season continues the festival’s mission to share ocean stories that move, inspire and connect audiences.


THE RAFTSMEN (tour edit) Australia : 48 minutes

Twelve misfits from seven countries unite on an explorer’s crazy dream. Their aim is to cross the world’s largest ocean on three handmade wooden rafts with only the stars and sun to guide them. Battling storms, sharks and psychological demons, their epic six months at sea remains the world’s longest ever raft journey. Now, fifty years on, their original 16mm footage has been beautifully remastered into 4K and the surviving raftsmen finally share their incredible story.

THE KELP COLLECTOR Australia : 5 minutes

After decades dedicated to a career in science, Sandy Webb has found a new passion in retirement: meticulously collecting and cataloguing the diverse algae species that inhabit the waters of Port Phillip Bay near her Williamstown home. With the precision of a scientist and the eye of an artist, she transforms her marine discoveries into exquisite pressed seaweed specimens. This intimate portrait reveals how Sandy's dedication to documenting local marine life connects her more deeply to the coastal environment she calls home.

STONE BITER: SAVING THE ARCTIC SEA FORESTS Norway: 20 minutes

When an Italian photographer moves to Northern Norway, he carries a dream: to explore the icy Arctic waters and film the iconic wolffish amongst lush kelp forests. But beneath the surface, he finds a stark reality - an ocean floor stripped bare, where the once-thriving sea forests have nearly vanished.

As Ismaele learns to navigate the cold, unfamiliar sea, he unravels the mystery of the missing kelp. Along the way, he meets scientists, volunteers, and local experts who refuse to give up on the ocean they love. Together, they’re building a new kind of movement rooted in resilience, restoration, and hope.

ANTARCTICA: DOMAIN ONE Argentina: 27 minutes

Narrated by surfing legend Kelly Slater, this stunning documentary follows two Argentinian brothers on an extraordinary expedition to the end of the Earth. United by their passion for riding waves and protecting our oceans, the Gauchos del Mar embark on a sailing, trekking, and surfing adventure through Antarctica's breathtaking landscapes.

This is more than a film about adventure. It's a powerful rallying cry for the conservation of our planet's last great frontier – and a reminder that what happens in Antarctica affects us all. Will you answer the call?

A DRAGON’S DANCE Australia: 5 minutes

Beneath the waves of Australia's Great Southern Reef, a creature of myth and wonder performs an ancient ritual. This mesmerising short film follows the enchanting lifecycle of the leafy sea dragon, one of the ocean's most extraordinary and elusive inhabitants. Cloaked in nature's most intricate disguise, these delicate dragons drift through their kelp kingdom with a grace that defies their struggle to survive.

Prepare to be spellbound by nature's most elegant dancer.

TAINÁ

Brazil: 15 minutes

The life story of Tainá Hinckel, a prominent Brazilian professional surfer, unfolds through dives into her memories, woven together with intimate talks, old photographs, and letters written to herself. From her small town childhood to the challenges of being a woman in surfing, Tainá faces her greatest dream and challenge: competing for her first Olympic Game in one of the most dangerous waves in the world's surfing, at Teahupoo in Tahiti.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $22
Advance tickets: Coming Soon
Event website: www.oceanfilmfestivalworldtour.com

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Public Image Ltd.
Sep
5
8:00 PM20:00

Public Image Ltd.

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After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed post-punk originators
Public Image Ltd (PiL). Widely regarded as one of the most innovative
bands of all time, their music and vision earned them 5 UK Top 20
Singles and 5 UK Top 20 Albums.

With a shifting line-up and unique sound – fusing rock, dance, folk, pop
and dub – Lydon guided the band from their debut album ‘First Issue’ in
1978 through to 1992’s ‘That What Is Not’, before a 17 year hiatus.
Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009, touring extensively and releasing three
critically acclaimed albums ‘This is PiL’ in 2012 followed by ‘What The
World Needs Now…’ in 2015 and ‘End of World’ in 2023.

PiL continue to challenge and thrive.

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $54
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Fruit Bats (with band)
Oct
2
8:00 PM20:00

Fruit Bats (with band)

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Fruit Bats

Fruit Bats | The Landfill | MRG887

The midwest, particularly the part of the midwest Eric D. Johnson hails from, is a largely flat expanse. Zipping through it on the highway, you’ll see cities and towns rise up in the distance, but blink and you’ll miss other man-made rejoinders to horizontal living dotting the landscape, hill after hill, built from the refuse of the past: landfills. Some of these hills make for great sledding spots, parks, and trails. Others turn organic waste into compost. The Landfill, Fruit Bats’ June 12, 2026 album from Merge Records, is something else entirely: a mountain dominating the landscape of Johnson’s heart.

This being a Fruit Bats record, one scales that mountain to take in the view, to see the future spread out as wide and endless as the midwestern plains. “But the mountain that gives us this vantage point,” Johnson says, “is made out of the trash that we’ve created, the collective weight of the past and where it’s taken us.” When he details that view on title track and lead single “The Landfill” — “a holy vision / of what could be / and couldn’t be / and could have been” — it’s thrilling to hear him sent soaring by a full complement of instruments. But what’s truly stunning is how, in his recontouring from could to couldn’t to could have been, he has lost none of the vulnerability that was brought to the foreground of his songwriting by 2025’s solo outing, Baby Man.

Over the course of his now 25-year career under the moniker, most of Eric D. Johnson’s output as Fruit Bats has been the product of patience and fine-tuning. His songs, to borrow a phrase, are slow growers, given life on albums that encompass long stretches of time and memory. Baby Man changed that — he disallowed himself from referring to material he’d been working on before laying the album down, utilizing the morning pages technique of stream-of-consciousness, observational songwriting which flowed directly into his afternoon recording sessions. It was both a breathtaking document of Johnson’s skill as a singer-songwriter and an unvarnished account of the two weeks in which he recorded the album.

Baby Man’s closeness to Johnson’s heart and the close attention to his voice and instrument its minimalist-maximalist ethos required uncorked something in him as he wrote towards a new full band effort. “That session was over,” he explains, “but there was way more to explore. I liked the immediacy of it, and I wanted to see how that would translate into a full-band Fruit Bats record.” Within weeks, he was back in a studio, this time with his band — David Dawda (bass), Josh Mease (guitars, synth), Frank LoCrasto (piano, synth), and Kosta Galanopoulos (drums) — with whom Johnson has spent over a decade building Fruit Bats into one of the most in-demand live acts in indie rock. Listening to The Landfill, it’s not hard to understand why: simply put, this band smokes.

Producing the initial recording sessions in Washington’s Bear Creek Studios, Johnson set out to capture “the sound of this band I constantly marvel at, the feeling of being in a room with musicians you love and trust enough to let them cook.” They laid most of it down on the floor — no click tracks, no comped vocals, and minimal overdubs, with frequent collaborator Thom Monahan returning to provide additional production and The Landfill’s final mix. “It’s how we do things with my other band, Bonny Light Horseman, and I was curious to see how it would work with Fruit Bats,” Johnson notes. “It’s both a very personal record, and my most collaborative to date.”

It’s also the most live a Fruit Bats record has been since 2009’s The Ruminant Band, and in paring back the number of tracks that typically layer a full-band song, the psychedelic, technicolor dreaminess of their sound is more vivid than ever. Time and space melt into the sublime as the band gels around Johnson’s hazy croon on “That Goddamn Sun,” stretching out to accommodate him as he trips from California to North Carolina. In striking a balance between ecstatic romance and melancholia, “Think Aboutcha” occupies the blissful-but-doomed intersection of the E Street Band and Paul McCartney, playful but playing for stakes that are larger than life, while “Perhaps We’re a Storm” charges headlong into the unknown.

All of these songs — most of the songs on The Landfill, in fact — mark themselves immediately as some of the best in Eric D. Johnson’s ever-expanding songbook, seekers and anthems alike. It’s the most daunting peak he’s scaled yet, musically or lyrically: a swashbuckling set of full-band jammers couldn’t be more honest and open-hearted about his hopes and anxieties, his dreams and failures, what’s passed and what will come to pass, were it just him, his guitar, and the listener.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $37.80
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Kishi Bashi
Oct
6
8:00 PM20:00

Kishi Bashi

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Kishi Bashi: Sonderlust 10th Anniversary Tour

Kishi Bashi is the pseudonym of Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kaoru Ishibashi. A Berklee-trained virtuoso violinist, Kishi Bashi is acclaimed for his uplifting, high-energy concerts and his distinctive loop-based violin style. He has also earned recognition for his groundbreaking collaborations with major symphonies—including the National Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, and Oregon Symphony—where he blends classical and pop influences in captivating performances. Beyond the orchestral stage, he has toured internationally with Regina Spektor and of Montreal, and released five acclaimed albums—beginning with his NPR-praised debut 151a (2012), followed by Sonderlust (2016), the documentary project Omoiyari (2019), and most recently Kantos (2024), a kaleidoscopic fusion of funk, jazz, and orchestral pop. Known for his cinematic storytelling and genre-bending sound, Kishi Bashi continues to push creative boundaries while captivating audiences worldwide.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $36.75
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Word Tour
Oct
10
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Word Tour

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Adventure Night Supporting SC Mountains Trail Stewardship

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in over 600 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

From the over 400 entries submitted to the Festival competition each year, award-winners and audience favorites are among the films that are carefully selected to play in theatres around the world.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2025/2026 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

Join us when we screen this all new Adventure line up of films (see below) featuring the BEST DAY EVER, the Audience Choice Award Winner and Best Film: Mountain Sports and five other engaging films.

This year’s event will once again support the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $24
Advance tickets: Coming Soon
Event website: www.banffcentre.ca

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Jesse Cook
Jan
21
7:30 PM19:30

Jesse Cook

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Forever Live Tour

A global artist in every sense of the word, Jesse Cook redefines music’s power to connect people across cultures and continents.

Over the last three decades, the Paris-born, Toronto-raised master of the Spanish guitar has built a devoted following for his spellbinding rumba flamenco, routinely selling out performance halls from London to Los Angeles,
Milan to Montreal.

On stage, Cook radiates infectious energy, collaborating with his band and guest instrumentalists to craft immersive, unforgettable experiences. His concerts are celebrated for their warmth, precision, and emotional depth. Throughout his decades-long career, Jesse Cook has remained devoted to musical exploration. His boundary-defying artistry has introduced flamenco and world music to wider audiences while maintaining a signature style that is both technically masterful and soulfully expressive.

That authenticity has clearly resonated—with over a billion streams and views across platforms to date—proving his sound remains as relevant as it is revered.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $29.50
Advance tickets: www.ticketmaster.com
Artists website: www.jessecook.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/jessecookhq
Event website: www.banffcentre.ca

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FashionTeens 2027
Apr
23
6:30 PM18:30

FashionTeens 2027

A Program for Social & Environmental Activists

Each year, middle and high school students from across Santa Cruz County design, construct, and model original pieces of fashion art made from recycled and repurposed materials. Their creations are bold, imaginative, and deeply personal—reflecting themes of identity, culture, sustainability, and social awareness. Through this process, students gain design and engineering skills, explore environmental and social issues, practice creative problem-solving, and discover the confidence that comes from transforming an idea into art.

What began 15 years ago at Mission Hill Middle School has grown into a countywide celebration of youth creativity, sustainability, and self-expression. FashionTeens Santa Cruz now connects students from Watsonville to the San Lorenzo Valley, with mentorship, bilingual applications, and free participation ensuring every young designer has the opportunity to shine.

The program culminates in a professional runway event—a night filled with energy, artistry, and joy—where students walk the stage to the roar of cheering crowds. For many, it’s their first time seeing their voice, identity, and creativity celebrated publicly.


Show time: 6:30 PM, doors 5:30 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.fashionteens-santacruz.com
Event website: www.fashionteens-santacruz.com

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Grandaddy
May
23
8:00 PM20:00

Grandaddy

Grandaddy: CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF The Sophtware Slump

Grandaddy formed in Modesto, CA in 1992, with the group eventually consisting of Jason Lytle, Aaron Burtch, Tim Dryden, Jim Fairchild and Kevin Garcia. The band initially broke through with 1997's Under the Western Freeway and the NME - praised single "Summer Here Kids." The band's sound,” atmospheric electronics meet warped Americana”, crystallized on 2000's Sophtware Slump, which was met with breathless hype and earned the band "Next Big Thing" status. Tireless rounds of in ternational touring and mountains of fawning press led to 2003's Sumday , increasing album sales, more touring, more press, TV appearances, and a slot on the main stage at the Glastonbury festival. The band produced another EP, and an album entitled Just Li ke the Fambly Cat, before disbanding in 2006. Following a brief live reunion in 2012, Grandaddy fully returned in 2017 with Last Place , their first album in over a decade, which was embraced by fans and acclaimed by critics. A sold - out tour was cut short by the unexpected death of Kevin Garcia, and all future plans were canceled indefinitely. In 2025, Grandaddy will rise again for its first North American tour in over 20 years in celebration of the 25 th Anniversary of their landmark album The Sophtware S lump. KGAR 4EVR


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $47.25
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.grandaddymusic.com

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Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse
May
16
8:00 PM20:00

Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse

Dive into the heartfelt melodies as Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse pays sincere homage to one of the most influential and distinctive voices of the 21st century.

Grammy Winner:
- 2008 Best New Artist
- 2008 Song of the Year
- 2008 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
- 2008 Record of the Year
- 2012 Best Pop/Duo Group Performance

In 2009, Guinness World Records recognized Winehouse as having the Most Grammy Awards Won by a British Female artist. Rolling Stone also listed her among the Top 100 Greatest Singers of All Time (#83). Her album "Back to Black" is one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, with over 16 million copies sold.

Fronted by the talented Elsa Cedeno, a seasoned performer with over a decade of experience captivating audiences, our band brings Amy’s unforgettable music back to life.

Amy Winehouse was a marvel of modern music, blending jazz, soul, and rhythm and blues into songs that spoke to all audiences. Her deeply personal lyrics and unique style won her legions of fans and critical acclaim, securing her place as a musical icon.

Valerie: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse channels Amy's raw emotional power and signature style, ensuring that each performance is an experience that delivers goosebumps. With a voice that echoes the depth and passion of Amy herself, Elsa leads the audience through the highs and lows of Winehouse's impressive discography. From the defiant energy of "Rehab" to the soulful depths of "Back to Black," we bring Amy Winehouse's unforgettable vibes to life. Our performances feature a mix of her iconic hits and rare covers, capturing the essence of her legendary sound.

Join us in celebrating the legacy of Amy Winehouse. Our shows are more than concerts; they are a bridge connecting Amy’s soulful expressions to those who still hold her music dear. Experience the nostalgia, the emotion, and the soul—experience Amy Winehouse with us.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $45
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.valerieamyband.com
Event website: www.instagram.com

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Derek Gripper, Alam Khan and Guy Buttery
May
14
8:00 PM20:00

Derek Gripper, Alam Khan and Guy Buttery

This project unites sarod player Alam Khan, son of the late maestro Ali Akbar Khan, with celebrated South African guitarists Derek Gripper and Guy Buttery, building on a foundation of improvisational discovery.

Gripper and Buttery's signature guitar styles provide a rich, flowing foundation for Khan’s breathtakingly expressive sarod. It’s an unlikely yet perfect fusion that bypasses the usual symmetry of global music collaborations in favor of a more intimate story of friendship and shared intuition.

The project anchors the weight of two heritage traditions—Khan’s North Indian sarod and Gripper’s classical guitar meets West African kora style—with Buttery’s organic, self-taught finger-style providing flights of 21st century wizardry.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $39
Advance tickets: www.tickets.worldclassmusic.live
Artists website: www.worldclassmusic.live

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Jim Messina
May
10
8:00 PM20:00

Jim Messina

& The Road Runners

An undisputed expert in the fine art of making hit music, Jim Messina’s legacy spans five decades, three super groups, a vibrant solo career and scores of producing and engineering credits. With Kenny Loggins, Loggins & Messina released eight hit albums, had scores of hit songs and sold over 16 million albums. After a series of celebrated solo acoustic tours, Jim formed a band made of acclaimed musicians who have played with him at various points in his career. His latest release, In the Groove, includes selected hits from all three of Jim’s previous bands, as well as several of his solo works.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $35 gen, $50 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Artists website: www.jimmessina.com

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The Brothers Comatose
May
8
8:00 PM20:00

The Brothers Comatose

Presented by Moe's Alley

Moe's Alley presents The Brothers Comatose! 

Friday, May 8, 2026
Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm
$30 in advance / $35 day of the show
All ages

Tickets on sale Friday, Jan. 16th at 10am PT
* All sales are final
* Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com
* Tickets requested by email will be delivered 3 days prior to the event
* Will Call tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event

THE BROTHERS COMATOSE
Fusing old school string band instrumentation with rock and roll exuberance, The Brothers Comatose cement their status as standard bearers of a thriving, innovative West Coast roots movement on their intoxicating new album, Golden Grass. Recorded with co-producers Greg Holden and Tim Bluhm, the collection is as diverse and enthralling as the California landscape itself—at times carefree and breezy, at times wild and rugged—with lush, organic arrangements full of rich vocal harmonies and driving guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and upright bass. While the record marks the group’s first release with newest member Addie Levy, the result is quintessential Brothers Comatose: a warm, joyful reflection on identity and the ties that bind from a band that knows exactly who they are (and exactly where they come from).

Founded by Ben and Alex Morrison in 2008, The Brothers Comatose first emerged from San Francisco with their 2010 debut, Songs From The Stoop, which helped earn dates with the likes of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Greensky Bluegrass, and Trampled By Turtles. In the decade-and-a-half that followed, the critically acclaimed quintet would go on to release five more full-length LPs, rack up nearly 50 million streams, land festival slots at Outside Lands, High Sierra, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, tour with Lake Street Dive, The Devil Makes Three, and Yonder Mountain String Band, and build up a devoted following thanks to their raucous live shows and relentless schedule.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $30
Advance tickets: www.ticketweb.com & Moe's Alley
Event website: www.moesalley.com
Artists website: www.thebrotherscomatose.com

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Pat Metheny: Side Eye III+
May
3
7:30 PM19:30

Pat Metheny: Side Eye III+

Pat Metheny was born in Lee’s Summit, MO on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the- bandstand experience at an unusually young age.

Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his three-year stint with vibraphone great Gary Burton, the young Missouri native already displayed his soon-to-become trademarked playing style, which blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility: a way of playing and improvising that was modern in conception but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues.

With the release of his first album, Bright Size Life (1975), he reinvented the traditional “jazz guitar” sound for a new generation of players. Throughout his career, Pat Metheny has continued to redefine the genre by utilizing new technology and constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument.

Metheny’s versatility is nearly without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie. Metheny’s body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces and even the robotic instruments of his Orchestrion project, while always sidestepping the limits of any one genre.

It is one thing to attain popularity as a musician, but it is another to receive the kind of acclaim Metheny has garnered from critics and peers. Over the years, he has won countless polls as “Best Jazz Guitarist” and awards, including three gold records for (Still Life) Talking, Letter from Home, and Secret Story. He has also won 20 GRAMMY Awards spread out over a variety of different categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, Best Instrumental Composition at one point winning seven consecutive Grammys for seven consecutive albums. In 2015 he was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame, becoming only the fourth guitarist to be included (along with Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery) and its youngest member. In 2018 he was named an NEA Jazz Master, the nation’s highest honor in jazz, awarded to the recipients “for their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.”

Metheny has spent much of his life on tour, often doing more than 100 shows a year since becoming a bandleader in the 70s. At the time of this writing, he continues to be one of the brightest stars of the jazz community, dedicating time to both his own projects and those of emerging artists and established veterans alike, helping them to reach their audience as well as realizing their own artistic visions.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $99.07 gen, $122.38 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

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Trail Running Film Festival
Apr
25
7:00 PM19:00

Trail Running Film Festival

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Hosted by Running Riot Running Club

The Trail Running Film Festival is back on tour and returning to Santa Cruz for a great night of films, inspiration, and community. Come explore our collective and individual potential, and let's pursue our wildest dreams. We’re excited to bring you stories from around the world by filmmakers sharing their work of adventure, inclusivity, wilderness, art, and diversity across the trail and ultra community.

Plus we will have some very cool raffle prizes!

Profits will be donated to Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $15
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.trailfilmfest.com/
Event website: www.runningriot.org

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Tommy Emmanuel, CGP
Apr
23
7:30 PM19:30

Tommy Emmanuel, CGP

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Living In The Light Tour

Hailed as “one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world” by NPR’s World Cafe, Tommy Emmanuel got his start at the age of six, when he first began touring his native Australia with his family’s band. As a teenager, he earned a reputation as a highly sought after sideman and session player, and by his early twenties, Emmanuel was playing on chart-topping hits and performing with acts like Air Supply and Men at Work. Inspired in part by his hero, Chet Atkins (who would later become a friend, mentor, and collaborator), Emmanuel stepped out on his own as a solo artist in 1979, releasing the first in a string of acclaimed instrumental albums that would make him an unlikely celebrity in his home country and beyond. In the decades that followed, he would go on to headline everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall; tour with luminaries like Eric Clapton and John Denver; win a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement; perform for a televised audience of more than two billion at the Sydney Olympics; and collaborate with a who’s who of fellow guitar greats, including Les Paul, Mark Knopfler, Joe Walsh, Richard Thompson, Jason Isbell, and Billy Strings.

Recorded in just four days, Emmanuel’s latest album, Living In The Light, stands as the most daring—and most rewarding—collection in the globetrotting fingerpicker’s remarkable catalog, fusing his pop, jazz, classical, and roots influences into a virtuosic masterwork as exhilarating as it is intimate.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $44.50, $59.50 & $69.50
Advance tickets: www.ticketmaster.com
Event website: www.tommyemmanuel.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com

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Drew & Ellie Holcomb
Apr
22
8:00 PM20:00

Drew & Ellie Holcomb

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(((folkYEAH!))) presents
DREW & ELLIE HOLCOMB
Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, CA
April 22, 2026
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm All Ages

Drew & Ellie Holcomb have partnered with the anti-slavery non-profit International Justice Mission to donate $1 (one dollar) from each ticket sale to support the organization's efforts to rescue children trapped in modern-day slavery and protect people in poverty from violence.

VIP tickets -
VIP 1 - The Wine We Drink + Gold Circle - $369.85
VIP 2 - Intimate Pre Show Experience + Gold Circle - $186.20
VIP 3 - Premium Early Entry + Gold Circle - $121.32


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $63.68 Gen, $76.22 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

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You Should Be Dancing
Apr
18
8:00 PM20:00

You Should Be Dancing

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A Tribute to the Bee Gees

You Should Be Dancing is the most explosive Bee Gees experience in North America. Recognized for their flair and onstage charisma, YSBD effortlessly recreates the iconic Bee Gees sound while elevating the onstage visual experience. 

Dance & sing along to "Stayin' Alive", "You Should Be Dancing", "More Than A Woman", "Night Fever", "How Deep Is Your Love", and more, with songs written by the Bee Gees for Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, Andy Gibb, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, and other incredible hits & surprises.

YSBD has appeared on ABC, CBS, and the CW, headlined the biggest stages across the US, and featured in line-ups that include America, The Beach Boys, Boyz II Men, Chicago, Daryl Hall, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Smokey Robinson. The band has also performed with Yvonne Elliman & Ted Neeley, and opened for Cheap Trick, Skid Row, Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $43.35
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.bayareabeegees.com

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Astrophysics:  Largest Unknowns and Biggest Challanges
Apr
15
7:00 PM19:00

Astrophysics: Largest Unknowns and Biggest Challanges

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Professor Alexie Leauthaud will discuss some of the largest challenges and unknowns in Astrophysics. She will present the latest results on the nature of our universe, including groundbreaking and prize-winning new results on the nature of dark energy.

Leauthaud will discuss our current understanding of the basic ingredients of our Universe and will explain why recent results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Collaboration (DESI) collaboration made international headline news earlier this year.

She will speculate on what this might mean for the future of our Universe.
Professor Leauthaud will discuss other top challenges facing the profession, including political headwinds, recent attacks on science and funding, and will also explain why astronomers are increasingly becoming involved in the fight against climate change.

She will discuss her own journey in recognizing the predicament of life on this blue planet will conclude with a big picture view of the challenges that lie ahead.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: FREE

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Paul Thorn with Will Hoge
Apr
11
7:00 PM19:00

Paul Thorn with Will Hoge

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Snazzy Productions is proud to present acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Paul Thorn, with Will Hoge opening the evening, on Friday, April 11 at the historic Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz. The show begins at 7:00 PM.

Known for his gritty Southern soul, razor-sharp wit, and deeply human songwriting, Paul Thorn has built a devoted following through decades of relentless touring and critically praised albums. His music blends blues, country, gospel, and rock into songs that are by turns hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful—delivered with the kind of storytelling honesty that keeps audiences leaning forward in their seats.

Opening the show is Nashville-based singer-songwriter Will Hoge, whose career spans multiple Grammy nominations, chart-topping singles, and songs recorded by artists such as the Eli Young Band and Gary Allan. Hoge’s powerful voice and blue-collar anthems make him a perfect complement to Thorn’s soulful, roots-driven sound.

The Rio Theatre provides an intimate and iconic setting for an evening of top-tier American songwriting, making this a must-see event for fans of roots, Americana, and live music at its finest.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $50 Gen, $65 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.snazzyproductions.com
Event website: www.paulthorn.com
Event website: www.willhoge.com

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Jerry's Middle Finger
Apr
10
8:00 PM20:00

Jerry's Middle Finger

Humbly formed in 2015 by a group of professional musicians passionate about Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, JMF started honing its one-of-a-kind sound at LA speakeasies and beachside dive bars. Audiences of all ages instantly fell in love and soon JMF was playing to packed rooms from legendary stages throughout California, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington — dazzling new fans on the scene and pulling even the most discerning Jerry fanatics out of their seats for the first time in decades.

The magic all starts with lead vocalist and guitarist Garrett Deloian. As a seasoned veteran of the blues circuit, he channels his lifelong love for the work of Garcia into every lick with his unparalleled mastery and tone. Drummer/founder Rodney Newman, a student of The Dead/JGB since his youth, leads the band’s reliable and relentless rhythm section. Rodney's kick shares the bottom end with the steady and inspired bass playing of the multi-talented Son Vo. Rounding things out are two powerhouse vocalists, Halina Janusz and Lisa Malsberger, and veteran pianist and organ champion Jon Gold.

The future looks bright for JMF as they get ready to take their heartfelt magical dance parties to further points across the country. So whether you saw Jerry 500 times or were born after his time on earth, this much is true: JMF will make you feel like he’s still here.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $32
Advance tickets: www.ticketweb.com
Event website: www.jerrysmiddlefinger.com
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Richard Thompson
Apr
5
8:00 PM20:00

Richard Thompson

with Zara Phiilips

“To be moving is better than to be standing still,” Richard Thompson says, and Richard Thompson should know. The influential singer-songwriter and virtuosic guitarist has been on a singular musical journey for over a half century, from his days in the ‘60s as a pioneer of British folk rock with Fairport Convention, to his seminal ‘70s duo work with Linda Thompson, to the exploratory, deeply emotional music of the solo career that has been his primary concern ever since.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $35 Gen, $48 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Event website: www.richardthompson

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Nick Lowe (solo)
Mar
30
8:00 PM20:00

Nick Lowe (solo)

Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello-Graham Parker-Pretenders-The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you know by heart, short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians’ musician. But in his current ‘second act’ as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal.

Starting with 1995′s ‘The Impossible Bird’ through to 2011′s ‘The Old Magic,’ Nick has turned out a fantastic string of albums, each one devised in his West London home, and recorded with a core of musicians who possess the same veteran savvy. Lowe brings wit and understated excellence to every performance, leading Ben Ratliff of the New York Times to describe his live show as “elegant and nearly devastating.”

Los Straitjackets are the leading practitioners of the lost art of the guitar instrumental. Using the music of the Ventures, The Shadows, and with Link Wray and Dick Dale as a jumping off point, the band has taken their unique, high energy brand of original rock & roll around the world. Clad in their trademark Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling masks, the “Jackets” have delivered their trademark guitar licks to 16 albums, thousands of concerts and dozens of films and TV shows.

Together Nick & The Straitjackets have toured extensively around the world—headlining their own shows and sharing stages with the likes of Elvis Costello & The Imposters and The Mavericks and recorded three EPs worth of new material. A full-length LP is planned for 2024.


Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $36.75 Gen, $47.25 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website:www.nicklowe.com

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Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Andrew McCarthy | WHO NEEDS FRIENDS
Mar
28
7:00 PM19:00

Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Andrew McCarthy | WHO NEEDS FRIENDS

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Join us and the author for a discussion of WHO NEED FRIENDS: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America

TICKETS:
Select from two ticket package options, with entry for one or two people. Each package comes with a signed book and includes access to a photo opp with Andrew McCarthy after the event (each ticketholder may be in one photo).

BOOK:
A moving and provocative exploration of male friendship and loneliness, from New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and actor Andrew McCarthy as he crisscrosses the country to reconnect with his friends.
"You don't really have any friends, do you, Dad?"

A seemingly innocuous, if direct, question from Andrew McCarthy's son left him reeling. McCarthy did have friends, but like so many other men, the necessities of modern adult life had forced his friendships to the background. At one point his friends had been instrumental in broadening his horizons, bolstering his courage, providing safe harbor. Now, McCarthy found himself questioning what had happened to those friendships, whether he needed them, what he valued, and what he had to offer. A simple question had become a moment that demanded a reckoning.

Who Needs Friends charts McCarthy's journey over nearly ten thousand miles behind the wheel, following him on often-unexpected travels through Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rocky Mountains with one driving purpose: to reconnect. Along the way he talks to countless men about their male friendships, from cowboys and blues musicians to preachers and rootless teens. What began as a simple desire to catch up with a few friends turned into a deep exploration of the challenges and rewards that men experience in forming bonds with each other.

In McCarthy's own words, "It turns out that guys have a difficult time with friendship." But that's not the way it needs to be.

AUTHOR:
Best known as an actor for the past four decades, Andrew McCarthy has appeared in such iconic films as Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero. He's also the author of four books, Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain, Brat: An '80s Story, Just Fly Away, and The Longest Way Home—all New York Times best sellers. He is an award-winning travel writer and served for a dozen years as an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler.


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $33.97
Advance tickets: www.tickettailor.com
Event website: www.bookshopsantacruz.com

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Jeff Tweedy
Mar
24
7:30 PM19:30

Jeff Tweedy

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with special guest Sima Cunningham

Sort of an endless buffet these days—a bottomless basket of rock bottom. Which is, I guess, why I’ve been making so much stuff lately. I mean, is the world getting darker? Sure feels like it. What is it? Is it the pervasive nagging toothache of dread that comes from the disintegration of a country that you thought you knew and understood? A home you still love with a love that could never be taken away, regardless of how painful that love has become? That sense of decline is hard to ignore, and it must be at least a part of the shroud I’m trying to unwrap.

The twilight of an empire seems like a good enough jumping-off point when one is jumping into the abyss. Twilight sure is a pretty word, though. And the world is full of happy people in former empires, so maybe that’s not the only source of this dissonance. Could be how old I’ve managed to become without warning. My own personal twilight. Whatever it is out there (or in there) squeezing this ennui into my day, it’s fucking overwhelming. It’s difficult to ignore. Twilight Override is my effort to overwhelm it right back. Here are the songs and sounds and voices and guitars and words that are an effort to let go of some of the heaviness and up the wattage on my own light. My effort to engulf this encroaching nighttime (nightmare) of the soul.

What I really want to do is grow my heart big enough to love everyone. And if I want a heart big enough to meet this moment, it requires something expansive. “Like a TRIPLE record!?,”you ask? Yes! Like a goddamn triple record! I mean … what else do I have but my songs and my family and my friends? What else do any of us have to keep the lights on? How else can I generate my own light? To me, any song, no matter the subject matter, can be a point of light and that’s one of the reasons I try and make so many of them. They all have the potential, even the heaviest music on the earth has the potential, to lift someone up.

I’m aware the day ends and the sun sets no matter how hard we wish for it to lift itself back out of the ocean. But it rises again. And what we do in the darkness matters. In a way, these three records represent the past, present, and future. A response to the feeling that we’re stuck in the worst part of the day, saying goodbye to the future we woke up to, waiting for it to get dark enough to dream up a new day. In all these songs I’m dreaming. Of who I once was, who you are now, who we could be.

Truthfully, I’ve been doing this for a long time. And I’m not going anywhere. This is the stuff that works for me. Feeling free. Making records with my friends (in this case James Elkington, Sima Cunningham, Macie Stewart, Liam Kazar, and my children Sammy and Spencer) and adding my voice to a song that never ends. Because I can’t sing and be afraid at the same time. And dreaming at twilight isn’t forbidden. Not quite a daydream and nowhere near a nightmare. Twilight dreaming is a lovely workaround. Killing time with slant rhymes, key changes and harmonies. Feel free to join us all here. Not singing into the void or at the void. Just singing. In spite of the void. Feeling good. Together. It will do you no harm. Sharing this music with the world is the best I can do.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $55 gen, $60 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.wilcoworld.net
Event website: www.folkyeah.com

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Top Dog Film Festival - SOLD OUT
Mar
21
7:00 PM19:00

Top Dog Film Festival - SOLD OUT

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SOLD OUT
You can still support the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter and join us for the Pre Show YAPPY HOUR at Sante Adairius Midtown Portal

Supporting Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter

The beloved Top Dog Film Festival is back for another heartwarming season, with a brand-new line-up of short films that celebrate the extraordinary connection between dogs and humans. The Top Dog Film Festival features tales of adventure, resilience, and canine joy — reminding us why dogs truly are our best friends. This year’s curated collection brings together incredible real-life stories from around the world — from bloodhounds tracking poachers in Africa to ultra-running Vizslas in the Pacific Northwest, pampered hotel pups, and unlikely sporting heroes. Whether it’s laughter, tears, or feel good moments you’re after, the 2026 Top Dog Film Festival delivers it all, one wagging tail at a time.


Film Highlights from the 2026 Line-Up:

  • Eben (USA) – The world’s most adventurous French Bulldog teaches us how to live fully, love deeply, and chase seals with joy.

  • George (UK) – A puppy becomes a beacon of hope in the Cumbrian hills, helping his owner find his way back from illness and despair.

  • SuperNova: The 100 Mile Dog (USA) – A Hungarian Vizsla and her ultra-runner dad embark on an epic journey of instinct, trust, and endurance.

  • Lux (France) – Deep in Africa, a bloodhound’s nose becomes a powerful tool in the fight against rhino poaching.

  • Canine Concierge (Australia) – Produced by the Top Dog Film Festival, this globe-trotting short features three unforgettable hotel hounds redefining VIP treatment.

  • Hustle and Run (UK) – A scrappy whippet and her team of underdog Flyball athletes chase glory at Crufts in this joyful British sports tale.

  • Rippin’ Rosie  - This is a story about the bond that is created between a dog and her human through surfing.    Rosie is a 5 year old Yellow Labrador Retriever who has been in the ocean since she was a puppy.  Her human Steve is a lifelong surfer and dog lover who had always dreamed about sharing his love for surfing with one of his canine companions.  With Rosie, his dream came true. Their journey shows what can be achieved with love, training, opportunity and - most of all - connection.  For Rosie and Steve, surfing together has created a magical bond.  This is their story.   


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $22
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com


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Electric Elton - A Tribute to Elton John
Mar
6
7:30 PM19:30

Electric Elton - A Tribute to Elton John

Attention Elton John fans! Moon Coin Productions Inc. (Producers of ABBA Tribute “ABRA Cadabra” and Eagles Tribute “Take It To The Limit”) Presents The Rocket Man – A Tribute to Elton John!

Don't miss this visually and musically captivating stage production led by accomplished Vocalist, Pianist and Star Performer Sean Trombley who gives a genuine & powerful Tribute to the music that inspired him as vocalist and musician. Sean’s stunning vocals capture the essence of Elton John at the height of his vocal power and range in the 1970’s and he brings these beautiful songs to life in a way that touches the soul.

Backed by a spectacular live band, dazzling multi-media, colourful costumes and captivating dancers, this high-energy cast of performers will transport you back in time and have you moving, smiling and singing along to all of Elton John’s most iconic hits including Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, Benny & The Jets, Tiny Dancer, Your Song, Saturday Night’s Alright, Philadelphia Freedom, Good-bye Yellow Brick Road, Daniel, Candle In The Wind and countless others! A must see show if you love the music of Elton John!

The name of this show has recently changed from The Rocket Man to Electric Elton - but rest assured it is the same high-calibre performance! Follow the journey on Facebook and Instagram @TributeToEltonJohn and online at mooncoinproductions.com/iloveeltonjohn

Follow the show’s journey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RocketManTributeToEltonJohn/


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $69
Advance tickets: www.vtixonline.com
Event website: www.ILoveEltonJohn.com

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Madeleine Peyroux
Mar
4
7:30 PM19:30

Madeleine Peyroux

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Much like songbird Edith Piaf, Madeleine Peyroux spent her teenage years busking the busy streets of Paris. Just like the ‘little sparrow,’ Peyroux befriended the city’s street musicians and made its Latin Quarter her first performing stage. Years later, Peyroux would cite iconic Piaf as an influence on her music and record a rendition of the classic “La Vie En Rose,” soulfully capturing the tune’s romanticism and melancholy.

Born in Athens, Georgia in 1974, Peyroux “grew up in a house filled with music” and from an early age “instinctively realized music’s soothing power” but it was her teenage years in the French capital that turned the childhood notion into an all consuming vocation for life. A subsequent two-year touring adventure set Madeleine on a creative path for life and proved to be a gateway to greater things. In 1991, her band travelled to New York where Peyroux’s unique talents were spotted by Atlantic Records’ Yves Beauvais.

The young singer declined the music executive’s initial record deal offer but relented several years later and in 1996 her breakthrough album Dreamland was released. Dreamland sold a striking 200,000 copies and Peyroux’s dusky voice was likened to that of jazz greats Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Thirty years after her formative busking days Peyroux is the proud curator of nine beguiling albums and an accomplished performer with sell out worldwide tours under her belt. She will be joined on this concert date by guitarist/vocalist Jon Herington and bassist/vocalist Barak Mori.


Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $52.45 Gen, $75.76 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

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Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Mar
1
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

For the 35th year, UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec is thrilled to bring the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Santa Cruz! Each November, the Banff Festival in Canada showcases the year’s most breathtaking, inspiring adventure films—and we’re bringing the very best of them to the Rio Theatre, February 27, 28, & March 1, 2026.

Each night features completely different films. Join us for one, two or all three nights!

The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2025/26 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

For more information contact Adventure Rec (adventurerec@ucsc.edu; 831-459-2806).


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23.50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.goslugs.com

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Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Feb
28
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

  • Rio Theatre for the Performing (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

For the 35th year, UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec is thrilled to bring the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Santa Cruz! Each November, the Banff Festival in Canada showcases the year’s most breathtaking, inspiring adventure films—and we’re bringing the very best of them to the Rio Theatre, February 27, 28, & March 1, 2026.

Each night features completely different films. Join us for one, two or all three nights!

The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2025/26 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

For more information contact Adventure Rec (adventurerec@ucsc.edu; 831-459-2806).


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23.50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.goslugs.com

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Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Feb
27
7:00 PM19:00

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

  • Rio Theatre for the Performing (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

For the 35th year, UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec is thrilled to bring the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Santa Cruz! Each November, the Banff Festival in Canada showcases the year’s most breathtaking, inspiring adventure films—and we’re bringing the very best of them to the Rio Theatre, February 27, 28, & March 1, 2026.

Each night features completely different films. Join us for one, two or all three nights!

The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2025/26 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

For more information contact Adventure Rec (adventurerec@ucsc.edu; 831-459-2806).


Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23.50
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.goslugs.com

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Thomas Farm Films Film Festival
Feb
22
4:30 PM16:30

Thomas Farm Films Film Festival

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Premiering the Summer Camp 2025 short films

Located on an organic farm in Aptos, CA, Thomas Farm Films educates children on how to make movies. From script to screen, our hands-on curriculum promotes CREATIVITY, SELF-CONFIDENCE, & CRITICAL THINKING…resulting in short films that will be screened together at local theaters in Thomas Farm Film Festivals! All children ages 5 to 18 can learn the craft, as we offer partial & full scholarships for those in need.


Show time: 4:30 PM, doors 3:30 PM
Tickets: $30
Advance tickets: www.thomasfarmfilms.com
Event website: www.thomasfarmfilms.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com

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Perry Gershkow / Keeping in the Shadows Surf Film
Feb
21
5:00 PM17:00

Perry Gershkow / Keeping in the Shadows Surf Film

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Keeping in the Shadows is a visually rich surf odyssey, moving between moody, dramatic landscapes and glowing, dream-like sunset sessions. Between travel chaos, early mornings, and long days in the water, the film opens up space for intimate, unscripted conversations, moments of humor, reflection, and honesty that give each section its own pulse and personality.

The film follows Noah Wegrich for six years on a globe-spanning journey through five distinct countries. Along the way, he’s joined by an eclectic crew of our favorite surfers who also happen to be some of our closest friends - the kind of crew where talent runs deep, but camaraderie runs deeper. This crew includes Nat Young, Tanner Gudauskas, Pat Gudauskas, Brendon Gibbons, Guillermo Satt, Torren Martyn, Bryce Baker, Parker Coffin, Cliff Kapono, Tom Lowe, Ian Crane, Wilem Banks, Noah Lane, Conor Maguire, Ben Coffey, Jordy Maree, Danilo Cerda, Gearoid Mcdaid and more.

The film is an ode to the surf films I grew up watching.  It’s the idea of working on something that feels sacred and full of novelty, something we can fully give ourselves to, yet also step away from when needed. Taking time to think, to live, and then returning with a clearer, fresher perspective. Letting the work breathe.

It’s about moving slowly with something that holds deep meaning, instead of chasing attention spans or measuring relevance by other people’s standards. We’re not reacting, we’re listening. Going at our own pace, moving to the beat of our own drum, creating with purpose, and letting curiosity build naturally.  

So Keeping in the Shadows means a lot of different things. At its core, it’s about holding things close, making art with intention, and staying true to why we started doing this in the first place.


Show time: 5:00 PM, doors 4:00 PM
Tickets: $20
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.keepingintheshadows.com
Event website: www.perrygershkow.com

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