Jean Ritchie, long-time singer and researcher of traditional songs from her native Appalachia and their connections to British balladry, passed away last Monday at the age of 92. Jean introduced the mountain dulcimer to many, and played a significant role in the folk-music revival of…
Locally based AfroBrazilian group SambaDá celebrates the release of their new album "Ritual" for 2015. It will be their first record with Senegal native and drum master Ibou Ngom, playing the djembe, sabar, and talking drum, and bass player Etienne Franc. Ritual also features special guest contributions…
In a journey that began with selling their CDs on street corners, to becoming the most popular band in Niger, now Tal National is promoting their new album Zoy Zoy and on tour, playing Moe's Alley May 5th. Tal National's members represent…
MOON BLOCK presents several music + art festivals a year including DESERT DAZE, BEYOND THE WITCHING HOUR, & MOON BLOCK PARTY. Each event is curated, organized, and built from the ground up by a group of close friends and a…
The 4th Annual Seabright Stringfest (Santa Cruz, CA) kicks off with a square dance Friday evening, April 24th, called by Erik Hoffman with music by the Earl White Stringband and The Percolators at the Market St. Theatre. Free concerts that feature more than a dozen bands playing Appalachian string band, bluegrass, blues, Celtic and other traditional string music from around the world continues on Sat, Apr 25th and Sun Apr 26th.
HGMNY is a music-based collective that was formed in the pits of Santa Cruz in 2009 and includes innovative acts like BOATS, Mikos Da Gawd, KA$HMIR, and many others. Their aim is to bring other forward thinking and innovative artists…
At the beginning of every quarter at UCSC, I always create a list. On this list are all the shows that are coming up during that quarter that I know I just have to see. On March 13th as I took the overcrowded 16 bus down from Crown College to the forsaken depths of the Santa Cruz Metro Center and crossed the streets to the Catalyst, there was one last concert I had to cross of my list. It was a concert to perfectly wrap up the Winter quarter at UCSC. That concert was A Place to Bury Strangers.
Next Monday, March 16, Santa Cruzians can start off their week with music by Diwan Saz who will be performing at Don Quixote's International Music Hall. Diwan Saz come promoting an intercultural, harmonious message of common roots/coexistence through middle eastern…
Bradley, California isn’t known as a hub for alternative dance music, but this coming Memorial Day Weekend (May 21st-25th) the creative minds at Lightning In A Bottle will bring their magic to the sleepy, central coast village. Sitting on the…
Chuck Brodsky, folk singer-songwriter, storyteller and troubadour, will be stopping in for a live interview on KZSC's Backroads show this coming Sunday afternoon (2/1/15), prior to his Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Barrel Room concert at 7pm that evening. Chuck has traveled the world,…
Burnt Palms is a bay-area surf punk trio hailing from the bay are and they are an artist that you oughta know. Their combination of the classic distorted guitars, fast drums, and perfect female lead vocals make for some of…
Wednesday January 14th San Francisco's jangly rockers the Cool Ghouls will be bringing their vintage psychedelic sounds to the Catalyst Atrium. Fresh off the release of their Sonny Smith produced sophomore album "A Swirling Fire Burning Through The Rye," the…
To further put off studying for finals last friday, I attended one of Bay Area rapper Lil B ‘The BasedGod’’s #veryrare concerts at The Catalyst. Well known in the Bay for his work in rap group The Pack (who opened for him), Lil B has reached a distinguished status in the rap game through his extensive online social media presence as well as his prolific free mixtape collection available on the web. Best known for his self invented musical subgenre ‘based’ music, Lil B continues to expand and innovate within the hiphop genre with his stream of consciousness lyrics and eccentric selection of beats.
Coming to the Rio Theatre this Saturday is Planet Cruz, a comedy/variety show dedicated to 'keeping it weird', will feature the music of "the Goddess of Soul" Tammi Brown and Peter Cor and the Planetoid Band; Rhan Wilson, Matt Bohn, and Kevin Di…
