Mat Weir

Santa Cruz native Oliver Tree Nickell, the musician, performance artist and internet star known for his fearless weirdness, global reach and deep local roots, is remembered by the community after his death in a Brazilian helicopter crash.

Santa Cruz VegFest returns with vegan food, music, comedy, family activities, vendors and a message of compassion for animals, people and the planet.

A new compilation, Santa Cruz Scene Celebration Vol. 1, spotlights 12 local bands and celebrates its physical CD release May 31 at Streetlight Records with a performance by Perch.

A new community pledge campaign asks whether Santa Cruz locals could help buy or preserve the Catalyst, even as the historic venue’s building faces redevelopment into mixed-use housing.

The Del Mar’s annual Secret Film Festival invites Santa Cruz movie lovers to spend the night watching mystery films, fueled by coffee, snacks and the shared thrill of discovering something unexpected.

Santa Cruz horror punk band Dark Ride celebrates its first full-length album, Blade Manor, and plays Mothfest May 30 at Moe’s Alley in tribute to Dan Lamothe.

After Scowl’s rise from Santa Cruz hardcore band to international success, singer Kat Moss is stepping back, processing grief and burnout, and rediscovering her artistic self.

Scowl’s Kat Moss channels chaos into catharsis. In this intimate portrait, the Santa Cruz vocalist reflects on pain, power and the strange healing force of music.