A&E

Vicki Randle performing on stage with microphone

Thank You, Sly Stone

March 10, 2026

Legendary multi-instrumentalist Vicki Randle joins an all-star band celebrating the music of Sly and the Family Stone at Moe’s Alley, bringing decades of musical history—and hard-earned wisdom—to the stage.

Movie From the Sky

A script falls from the sky in Matt & Ben, a clever comedy imagining how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck created Good Will Hunting. The two-woman show runs March 13–22 at Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre.

Take One for the Violent Femmes

On Tuesday, March 3 Santa Cruz was graced by 1980’s punk rock royalty when seminal folk punks, the Violent Femmes played the Santa Cruz...

Opera: the Final Frontier

UC Santa Cruz musicians and performers bring science fiction to the opera stage with The Trial of Spock, a new work inspired by Star Trek mythology and the classic episode “The Menagerie.”

100 Years of Suspense

Artist Rich Karat Hitchcock draws inspiration from coastal villages and historic harbors like Polperro, England, where landscape, architecture and sea converge in quiet beauty.

Stars Tell Stories

Goth-rock pioneer Lol Tolhurst brings stories, hits and mentorship to Santa Cruz as Legends Live & Local pairs music icons with hometown bands.

Books of the Dead

Thursday is Deadhead night at Bookshop Santa Cruz with a double-bill of grateful scholars—Jim Newton and Gabi Moskowitz. 7pm, free admission.

Darkness to Light

Omar Sosa and Yilian Cañizares will perform at Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Monday, March 2 with the Aguas Trio that includes Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles.

Whammer Jamming

J. Geils Band harmonica powerhouse Magic Dick headlines Mark Hummel’s Allstar Harmonica Blowout at Moe’s Alley, Sunday.

Dreamin’ of Success

UCSC’s African American Theater Arts Troupe brings Motown magic to life with Dreamgirls under the direction of Don Williams.

Ballistic New Music

An over-the-top multimedia extravaganza celebrates the genre-blending music of Santa Cruz composer Jon Scoville, with dance, film, jazz, and chamber music colliding in a Valentine’s-perfect concert.

This Governor Rules

Gov’t Mule frontman and Allman Brothers legend Warren Haynes brings a rare solo performance to the Rio Theatre, blending reflective new material with classics from across his storied career. Feb. 15 at the Rio Theatre

A Golden Egg

Melania documents Melania Trump’s last 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration. I feel deep anguish that this groundbreaking film is not...