WEDNESDAY 5/10
BLUEGRASS/FOLK
MOLLY TUTTLE
A talented folk and bluegrass singer-songwriter, Molly Tuttle has been a fixture on the roots circuit since she was 11 years old. But Tuttle’s no run-of-the-mill folkie—she’s a guitar virtuoso who runs circles around many of her peers with her show-stopping roots picking. In June, Tuttle drops her solo debut, Rise, which explores a “period of intense change” for the artist as she moved from California to Boston, and then to Nashville. The album sees the 24-year-old at her instrumental finest and showcasing her maturing songwriting abilities. CJ
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $10. 335-2800.
THURSDAY 5/11
JAZZ
ANAT COHEN & TRIO BRASILEIRO
Israeli-born reed master Anat Cohen’s long love affair with Brazilian music, particularly the intricate instrumental tradition known as choro, had cooled off while she concentrated on her jazz career. Inspired by a brilliant new generation of Brazilian innovators, she’s delved back into Brazil’s fathomless musical treasures with two new albums. Her duo session Outra Coisa focuses on the ingenious compositions of Moacir Santos, while Rosa Dos Ventos is a thrilling choro session featuring the band with whom she’s touring. While she possesses a big, warm sound on tenor sax, she sticks to her liquid-toned clarinet with São Paulo’s Trio Brasileiro featuring seven-string guitarist Douglas Lora, Dudu Maia on 10-string mandolin and Alexandre Lora on the tambourine-like pandeiro. ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $27/adv, $32/door. 427-2227.
FRIDAY 5/12
REGGAE
MICHAEL ROSE
For the last three decades, few names have dominated the reggae scene like Michael Rose. As lead singer of the legendary Black Uhuru, Rose recorded staple tracks of the genre, like “Shine Eye Gal” and “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”—which was originally a Rose song from his career before the band. In 1984, Black Uhuru became the first reggae band to win a Grammy, solidifying their place in the halls of music history. After leaving the band in the ’90s, Rose has continued working on his solo career, and continues to write irie Jamaican reggae to the delight of dreadheads everywhere. MAT WEIR
INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.
FRIDAY 5/12
FUNK
TUXEDO
A duo comprising two Grammy nominated artists—Seattle hip-hop producer Jake One and singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Mayer Hawthorne—Tuxedo splashed onto the pop scene in 2015 with a self-titled debut. But the artists’ friendship began a decade earlier with the two swapping mixtapes, which eventually grew into a musical partnership. Drawing from the classic funk era, Tuxedo describes itself as being a descendent of the “one-word moniker family of funk, where you will find groups such as Chic, Shalamar, Plush and Zapp.” A high bar, to be sure, but these two artists can craft a funky groove as well as anyone. CJ
INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $20/door. 423-1338.
SATURDAY 5/13
ROCK
SCOTT COOPER
Scott Cooper is well known in town for his Grateful Dead tribute band, China Cats. But as much as he loves performing music by the Dead, he also wants to show that he’s a fantastic songwriter in his own right. His music mixes blues, Americana, and rock ’n’ roll, all with a nod to the ’60s jam band sound, and with an overall feel-good—and distinctly Santa Cruz—vibe. For this upcoming set at Lille Aeske, Cooper will be playing an intimate acoustic set of his originals. AARON CARNES
INFO: 8 p.m. Lille Aeske, 13160 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek. $10-$20. 703-4183.
SATURDAY 5/13
INDIE
MAGIC GIANT
I’m not sure if Magic Giant has ever played Coachella, but this is the band made for the festival. The members are a little bit hippie, a little bit electronic bros, and put all together something than can be described as both an intimate heartfelt folk ensemble and a hyper-produced powerhouse sing-along stadium rocker. The group’s biggest single is called “Set On Fire,” which seems like a Coachella anthem. The choruses are so big they force you to sing along. This Saturday, they’ll be at little ’ol Crepe Place, where I can only assume they’ll put on a Coachella-worthy show. AC
INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
SATURDAY 5/13
REGGAE-ROCK
EXPENDABLES
There’s this thing in Santa Cruz where a handful of bands get huge locally—like legendary status—but don’t seem to have the same impact elsewhere. No band better exemplifies this than local reggae-rock ensemble Expendables. The group has fans outside of the city, but they can pack clubs in town with a fervor normally reserved for boy bands and wacky-haired dubstep DJs. The group’s blend of genres is about as Santa Cruz as you can get: reggae, rock, ska, metal, punk, and surf. They’ve been active since 1997, and Santa Cruz is still crazy about these fine young gents. AC
INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $22-$65. 429-4135.
TUESDAY 5/16
INDIE
GEOGRAPHER
Formed as a solo project by Mike Deni in 2007, Geographer has expanded to a full-fledged indie rock band—but only while touring. Deni’s beautifully dark and haunting music—”soulful music from outer space,” as he describes it—has soothed the hearts of music fans since the 2008 debut, Innocent Ghosts. In 2015, Geographer released its third full-length album, Ghost Modern, to much critical acclaim, with its brooding synths bubbling under the flow of Deni’s melancholic vocals. MW
INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $18/door. 429-4135.
TUESDAY 5/16
CELTIC
HANNEKE CASSEL
Award-winning fiddler Hanneke Cassel bridges the traditional music of Scotland and Cape Briton with innovative instrumentation and technique from the American contemporary fiddle scene. Possessing passion and playfulness, Cassel is renowned for her sophisticated, “gusting” style that is rooted in tradition. On Tuesday, Hanneke heads to Felton, accompanied by cellist Mike Block, who was part of Yo-Yo Ma’s outstanding Silk Road Ensemble, and guitarist Christopher Lewis. CJ
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $17/adv, $20/door. 335-2800.
IN THE QUEUE
JOE MARCINEK BAND
Renowned funk artist and his all-star band. Thursday at Moe’s Alley
POORMAN’S WHISKEY
Northern California roots. Saturday at Moe’s Alley
LONELY HEARTSTRING BAND
Boston-based bluegrass outfit. Monday at Don Quixote’s
STEPS AHEAD
Reunion tour of the 1980s jazz band. Monday at Kuumbwa
ENANITOS VERDES
Rock ’n’ roll from Argentina. Tuesday at Catalyst
