THURSDAY 5/30
METAL
MUSEUM OF LIGHT
Based in Seattle, Museum of Light has secured its place on the doom metal scene through several exciting records and some seriously hard touring over the past few years. Their debut album, Horizon,came out in June 2022, and fans instantly took to their massive, totally face-melting sound. In the hands of guitarist Ted Alvarez, gritty riffs take on cinematic proportions while post-metal ambient washes immerse listeners in cathartic moments to breathe in. When the heavy drums in songs like “Waves” and “How Everybody Dies” hit, the Crepe Place will be transformed. ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 8pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
FOLK
THE BILLS
Canada has given us so much: brilliant musicians, all the best SNL comedians, Tim Hortons Coffee—and hockey, of course. The Bills fall into the category of brilliant musicians from Canada, and their fiddles fly during songs about chickens that sound straight from the Old Country. Everyone in the band plays a string instrument, from guitar to viola and fiddle, and their members are classical music nerds (ask them how they feel about Beethoven) who also love Irish jigs and owe much of their influence to Appalachian folk music. Imagine five northern foresters in flannel who harmonize around a stand-up bass: that’s the Bills! JESSICA IRISH
INFO: 7pm, Ugly Mug, 4640 Soquel Dr., Soquel. $30. 477-1341.
INDIE
BUG SÉANCE
Bug Séance provides a raw musical experience spanning multiple genres. They pull inspiration from emo, shoegaze, metal and rock, blending soundscapes that draw the audience into the music. Shifting from distorted guitars to soft vocals, then from fast drum solos into an ethereal mélange of melodies and tones, the listener soars on a diverse journey. With such unwavering sincerity, the music is just as much an emotional release as it is a thought-provoking experience. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 5pm, SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 426-5242.
FRIDAY 5/31
FOLK
JUNEBUG BAYER
One of Santa Cruz’s own, Junebug Bayer has spent time as a busker in NYC, has been a “sailing lunch lady” and currently identifies as a performance artist. Her songs include originals aimed at healing Mother Earth (woe betide any plastic bag that gets caught in a tree above Bayer!) as well as covers of classics like “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Season of the Witch.” Her songs are playful, lighthearted and confessional, with a peculiar, undeniable charm. Anyone who’s a sucker for a good, fingerpicked-folk song will delight in Bayer’s set; there might even be some harmonica to sweeten the deal. JI
INFO: 5:30pm, Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave. Ste A, Soquel. Free. 316-0662.
PUNK
MOTHFEST: TRIBUTE TO DAN LAMOTHE
When Mr. Rogers was a child and afraid of things he saw in the news, his mother would tell him to “look for the helpers.” When tragedy strikes, there’s always a choice to do something or do nothing, and the first annual Mothfest was created by helpers who wanted to do something. Featuring Dog Party, Dark Ride and horror punk heavyweights Blitzkid, Mothfest honors the memory of Santa Cruzan Daniel Lamothe, a local musician, friend and son who died tragically last year while training to be a firefighter. The Mothfest bands had a personal relationship with Lamothe, as did so many people throughout Santa Cruz County and—literally—the world. It’s a punk lineup Dan would’ve loved. MAT WEIR
INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.
SATURDAY 6/1
FESTIVAL
REDWOOD MOUNTAIN FAIRE
The Redwood Mountain Faire is Santa Cruz’s hidden gem of a festival. What began in 2010 as a single-day event has grown to become an all-out, 26-band, three stages, and a two-day celebration of music and community. This year’s acts include local favorites like the Coffis Brothers, Taylor Rae and Diggin’ Trails, and national headliners like blues man Coco Montoya and hip-hop poet Lyrics Born. Along with featuring local musicians and highlighting the beautiful Roaring Camp Railroad grounds in the forest, proceeds for the Redwood Mountain Faire have benefited over a dozen local charities and non-profits since its inception. MW
INFO: 11am, Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton. $50-$90. 335-4484.
ROCK
TERRA
Local masters of alt-metal Terra take the Catalyst Atrium stage this Saturday night with lead guitarist and singer Drake Finch at the helm. They’ve been gathering fans around town with lots of local house shows and the release of several memorable singles, including the hard-hitting “Down The Path” and the punk-infused “Lie.” Their sound is a genre-defying blend of hardcore, metal and shoegaze that manages to be heavy and light at once. More Santa Cruz area bands on the rise join the bill, including Grad Nite, Casino Youth and Asilomar. AM
INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $17/door. 713-5492.
TUESDAY 6/4
AUTHOR EVENT
WHEN A WOMAN TELLS THE TRUTH
Wilma Marcus Chandler and Dena Taylor, two superstars in the local firmament of theater, poetry and literary hell-raising, have assembled a powerful anthology of creative writing by women over 80. Seriously. Yes, there are plenty of tales to tell by those who weren’t born yesterday. When a Woman Tells the Truth is a carefully curated collection of rich, sobering and delightful stories from all over the country, filled with the real stuff—as in, not for chickenshits. To celebrate the launch, the editors will be on hand to regale and challenge readers and truth-seekers of all ages. It should be eye-opening, at the very least. CHRISTINA WATERS
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
WEDNESDAY 6/5
ROCK
SLACK STEEL & SONG
In April, noted slack key guitarist Stephen Inglis played with keyboardist Rob Barraco on his opening set for Dark Star Orchestra at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu. Inglis and Barraco will reunite on Wednesday night. Joining them is their friend Barry Sless, who doubles on six-string and pedal steel guitar and toured with Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, among others. Barraco’s credits include gigging with Phil Lesh and Friends, the Dead and Dark Star Orchestra. At Felton, the trio will play tunes by the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, along with traditional Hawaiian music and originals. DAN EMERSON
INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $27/adv, $32/door. 704-7113.
