ARTS AND MUSIC
MARTIN SEXTON Singer-songwriter Martin Sexton started in music after leaving his upstate New York hometown with $75 in his pocket and his Strat slung over his shoulder. His 2020 EP Vision marks his first release in several years, and it continues telling his version of the American story. $34. Thursday, Feb. 3, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com.
SIMPLE DREAMS: A TRIBUTE TO LINDA RONSTADT Simple Dreams pays tribute to Linda Ronstadt’s music, focusing on her early years with the Stone Poneys and moving through her career in the early 1980s, covering her folk, rock and pop hits as they may have been played live. $50/dinner and show. Friday, Feb. 4, 6:30pm. Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. michaelsonmain.info.
THE WEIR The arrival of a mysterious woman from Dublin disrupts the routine in a tiny pub in rural Ireland. The local barflies vie to impress her with tales of the supernatural but what starts as stories of ghosts and fairies leads to revelations about love and family. Playwright Conor McPherson was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for “Best New Play” for “The Weir.” $45-50. Thursday, Feb. 3, 7:30pm. Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5, 8pm. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2pm. The Colligan Theater, 1010 River St., Santa Cruz. jeweltheatre.net/the-weir
SAMBADÁ: A SPECIAL CARNAVAL CELEBRATION For over 10 years, SambaDá has been mixing contemporary sounds with the roots of Brazilian culture. What unites this band from such diverse backgrounds is magic that both the band and the audience can feel. $18 advance/$22 door. Friday, Feb. 5, 8:30pm. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. moesalley.com.
THE SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL In its 49th year, the Baroque Festival celebrates with a live concert featuring Baroque opera soprano sensation Bethany Hill in her West Coast American debut, with festival artistic director Linda Burman-Hall playing harpsichord. Elizabethan lute songs, rarely heard music from the female early Baroque radical composers Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi, haunting Purcell songs including the luscious Dido’s Lament. Live audience must show vax card and be masked. Saturday, Feb. 5, 7:30pm. Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 High St., Santa Cruz. sbcaroque.org.
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS Since 1997, the North Mississippi Allstars have toured perpetually; they hit the asphalt hard, only taking time off to make new records.Nuanced jams—locked and loaded for live improvisation—are coated in murky reverberated guitar riffs, emulating an audio equivalent to visual trails. $28 advance/$32 door. Sunday, Feb. 6, 8pm. Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. feltonmusichall.com.
COMMUNITY
SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS VS. RIO GRANDE VALLEY VIPERS Cheer on the Santa Cruz Warriors, featuring some of the most talented players in the world outside of the NBA, as they compete at the 3,200-seat facility near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. $24-90. Friday, Feb. 4, 7pm. Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz. santacruz.gleague.nba.com.
COMMUNITY PILATES MAT CLASS The popular in-person community Pilates Mat Class is in session again. Please bring a mat, a small Pilates ball and TheraBand (if you have one.) Vaccination required. $10 suggested donation. Thursday, Feb. 3 and Tuesday, Feb. 8, 10am. Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos.
SUNSET BEACH BOWLS & BONFIRE Watch the sunset and experience the multi-sensory vibrations of crystal bowls and the ocean waves creating a blissful symphony of sound. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 5-6pm. Moran Lake Park & Beach, East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. 831-333-6736.
WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE It’s the first Westside Marketplace of the year. Shop amongst the one-of-a-kind creations from 40 artists and vendors while getting your food truck fix. The Rayburn Brothers are performing from 12:30-3:30pm. Free. Sunday, Feb. 6, 11am-4pm. The Ow Building (old Wrigley Building), 2801 Mission St., Santa Cruz. foodtrucksagogo.com or scmmakersmarket.com (to see the vendors.)
GROUPS
ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Friday, Feb. 4, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel. 831-761-3973.
FAMILY SANGHA MONTHLY MEDITATION Help create a family meditation cooperative community. Parents will meet in the main room for about 40 minutes of silent meditation, followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion about life and mindful parenting. Kids will be in a separate volunteer-led room, playing and exploring mindfulness through games and stories. Parents may need to help with the kids for a portion of the hour, depending on volunteer turnout. All ages of children are welcome. Please bring toys to share. Quiet babies are welcome. Donations encouraged. Sunday, Feb. 6, 10:30am-noon. Insight Santa Cruz, 740 Front St. #240, Santa Cruz.
WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM WomenCARE Arm-in-Arm Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday, currently on Zoom. Registration is required. Call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. 12:30pm.
WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom. Registration required, call WomenCARE 831-457-2273. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 12:30-2pm.
OUTDOORS
NATURE CLUB: FINDING FUNGUS AT DELAVEAGA Explore the forests and trails of DeLaveaga Park, looking for a kingdom of life best viewed in the winter: fungi! The great variety of trees in these forests supports a vast amount of fungal life. Learn more about the amazing decomposers and how they support their ecosystems. $5 museum members/$10 general. Saturday, Feb. 5, 10am-12:30pm. DeLaveaga Park, 855 Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz. santacruzmuseum.org/2-5-nature-club-finding-fungus-at-delaveaga.
NATURAL HABITATS JURORS’ TALK As part of the online exhibition “Natural Habitats,” jurors Donna Seager and Suzanne Gray of Seager Gray Gallery in Mill Valley will offer insights into their selections for the exhibition, their thoughts on imagery about the environment and more. Free. Saturday, Feb. 5, 4-5pm. cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-gallery/natural-habitats.
