THURSDAY
FESTIVAL
8 TENS @ 8 SHORT PLAY FEST
It’s time for the 8 Tens @ 8! The festival breaks down like this: eight plays are presented at 8pm, running for 10 minutes each. Sixteen winning plays from around the country will be staged during the fest, helmed by 16 individual directors and an army of thespians. With so many options, everyone’s sure to find plays they love or make them laugh, cry and gasp—maybe audiences will go the whole festival without running into that one play that makes them glad it’s only ten minutes! But if not, hey, it’s only ten minutes, right? KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
INFO: 8pm, Actors Theater, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $35. 431-8666.
FRIDAY
AMERICANA
LUCAS LAWSON
With his knack for catchy melodies and earthy lyrics, Lucas Lawson’s blend of folksy Americana is very much a product of the farm he grew up on just north of Santa Cruz. After the CZU Lightning Complex fires, Lawson embedded the ashes of his community into his music, earning local attention with his 2022 song and album by the same name, This Dirt. Now Lawson returns with his new album, Flowers on the Road, which the singer-songwriter will play tracks from at his album release party at the Kuumbwa. MAT WEIR
INFO: 7:30pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $26/adv, $32/door. 427-2227.
SATURDAY
FOLK
POST FOLK REVIVALISTS
Led by mandolinist Leland Mackessy, Boulder Creek-based Post Folk Revivalists believe all music is folk. That approach informs both their treatment of the work of other artists (from the past and present) and their development and delivery of original music. The group also features bassist Cakes Mackessy, Don Mackessy on banjo and ST Young on an assortment of instruments. The band’s deep and expansive repertoire draws from old-time bluegrass and contemporary genres, but most important is how the group connects the dots between seemingly diverse styles. BILL KOPP
INFO: 8pm, Lille Aeske Arthouse, 13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. $25/adv, $30/door. 703-4183.
SATURDAY
HIP HOP
ATMOSPHERE
For over 25 years, Atmosphere (rapper Slug and producer Ant) has been a cornerstone of underground hip hop, with the duo’s 1997 Overcast! launching their prolific career. The album blended introspective lyrics with precise delivery accentuated by original and inventive beats, a sound that dubbed them “emo rap” early on. Atmosphere’s music is wholly a team effort: Slug’s raw, narrative-driven rhymes combine with Ant’s genre-spanning production drawn from soul and funk to reggae and rock to create inimitable soundtracks that have guided generations of listeners through life’s struggles and triumphs. With honesty and vulnerability as their hallmark, Atmosphere remains a transformative force in the genre. MELISA YURIAR
INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $35. 713-5492.
SUNDAY
FUNK
DOGS IN A PILE
Ah, New Jersey. It’s a wild sort of country, with unexpected aggression around any given corner. Thankfully, there’s also Dogs In a Pile, the 5-piece psych band from the Garden State. By combining funk, soul, jazz and psych, they produce a breadth of work that keeps audiences dancing while equally being the perfect thing to play on a long car trip with nowhere in particular to go. Fans should get there early to catch openers Blü Egyptian; the party rockers from Chico are no strangers to the Santa Cruz area and vibe. MW
INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $32. 704-7113.
SUNDAY
BLUES
TOMMY CASTRO AND THE PAINKILLERS
San Jose native and master bluesman Tommy Castro is now in his 4th decade of recording and dazzling live crowds. He has a rich, soulful voice reminiscent of Motown-era soul, yet he’s primarily known as a guitarist, so distinctive and brilliant is his guitar playing. He’s also a hell of a songwriter. The 2023 (and 2022) “BB King Entertainer of The Year” winner hits the stage with the Painkillers, made up of players handpicked by Castro and able to keep up with the virtuoso. KLJ
INFO: 4pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, $30/adv, $35/door. 479-1854.
MONDAY
FUNK
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
West Berlin-born Ndegeocello grew up in Washington D. and paid her dues on that city’s go-go funk scene. A gifted bassist and songwriter, she made her recorded solo debut with 1993’s Plantation Lullabies. The ecstatic critical response to that album launched Ndegeocello into the limelight. She soon became a go-to collaborator for established artists like John Mellencamp (duetting on “Wild Night,” a Billboard #3 hit), Herbie Hancock, Madonna and the Rolling Stones. Beyond adorning the work of others, she has released 14 studio albums to date. Her latest, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, celebrates African American artists who came before her. BK
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $64. 427-2227.
WEDNESDAY
FOLK
OLIVE KLUG
Folk singer-songwriter Olive Klug is a star in the making. Grounded in community, the Portland-born, Nashville-based artist has carved out a unique space in the genre by blending traditional folk with modern narratives to create refreshingly honest music. After shifting from a planned social work career due to the 2020 pandemic, Olive embraced music full-time, cultivating a devoted, passionate fan base they call the “Klug Bugs.” Klug’s debut album, Don’t You Dare Make Me Jaded, was positively received and explored themes including identity and self-discovery. Olive continues to center their artistry in community and connection, inspiring audiences with music that champions catharsis and change. MY
INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $23. 713-5492.
WEDNESDAY
AUTHOR EVENT
CELEBRATION OF STEVE LAWTON & OTTER B BOOKS
For those who knew him personally or connected with him through books, the Bookshop Santa Cruz celebrates the life and legacy of Steve Lawton and Otter B Books. People are welcome to share stories and reminisce about his impact on the local community. Otter B Books was a cornerstone of Monterey Bay, publishing and distributing many books about the local history and community. Steve and Otter B Books connected with many readers, bookshops and writers to share local stories, histories and memories. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
