THURSDAY 6/4
REGGAE
THIRD WORLD When it comes to roots reggae and its impact on the world, one must turn attention to the late Stephen “Cat” Coore, whom this show is a tribute to. Coore left this earth earlier this year, but his profound connection to Jamaica and reggae music is indelible. Coore started the now legendary Inner Circle in 1968 and then linked forces with Milton “Prilly” Hamilton and Michael “Ito” Cooper to launch Third World in 1974. A few years later, in 1977, reggae was massive and Third World’s album, 96º In The Shade, brought revolution and infectious beats to the planet. DNA
INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Drive, Santa Cruz, $41. 479.1854.
FRIDAY 6/5
METAL
THE HU A fearsome collision of heavy metal and ancient Mongolian folk music, The HU’s sound must be heard to be believed. Formed in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the four-piece built an entirely new genre they call “Hunnu Rock.” The morin khuur, a two-stringed horsehead fiddle played with horse-tail hair bows, drives their sound alongside songs from the tovshuur lute, the tsuur flute, and the band’s extraordinary throat singing. This vocal technique is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage. Their 2019 debut album The Gereg, earned them Mongolia’s highest state honor, and drew praise from Sir Elton John among other critics. SHELLY NOVO
INFO: 9pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $61-$201. 713-5492.
FUNK
WINDCAVE WindCave emerges from a long absence to bring a heaping portion of high-energy music home to Santa Cruz. Named after the Chumash painted caves above Santa Barbara, Windcave built their reputation during the golden Palookaville era and earned a devoted following of ’90s rock lovers. Their sound is expansive, ranging from funk rock to reggae and rubbing shoulders with Americana and heartfelt ballads, punctuated by the occasional hard-edged surge that piques listeners’ ears. Uplifting in spirit and grounded in a nostalgic glow, WindCave has always carried a message worth hearing and a dance floor worth showing up to. SN
INFO: 7pm, Woodhouse Blending and Brewing, 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz. Free. 313-9461.
SATURDAY 6/6
ROCK
THE MONTVALES Sally Buice and Molly Rochelson of The Montvales have a career and a certain style that points in the direction America needs to head. Their roots are in Appalachia, from their sweet duets on 2020’s Heartbreak Summer Camp to their breakthrough sophomore album, Born Strangers. Beyond the soul-enriching music, Buice and Rochelson have dedicated their lives to activism, using their wide base to bring awareness to the continued opioid crisis in Appalachia and offering recovery support and harm-reduction efforts. Everything circles back to the music, the songs, sounds, and the need for us to connect and raise each other. DNA
INFO: 8pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $20. 429-6994.
PRIDE
QUEERLANTIS 2026 Santa Cruz is kicking off Pride Month with the most amazing party of the year! This one-night micro-festival will be packed with out-of-this-world drag performances, killer DJs, a full bar, energetic live bands, and a queer vendor market. VIP tickets are available for premier seating during the performances and a meet-and-greet experience with Irene the Alien. The night begins with a panel discussion about breaking the binary before jumping into the live performances from Everyone is Dirty and Robbie Fitzsimmons. The night will then be topped off by a drag supernova! Peruse the queer market, grab a drink in the lounge, and dance all night long.
ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 4pm, Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St, Santa Cruz. $35-$100. 454-0478.
SUNDAY 6/7
SINGALONG
DUELING PIANOS The format is a familiar one, and it’s durable and appealing for good reason. The musical versatility afforded by two pianos allows the musicians a wide sonic palette, full of harmony, melody and expression. This dueling pianos performance emphasizes the interactive qualities of the format: audience members are encouraged to sing along to well-known tunes, and to challenge the knowledge and skill of the musical pair by requesting interesting songs. Funds from this community fundraising event go toward five local veterans’ support organizations. Two performances are scheduled: a 2pm matinee and an evening show at 7pm. BILL KOPP
INFO: 2pm and 7pm, Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz. $25-$100. 454-0478.
METAL
WITCH RIPPER The legendary Santa Cruz dive bar has been hosting a flurry of amazing punk and metal shows as of late, and this Sunday is going to be a ripper. A Witch Ripper, that is. Birthed from the darkest bowels of the city known as Seattle, Witch Ripper has been around since 2012 and has been playing Santa Cruz for almost as long. While normally riding heavily in the sludge metal category, their latest album Through the Hourglass, which they are currently touring on, pulls in elements of technical metal with some virtuoso style singing, which goes to show the band continues to confidently evolve as time passes and they *ahem* go through the hourglass. MAT WEIR
INFO: 9pm, Jury Room, 712 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. $10. 426-7120.
MONDAY 6/8
LITERARY
DUSTY BAKER Although Dusty Baker began his career in 1968 with the Atlanta Braves, after seven years, Baker moved to California to become a Dodger. He eventually made his way up to the Bay, and while he only played one season with the San Francisco Giants, he jumped the bridge to play for the Oakland A’s to finish his career as a player. Younger fans will know Baker as a coach who did nine years with the Giants before bouncing around the country and eventually landing in Houston. Now Baker has a new autobiography out and he’ll be doing a reading and Q&A at Bookshop Santa Cruz with host and fellow author Steve Kettman. MW
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $40. 423-0900.
WEDNESDAY 6/10
NOISE-ROCK
QUINTRON AND MISS PUSSYCAT An inspired, unique and unlikely multimedia pairing, this show is a combination of soulful music and evocative puppetry. New Orleans’ Quintron and Miss Pussycat have a deep catalog (7 albums and counting), and their live show features the sounds of Quintron’s psychedelic soul with the dreamy visuals of Miss Pussycat’s puppetry. Quintron’s unusual instrumentation includes the Weather Warlock (a synthesizer that draws upon the elements) and the Drum Buddy (a light-activated synthesizer) to make music. Regulars at New Orleans’ 9th Ward hot spot, the Spellcaster Lounge, Quintron and Miss Pussycat embody the “as above, so below” cabaret aesthetic. BK
