A&E

Expanding the Frontiers of Mediocrity

August 5, 2026

Christina Waters takes aim at Sarah Hennies’ The Grain House, a world premiere that closed the Cabrillo Festival’s Defiant Dreams concert, arguing that sonic hostility overwhelmed musical imagination.

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Sunny is Coming Home

Shawn Colvin looks back on her years in New York’s folk and country scenes, her Grammy-winning breakthrough and the realities of life as a touring musician. She plays The Rio August 8.

Much Ado about Much Ado

Santa Cruz Shakespeare turns Much Ado About Nothing into a bright, fast-moving romantic comedy filled with sharp wordplay, music, dancing and inspired physical humor.

Nice Jug Bands

The Santa Cruz Jug Band Festival returns for four free days of concerts, sing-alongs, musical history and gloriously unconventional instruments.

Sartorial Revolution

Santa Cruz native Chloe Chapin returns to Bookshop Santa Cruz with Suitable, tracing how men’s clothing became a language of masculinity, conformity and power.

The Sartorial Revolution

Santa Cruz native Chloe Chapin returns to Bookshop Santa Cruz to discuss Suitable, her new history of men’s fashion, masculinity and power.

Catalyzing Effect

The Catalyst Atrium is reopening its stage to Santa Cruz musicians with a summer series of affordable weekly showcases curated by longtime local promoter Chas Crowder.

Daggers of the Mind

Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s Macbeth delivers a chilling, psychologically rich production led by Dan Donohue's riveting descent into paranoia, ambition and bloodshed.

World Music Kinship

Raised in Santa Cruz’s renowned Batish musical family, Keshav Batish brings his new album, Sonic Kinship, to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center.

Sisterhood is Powerful

Cabrillo Stage’s Sister Act delivers powerhouse vocals, exuberant choreography and a high-energy ensemble led by Karriyma Pekary and Jennifer Taylor Daniels.

Hardcore Hero

Santa Cruz musician and animal activist Jesse Williams brings hardcore energy, community spirit and cat-saving compassion to Purrrrrrfest.

Emerging Talent

Kevin Keelan’s Seabright garden venue hosts Saturday performances featuring storytelling, music, comedy, cabaret, live looping and local Santa Cruz talent.