THURSDAY 5/7
ROCK
DISASTROID When is a 90s band not a 90s band? When they are San Francisco’s grunge stoner rockers, Disastroid. Their bio says that they make “heavy music that isn’t boring.” Seems like a boring way to describe the music, to be honest. However, after one listen, this description doesn’t do the band justice. Disastroid takes the spirit of grunge and smokes it out with a heavy sesh of sludge rock dosed with elements of math rock and paranoia. If the Nirvana song “Negative Creep” decided to make a band of its own, it would be Disastroid and life is a little better for it. MAT WEIR
INFO: 8pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
FRIDAY 5/8
BLUEGRASS
THE BROTHERS COMATOSE Northern California has contributed more to the new Americana jam band scene than at first meets the ear. The Brothers Comatose, like The Mother Hips (whose lead singer, Tim Bluhm, produced their new album Golden Grass) have taken the genre of bluegrass and made it their own. It’s everything you love about bluegrass: the sharp picking, cheese grater guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and the thumping upright bass. Of course, the harmonies are exquisite. What makes Brothers Comatose ahead of the pack is their tight songwriting that is soaked in California mellow. DNA
INFO: 8pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, $30-$35. 423-8209.
DOCUMENTARY
FREE PARTY: A FOLK HISTORY The free party movement got its start in Thatcher-era England, a scene that brought together the ravers with New Age adherents. The movement enjoyed its peak with a 1992 free festival in Castlemorton, the most expansive extralegal rave event in UK history. That event led to the Criminal Justice Act in 1994, greatly tightening the laws of trespass. Director Aaron Trinder’s 2023 film chronicles the story with Castlemorton rave as its central focus. The film’s arresting tagline: “They wanted the freedom to party; the State saw them as the enemy within.” BILL KOPP
INFO: 7pm, Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz. Free. (509) 627-9491.
SATURDAY 5/9
REGGAE
PROTOJE With an island heartbeat and a sugarcane sweet voice, Oje Ken Ollivierre, known as Protoje, blends roots reggae with modern production. Known as one of the forerunners of the modern reggae revival of 2010, he keeps to the heart of reggae with soulful rhythms and conscious lyrics while incorporating hip-hop influences. Although he gained traction in 2005 with his mixtape Lyrical Overdose Volume 1, which was heavily hip-hop based, his sound eventually evolved to keep classic reggae and dancehall at the center. He threads in afrobeats and outlines songs with R&B textures, meditative melodies, and steady. SHELLY NOVO
INFO: 9pm, Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $41-$46. 713-5492.
LITERARY
DAVID SEDARIS David Sedaris is back to make Santa Cruz laugh with his latest collection of humorous essays, The Land and Its People. Sedaris balances autobiography with self-deprecation and reflection on the human condition. His latest collection of essays is a reminder of the importance of keeping your head up and eyes open and to meet life with warmth and curiosity. Through his experiences, he investigates what it means to be a traveler, brother, and lifelong friend, all while time takes its toll (as there are important people, important friends, he outlives and still remembers) These are his stories of the land people inhabit. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 7:30pm. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz. $36-$62. 420-5260.
SUNDAY 5/10
CELTIC
SAN FRANCISCO SCOTTISH FIDDLERS Time to take a wee walk around the Scottish highlands. Note the glens, lochs and bogs. But take your pace and enjoy, for this is called a Stravaig. and it’s meant to take it all in. The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, under the directorship of Champion Scottish Fiddler Caroline McCaskey, want to take you on an exploration of Celtic-infused sounds on a special Mother’s Day afternoon show. McCaskey has toured the world, sharing her classically trained mastery of several instruments. DNA
INFO: 2pm, Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos. $45. 479-6154.
MONDAY 5/11
ROCK
ROBERT LESTER FOLSOM At 71 years old, Robert Lester Folsom might not be a household name in the same sense as Dylan, Donovan, or Garcia. However, he’s just as amazing a songwriter. As an independent artist, Folsom remained on the outskirts of fame, which is a shame because his songs are catchy, thoughtful and capture not only his sound but the sound of the eras in which they were recorded. His latest release, If You Wanna Laugh, You Gotta Cry Sometimes, is a perfect example. This volume is a collection of recordings from 1972-1975 and has a nostalgic, Laurel Canyon music vibe to them. MW
INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton. $35. 704-7113.
TUESDAY 5/12
CINEMATIC FUNK
DUSK DEPT Dusk Dept. is a seven-piece collective of musicians who introduce themselves cloaked in black hoods, with no names or faces, only music. With roots in a deep rhythms, these musicians have heritage in groups like Ghost-Note, Dumpstaphunk, Snarky Puppy, and Daryl Johns. Staying under the shroud of anonymity, they focus on creating a musical atmosphere that has produced a cinematic funk vibe that turns shows into collective rituals. Soulful brass and pulsing bass invite the ear to wander. Their mysterious analog funk and captivating ambiance will leave audiences in a meditative state for hours. SN
INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. $25. 479-1854.
WEDNESDAY 5/13
JAZZ
ABLAYE CISSOKO & CYRILLE BROTTO Ablaye Cissoko is a master of the kora, the 21-stringed West African instrument. The Senegalese singer-composer musician has toured globally, working variously as a solo artist, collaborator and ensemble member. His work can be heard on more than a dozen albums, including five solo releases. Cyrille Brotto is a French diatonic accordionist and music educator with a high profile in France and throughout Europe. His work transcends genre, taking in baroque, classical, jazz and world elements to create a striking and fascinating synthesis. Together, the duo will present an evening of music exploring their cross-cultural collaboration. BK
INFO:7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $49. 427-2227.
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