One of the main bands reviving ska in the ’70s was The English Beat. And good news—they are still reviving ska! Lead singer Dave Wakeling and his backing band bring all the hits, like “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “Save It For Later” and their incredible cover of Smokey Robinson’s “Tears of a Clown.” This will be an absolute dance-fest of an evening.

Esteemed promoter (((folkYeah!))) brings Afrofuturist pioneers The Sun Ra Arkestra to town for a concert of dreams. At 99-years-old, alto-saxophonist Marshall Allen, who has been a member since 1958  but isn’t traveling with the band, leads the famed group through its 60+-year sojourn across swing, rock and blues.

At the age of seven, most people were learning their times tables. The precocious Biréli Lagrène, however, was already on his way to becoming a jazz icon, spending his days learning the improvisational guitar stylings of the mythic Romani-Belgian composer Django Reinhardt. That was approximately five decades, 26 albums and seven live concert films ago.

This week's picks for things to do include country, 80s rock, Americana, punk and jazz music of the most creative kind. Plus, comedy and poetry. Check out what's happening and discover a surprise or two.

WEDNESDAY ART PAINT NIGHT AT ABBOTT SQUARE Do you love to paint? Have you ever dabbled on a canvas with some acrylics or oil? This Wednesday...

WEDNESDAY LATIN ELIADES OCHOA is a Cuban musical legend. For the longest time, appreciation for his talent stayed mostly in Cuba. Though he had been strumming...

Aug 10: An evening with The Bad Plus at Kuumbwa The Bad Plus are the perfect band for someone curious about jazz, but not deep...

ARTS & MUSIC Trivia with a local celebrity. Michael Gaither is all over the Santa Cruz area, playing his distinct style of Americana with a...

MUSIC AND ARTS Wrath of KaiJune: A Burlesque And Drag Tribute To Giant Monsters. With a name like that, how can you say no?...

Music + Arts Dezarie, who plays Moe’s Alley Thursday is a Roots Rock Reggae artist who has dedicated her art to the everyday struggle of...

MUSIC & ART Adrea Castiano Presents: Singin' For Santa Cruz - A Thursday benefit concert for the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund, supporting those impacted...

MUSIC & ART Alex Lucero’s band plays free 6-8pm Wednesday at Capitola’s Esplanade Park bandstand for the city’s weekly concert series. Born and raised in...