Hi friends,
No bad news on the national front is going to dampen my gratitude for living and working in this community, and I’m betting you’re feeling the same. In case you haven’t yet checked it out, dive into The Lookout List to discover or reengage with all the things that make Santa Cruz County special.
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
There might be no more poetic and relevant protest song than “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” by the brilliant songwriter Nick Lowe. Good news, the man himself lands at the Rio Theatre on March 30 to sing it himself. Folksinger John McCutcheon used to drop in on his fans and friends in Santa Cruz every January for a couple of decades. More good news: McCutcheon is back with a performance Jan. 16 at Felton Music Hall. The great Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Booker T. Jones plays two shows, back to back, at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on March 29. Los Lobos guitarist and vocalist Cesar Rosas goes solo at Moe’s Alley on April 4. The always elegant jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves is set for the Kuumbwa on Feb. 18. Legendary Mexican rock band Caifanes will come to The Catalyst on March 25. And, a Santa Cruz tradition continues, Tuck & Patti are back at Kuumbwa and, yes, just as they have done for many years, it’s on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
Be sure to check out Lookout’s carefully curated and constantly updated planning guide, Down the Line, for the staggering riches and amazing choices awaiting Santa Cruz audiences. It’s our look ahead at the best shows, concerts and events through the rest of the year at clubs, stages and venues all over the county.
Here comes Flynn Creek
In case you’re wondering, yes, the parking lot of the Capitola Mall will again be a place of holiday-themed fun this year. The Flynn Creek Circus, a theatrical acrobatic troupe based in Mendocino County, makes a return trip to Capitola for a new show titled “The Bridge.” The show is slated to begin its run in Capitola on Dec. 18, running for more than two dozen performances through Jan. 4.
If you’ve seen Flynn Creek Circus shows, you know that it’s all about the amazing work of the company’s acrobats, presented in an original story that often draws from folk mythology, and performed with a thrilling sense of theatricality with lighting, music, costumes and drama. The shows are all family-friendly — except for a handful that are set aside as 21-and-over “adults only” shows, including the final show of 2025 on New Year’s Eve.
CHECK THIS OUT
Best 9: Top events for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, Nov. 13-20
THIS WEEK IN A&E
Santa Cruz’s John Malkin explores the spiritual underpinnings of punk rock in new book ‘Punk Spirit!’
Santa Cruz journalist, filmmaker and musician John Malkin brings together two unlikely subjects, punk rock and spirituality, in his new oral history, “Punk Spirit!” The book explores the many religious/spiritual traditions that punk musicians have embraced, as well as the spiritual dimensions of art, music […]
Peggy Townsend’s new mystery novel finds drama and intrigue in the world of science
Longtime Santa Cruz journalist-turned-novelist Peggy Townsend’s new book is inspired by the unsung work and deep devotion of scientists. She’ll discuss “The Botanist’s Assistant” on Nov. 18 at Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Making a splash: Cabrillo’s ‘Metamorphoses’ flows with theatrical magic
The Cabrillo College Theatre Arts Department’s production of “Metamorphoses” is a stunning fusion of myth, movement and water — a sensory feast that transforms the Black Box Theater into a pool of divine storytelling.
Bob Dylan tribute show at Kuumbwa Jazz to raise funds for Housing Matters
Housing Matters will be the beneficiary of a Nov. 21 tribute to Bob Dylan at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center to help raise money for the Santa Cruz nonprofit’s shelters and other programs.
That’s all I got, friends. Come at me with comments, ideas, complaints or thundering insights. Thanks to all Lookout members for your faith and support, and please, spread the word on what we’re doing.