Hi friends,
I used to think that the most fun job in the world was hosting a high-profile late-night talk show like Colbert, Conan, Kimmel, etc. Now, I feel that those poor folks are stuck in a particularly weird corner of hell, trying to find humor in what just isn’t very funny anymore.
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
Soul/jazz artist Meshell Ndegeocello has released a stunning new album inspired by the great American essayist and dissident James Baldwin, and she’s planning to come to the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Jan. 20 to share it. Folk singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler plays Felton Music Hall on Jan. 31. German guitarist Ottmar Liebert and his band Luna Negra play the Rio Theatre on Feb. 17. French jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel is at Kuumbwa on Jan. 27. And next spring, a big bold tribute to the classic Pink Floyd album “Dark Side of the Moon” lands at the Santa Cruz Civic on May 9.
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 they are, nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead. It’s the election-hangover B9:
My friend, the photographer Jana Marcus, has a new podcast out, based on her 2020 book “Line of Blood.” It’s an amazing story of family secrets and improbable links to a long-ago mob murder in New York. Check it out.
Betcha you’re like me and can’t wait to see Krampus this upcoming holiday season. What? “Who is Krampus?” C’mon, you know, the horned goat Christmas demon?
How to create more interest in stories from local history? Did someone say “happy hour?”
We’re already getting news on music festivals for 2025: Noise Pop, the San Francisco-based company that has staged a few shows at the Quarry Amphitheater over the past couple of years, has just announced its new multi-venue, multi-date music festival scheduled for the last week of February in San Francisco. The Noise Pop Fest will feature performances from a number of acts including Soccer Mommy, American Football, Mercury Rev, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets and many more.
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.