Downtown Santa Cruz

6 - 10pm · Carla Re hosts an amazing Karaoke all over the Bay Area. This is her first time here at The Cruz Room. Come join the fun!

Formed in San Jose in 1990, Sleep just might be the best American doom metal band of all time. After all, this three-piece wrote one of the most epic songs ever, the 63-minute marijuana-fueled opus, “Dopesmoker.” Even more epic is the legend behind the song, with the band using all the money the label gave them for an album on weed and returning with one long song. However, the band has recently run into some controversy as the bassist, Al Cisneros, is currently the only original member. But fear not weedians, because Uncle Al is still headed to the smoke-filled lands with Dale Crover (Melvins) on drums and Bubba Dupree (Void) on guitar. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz

Grab a cup of coffee and hang out with a MAH curator! Coffee with the Curators is a morning at the museum where you can chat, ask questions, and hear behind-the-scenes stories about the exhibitions and collections. Coffee and good conversation are complimentary with museum admission.

6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.

6:30pm · Playtest the game Catfish at 6:30pm! Learn how to play with co-designer, Jeremy Parker, & help shape this game! Compete against other cats in this party card-lane battler! Host: Jeremy Parker. Local Designer! Part of Hosted Board Game Night (6 - 8pm) — library of 30+ games, raffle, merch & a Learn to Play featured game demo at 6:30pm with The Game Night Collective. Trivia 8 - 10pm.

8 - 10pm · Weekly trivia night — gather your team and come test your knowledge!

Come help us celebrate Téada’s 25th Anniversary of touring as one of Ireland's leading traditional bands! The five members of the band are fiddle player Oisín Mac Diarmada, button accordion player Paul Finn, Damien Stenson performs on flute, Samantha Harvey, piano/dance, Seán Mc Elwain who switches between the bouzouki and guitar and bodhrán player Tristan Rosenstock. You will undoubtedly recognize fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, if you have attended an Irish Christmas In America concert. A leading exponent of Irish traditional music, Téada is driven by a fascination for the timeless, expressive force of music inherited from previous generations of musicians. An Irish band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada has frequently appeared as headliners at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Israel and Australia. Highlights include a 30,000-capacity stadium concert in Brittany, along with performances at Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia, Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe, and the Milwaukee Irish Festival. The group also received an invitation from the Irish Embassy in Rome during 2008 to perform at a commemorative event marking the 400th anniversary of the landmark event in Irish history known as The Flight of the Earls. With engaging textural arrangements, Téada, which means "strings", will have you dancing in your seat. Tickets: celticsociety.org members: $27 non-members: $31.25 student/child: $15.25

Presented by Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay

7pm sign-ups · Weekly pinball competition for players of all skill levels.

Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.

A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.

Motion Pacific's Melissa Contemp. Jazz class series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, CA, running weekly through November.

Cyrille Aimée (Sur­real M­A) is a French­Dominican vocalist and actress. Winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival's Vocal Competition, the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition and finalist in the Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition, Aimée is—in the words of Will Friedwald of The Wall Street Journal—"one of the most promising jazz singers of her generation." In the same Wall Street Journal feature (which included vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant), Friedwald declared both to be “astonishing creative singers, with a brilliant sound, fresh ideas, impeccable rhythm and an overall approach that honors tradition without being shackled to the past." Aimée was born in Fontainebleau, France, to a French father and Dominican mother. Her introduction to jazz was the result of the fortuitous location of her upbringing, the village Samois­sur­Seine—the same place where legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt had lived. Every June for decades, gypsies have descended upon Samois, setting up caravans in nearby meadows for the annual Django Reinhardt Festival. During those June nights many years ago, after her parents would fall asleep, a young, curious Aimée would climb out her bedroom window and wander into the gypsy encampments. Aimée would sing by the fire with Django’s descendents and began to fall in love with the gypsy way of life—scampering home before the sun rose. Explained Aimée, "I was hypnotized by gypsy music which made me want to tap my feet; music that swings makes me so happy." As a teenager, Aimée performed in various Parisian cafés and clubs. When her family moved to Singapore, she remained in Paris to attend the American School of Modern Music. She also auditioned for "Star Academy," a kind of French "American Idol." Selected to be one of 16 semi­finalists, Aimée had second thoughts when handed a contract that tied her up every which way for years—including the songs to sing. This was too much for her gypsy spirit—so she quit. The French media so pursued

7 - 9pm · Weekly bluegrass jam with local musicians.

5 - 7pm · The owner of Sleight of Hand Pizza will be throwing & spinning pizza!

7 - 10pm · Live improvisational modular synth performance by M31 Transport.

Straight out of Yemen comes El Khat, a self-proclaimed homemade junkyard band. The humor and ingenuity are that most of the instruments are recycled plastic, metal, and wood. This dynamic three-piece creates a cinematic mindscape that feels like you’re drifting over the sands of the Arabian Desert. But this isn’t spa music; it’s like Frank Zappa and a ’70s progressive rock band melded with an ancient rhythm. Multi-instrumentalist Eyal El Wahab leads the charge with a message of humanity over nation. El Khat is named after the chewed speedy drug khat and the music has a kick to it. -DNA; Good Times Santa Cruz

Indexical presents an evening of live electronic music with Joshua Kit Clayton and David Zicarelli. About the Artists Joshua Kit Clayton is a Portland, Oregon based electronic musician and computer programmer whose work ranges from abstract and experimental soundscapes to dancefloor focused tools for adventurous deejays. He first gained recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s, amid the cross-pollination of electronic music that gave rise to glitch, microsound, and dub techno, and has releases on the Cytrax, -scape, and Mille Plateaux imprints. A longtime developer at Cycling '74, he has also been a major contributor to Max, the visual programming environment widely used in sound and media arts. David Zicarelli is the founder of Cycling '74, a music software company. He has been living and working in Santa Cruz since 1994.

Every first and third Fridays at Cat Alley Street, our beat conductors take you on a high-style ride showcasing underground street sounds- Brought to you by Subterrestrials Records. Doors and Bar open at 6pm, Music at 9pm. No Cover, 21+

7 - 9pm · Lazer Wolf on piano and drums, Rawley Fingers on baritone sax, and you never know who else might show up. Special guests are always a possibility at The Cruz Room!

Dust off your boots, grab your friends, and join us as Wild West makes its long-awaited return to Santa Cruz. Wild West Country Night is officially returning to The 418 Project in Santa Cruz on Friday, October 2nd Get ready for an unforgettable night of country music, line dancing, beginner-friendly lessons, and nonstop fun on the dance floor. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or stepping onto the floor for the first time, everyone is welcome. No partner needed.Wild West Dance ambassadors are ready to guide you. Dust off your boots, grab your friends, and join us as Wild West makes its long-awaited return to Santa Cruz. The 418 Project — Santa Cruz Friday, October 2 Ages 18+ to enter Country music • Line dancing • Lessons • Social dancing • Immersive visual productions • New dance floors The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate. Tickets $15 advance/ $20 at door

From one perspective, Twin Temple (Alexandra and Zachary James) is a classic rock ‘n’ roll duo with a sound inspired by the form’s early stars. But from another perspective, the L.A. duo, who launched in 2017, is as provocative as Marilyn Manson or Ghost. The couple’s open practice of Satanism has earned them as much attention as have their four albums (one titled God is Dead). The band had been touring as the opener for Charley Crockett, but in July the country star booted Twin Temple from the bill, saying, “I thought they were like Black Sabbath, but they ain’t. Not today, Satan.” -Bill Kopp; Good Times Santa Cruz

Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.

Come out to the 1st Annual Santa Cruz Porchfest in downtown on Sat. October 3rd from 12-6pm. Free. Blü Egyptian plays at Calvary Church, 532 Center St.

7 - 9pm · Cousin Dave

A classical orchestral performance of Scheherazade by the Santa Cruz Symphony.

Sometimes stripped down is better than gussied up. That being said, any fan of TV’s Top Chef also knows that if it’s not going to be fancy, then it has to be perfect or else it falls flat and becomes plain ol’ basic. It’s a concept that electronic musician Marielle V Jakobsons is familiar with, even if she doesn’t watch the show. Her stripped-down, ambient music is miminal but not basic. She plays with the space within each song to create a sound that’s light, moving and somehow also deeply personal. That makes The Tannery’s Indexical the perfect place to see her perform. -Mat Weir; Good Times Santa Cruz

🕸️🛼 ROLL CALL!!! 🛼🕸️ The rink is back…and things are getting wheely spooky! 🔊🦇🔊 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 1-7PM WOODHOUSE BLENDING & BREWING Woodhouse is shapeshifting into a roller rink once again for an afternoon of roll play, bass, brews & underground Santa Cruz sounds. Come spooky. Come whimsy. Come freaky. Come as ya sweet self. 🦇🍄🧚🏽‍♂️🧌🤡🧜🏽‍♀️🧛🏻‍♂️💕 🔊 ON THE DECKS BLCK SAGE JASIE PENNY SUNYATA Heavy bass. Deep wubs. Breakbeat.

6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.

6:30pm · Playtest the game Catfish at 6:30pm! Learn how to play with co-designer, Jeremy Parker, & help shape this game! Compete against other cats in this party card-lane battler! Host: Jeremy Parker. Local Designer! Part of Hosted Board Game Night (6 - 8pm) — library of 30+ games, raffle, merch & a Learn to Play featured game demo at 6:30pm with The Game Night Collective. Trivia 8 - 10pm.

Spanning more than twenty years as a recording artist, the jazz piano phenomenon Hiromi has shifted seamlessly from one spellbinding project to the next. In the process, she’s earned a reputation as one of the most explosive live performers in jazz history and a global ambassador for the art form. Her many triumphs include an NPR ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ that has racked up over 2.5 million views; the opportunity to represent her native Japan with a performance at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo; 2024 winner for Best Music Score for the animated feature film Blue Giant (Award of the Japanese Academy); and a GRAMMY Award for a collaboration with fusion hero Stanley Clarke. Her artistry is — to borrow a descriptor The New Yorker favored — “dazzling.” Hiromi brings back The Trio Project in Fall 2026, with a new recording and new tour, reuniting with English drummer Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Judas Priest, Tears for Fears, Toto, and The Who). “It is always an amazing experience to be able to work with Simon,” says Hiromi. Joining them onstage is bassist James Genus (Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, Daft Punk, SNL). Hiromi Website Sponsored by ITS, Inc. (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)

8 - 10pm · Weekly trivia night — gather your team and come test your knowledge!

Silly Sober Karaoke is a fun, welcoming, and alcohol-free night where everyone is invited to take the stage and share their favorite songs. Whether you're a seasoned performer or singing in public for the first time, this is a supportive space to celebrate music, creativity, and community. Bring your favorite song, cheer on fellow performers, and enjoy an evening of connection without the pressure of a bar scene. All ages and experience levels are welcome—come solo, bring friends, or make new ones along the way. Because great music, great people, and great memories don't need alcohol. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 7:00–10:00 PM All Ages • Free to Participate The 418 Project • 155 River St. S., Santa Cruz Sing your heart out. Celebrate community. Be yourself.

Weekly karaoke night at The 418 Project, inviting singers to take the stage and perform.

7pm sign-ups · Weekly pinball competition for players of all skill levels.

A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.

Motion Pacific's Melissa Contemp. Jazz class series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, CA, running weekly through November.

7 - 9pm · Weekly bluegrass jam with local musicians.

7 - 10pm · Live improvisational modular synth performance by M31 Transport.

Ben Flocks is a saxophonist and storyteller with a clear, warm, and purposeful voice. A veteran performer and educator, Flocks has been lucky to play with luminaries in jazz and beyond, including Dave Brubeck, Patrice Rushen, Antonio Sanchez, and Jumaane Smith. His 2019 release Mask of the Muse features Flocks’ rendition of “Ebb Tide” which has been streamed more than twenty million times and went viral on TikTok. Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, Flocks witnessed lunar grandeur over the churning Pacific surf and filtered through redwood canopies. Following the advice of his elders, he spent over a decade living in New York City, learning from the masters and leading his own bands at the 55 Bar and Cornelia Street Cafe. Flocks is now grounded in Los Angeles where he balances performing with a full schedule teaching at Glendale Community College, Harvard-Westlake, and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. At its foundation, his latest album Moonshades is a trio exploration, acutely aware of the history of saxophone triumvirates led by Flocks’ heroes Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, and Joshua Redman, but concerned with an entirely different avenue, thanks to bandmates Garret Lang and Jay Bellerose. While those trios often relished dexterity and unrelenting momentum, Flocks and his compatriots linger in the openness and unhurried propulsion that comes so naturally to them. For Flocks, the moon is a powerful reminder of the unknowable and the spirit of searching. Flocks will be joined by Garret Lang on bass and Jay Bellerose on drums for this special hometown album release performance. Ben Flocks Website (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)

Brian Fitzgerald Jazz Trio

Bite Me returns upstairs above the Catalyst Club on Cat Alley Street in downtown Santa Cruz. 21 and over, no cover charge. On the Second Friday of September, the doors swing open once more for a nocturnal gathering of outsiders, romantics, night creatures, artists, and all manner of beautiful misfits. Come dressed to the nines—or better yet, dressed to cause a little trouble. There will be door prizes for best dressed, so do put on something suitably scandalous. Or don't. We are exceedingly welcoming. The evening commences before the revelry reaches full swing. Join us early for an evening of creativity, conversation, peculiar amusements, and wonderfully strange company. The Bite Me Salon 6:00 PM — Doors 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM — The Bite Me Salon A proper gathering of the peculiar sort, featuring: Deathrock Karaoke — 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM — In the Lounge In California, we once called dark music deathrock. At some point, the public imposed the word “goth” upon us. We remain unconvinced. Think punk rock karaoke for creatures of the night. Step into the lounge, take the microphone, and give the room something to remember. If there’s a particular tune you simply must belt out, send word ahead of time and we shall do our level best to have it ready. Goth Makeovers A little rouge, a little ruin, and perhaps the transformation you never knew you required. The Macabre Makers Faire Local artists, curious craftsmen, peculiar creations, and sundry oddities for those with an appreciation for the unusual. Goth Clothing Swap Bring along clothing, accessories, boots, and other splendid articles you'd like to pass along. Take home something new-to-you. Clear out the wardrobe, refresh the ensemble, and give some forgotten finery another night on the town. 7:00 PM — Complimentary Pizza for Guests Because even the most debauched among us must occasionally fortify ourselves. The Main Floor 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM — The Barbary Ghost — Opening Set 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM — Big Fun 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM — Konceptualizer — Live Multimedia Act A full multimedia performance synchronized to the music, bringing sound and spectacle together in one strange and immersive affair. 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM — SamSonic 11:00 PM – Midnight — The Barbary Ghost Midnight – 1:30 AM — Iron Fist from Death Guild / Thunderdome Expect an eclectic nocturnal cocktail of dark dance punk, goth, industrial, techno, deathrock, and whatever other wicked sounds strike the fancy of our musical conspirators. No solemn rules. No dreary conventions. Just good music, good company, and a dance floor waiting to get itself into trouble. Come early, stay late, meet new people, discover new music, and spend an evening amongst those who understand that the finest nights are rarely conducted according to respectable society's timetable. Bite Me is less a nightclub than a monthly gathering of beautiful misfits—a midnight salon for those who have always felt a little more at home beneath neon than sunlight. So powder your nose, straighten your collar, lace up those boots, and come join the revelry. The night is young. The respectable have gone home. Come early, stay late.

Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.

A Queer Line Dance Party & Variety Show

Bongo Sidibe is a Traditional Drummer and Vocalist from Conakry Guinea, in West Africa. Bongo Sidibe uses his Traditional background as an Artist to create a unique style of music (Traditional, Funk, Reggae Mandingue, Ragga Murfing and Dancehall). He uses his style of music to send a message to the world about Peace and Community Building

7:30pm - 9:30pm · Hard rock and grunge band from Martinez, bringing a heavy mix of familiar covers and original music. Their sound pulls from the raw energy of 90s grunge and hard rock, with loud guitars, driving rhythms, and plenty of attitude. Expect songs you know alongside their own material, all delivered with the same gritty, high energy sound.

SPAM New Media Festival continues with performances by electronic percussionist Sunken Cages, collaborative duo Rohan Chander & Scott Li, and artist / instrument builder Ava Koohbor. About the Artists Sunken Cages is the project of Indian-born drummer/electronic music producer Ravish Momin. He has studied with US Jazz master-drummer Andrew Cyrille and has worked as a sideman with a wide array of musicians including US Jazz legend Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre (AACM/Chicago) and pop-star Shakira. In the past, he led Tarana, a shapeshifting global-Jazz group, on international and domestic stages for 14 years. His current collaborative projects include 'Turning Jewels Into Water' (with Haitian electronic music pioneer Val Jeanty), a duo with dragonchild (Ethio-American saxophonist DA Mekonnen) and a trio with dancer Ishita Mili and video-artist Art Jones. He has recently produced tracks with South African Gqom group Phelimuncasi (Nyege Nyege Records), Saxophonist Maria Valencia (Meridian Brothers), producers Makossiri (Hakuna Kulala, Kenya), Saskia (QTV, Brazil), Kush Arora (Discrepant, US), Baba Sy (Jokkoo Collective, Spain/Senegal) and Rani Jambak (Indonesia, Yes No Wave.) Rohan Chander is a media artist, electronic musician, and performance artist with an interest in recombinatory approaches to sound and aesthetic. Rooted in political and personal inquiry, he often draws from sample-based artforms, performance art, speculative fiction, and historical research. His work has been described as "hypersensory" (Washington Post), "remarkably alive" (The Wire Magazine), and of "transcendent metamorphosis" (I Care If You Listen). Under his solo DIY project BAKUDI SCREAM, I won the Gaudeamus Prize for Music Composition in 2022. Scott Li is a NYC-based violinist, composer, producer, improviser, filmmaker, and electroacoustic sound artist blending the Romantic classical chamber music tradition with deeply emotive, boundary-pushing electronic music. Li‘s music is first and foremo

Join us for a series of daytime talks with SPAM artists Rohan Chander and Ava Koohbor. Program Ava Koohbor - Four Modes of Sonic Behavior: Oscillation / Vibration / Circulation / Pulsation. What can we learn from the body as a system? I explore oscillation, vibration, circulation, and pulsation as four forms of behavior that can become compositional structures. Through simple mechanisms and their interactions, I look at how complexity and unpredictability can emerge from a system. Rohan Chander - untitled talk About the Artists Rohan Chander is a media artist, electronic musician, and performance artist with an interest in recombinatory approaches to sound and aesthetic. Rooted in political and personal inquiry, he often draws from sample-based artforms, performance art, speculative fiction, and historical research. His work has been described as "hypersensory" (Washington Post), "remarkably alive" (The Wire Magazine), and of "transcendent metamorphosis" (I Care If You Listen). Under his solo DIY project BAKUDI SCREAM, I won the Gaudeamus Prize for Music Composition in 2022. Ava Koohbor works between sculpture and instrument, poetry and circuitry, memory and electronics, Tehran and San Francisco. Her practice explores sound as a field of relations, where listening, making, and material continually reorganize one another. Her work takes shape through instruments, performances, installations, exhibitions, and books. Her latest book, Of Flesh and Frequency: A Poetics of Sound Making, was published by Lithic Press in 2026.

Sunday, Oct. 11th – 2:00 PM – SMALL THEATER October Family Matinee – 40th Anniversary!! LABYRINTH (1986, Columbia/Swank, 101 min.) “Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City,” says resourceful teenage heroine Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) to the King of the Goblins, Jareth (David Bowie, at his most 1980s-fabulous with massive wigs, tons of eyeliner and MTV-era fashions). Director Jim Henson’s much-loved fantasy-adventure follows Sarah as she winds her way through the enchanted, MC Escher-like Labyrinth in search of her missing half-brother, encountering an astonishing gallery of Henson puppet creations along the way: the massive Ludo! the wisecracking Worm! Hoggle! whatever those weird red feathery things are in “Chilly Down”!! Produced by George Lucas and written by Monty Python member Terry Jones, and featuring some of Bowie’s best-loved kid-friendly songs including “Underground” and “Magic Dance.” **Children under the age of 10 admitted free.** $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 1:30 PM, film at 2 PM at The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate. Safety protocols will be in compliance with local guidelines at the time of showing.

Kailua Moon, the next generation of Slack Key guitar artistry with beautiful classic Island Style vocals and a fresh contemporary feel.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm · We are a high energy alternative rock band with a dark edge! We fuse powerful riffs, memorable melodies, and emotionally driven songwriting! Overall we love putting on a show and connecting with the crowd!

7 - 9pm · Bird in the Hand is a trio of women who play an eclectic mix of tunes from Americana and traditional to current songs and swinging originals. Members play stand-up bass, mandolin, guitar and all sing with harmonizing vocals. We create a positive vibe and a warm and unique sound.

Throughout their storied forty-three-year history, the Yellowjackets have recorded twenty-six albums, received sixteen GRAMMY nominations (winning two), performed countless sold-out tours, and enjoyed worldwide critical acclaim and commercial success. The Yellowjackets formed in the late 1970s as the backup band for guitarist Robben Ford. They recorded their first album together in 1980. Since then, and with the addition of Bob Mintzer, the Yellowjackets have gained and maintained prominence as one of jazz’s most influential and loved groups. Over the years the band has undergone numerous lineup changes. Never failing to rise to the inevitable challenges of adjustment, the Yellowjackets – featuring Russell Ferrante on piano and synthesizers, Bob Mintzer on woodwinds & electronic wind instrument, Will Kennedy on drums and Dane Alderson on bass – have maintained an extraordinarily high quality of musicianship that is the rival of many but a surprise to no one who knows and appreciates the band and their music. Yellowjackets Website (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)

6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.

Vocalist, composer, actor, and playwright Somi Kakoma is the Midwestern daughter of immigrants from Uganda and Rwanda. Hailed by The New York Times as “a virtuosic performer in full command of her instrument and powers,” she is known in the international jazz world simply as ‘Somi.’ Her 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album made her the first African woman ever nominated in any of the GRAMMY jazz categories, as well as the first Rwandan or Ugandan ever nominated for a GRAMMY. Her last release, Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba, was a companion project to the critically acclaimed original musical Dreaming Zenzile that Somi also wrote and starred in as a tribute to the great South African singer and activist. Her highly anticipated forthcoming album, What Does It Take to Bloom?, will be released in August 2026. Somi is a recipient of two NAACP Image Awards and a Doris Duke Artist Award. Recently, she made her Broadway debut in the titular role of the TONY Award-winning play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

8 - 10pm · Weekly trivia night — gather your team and come test your knowledge!

7pm sign-ups · Weekly pinball competition for players of all skill levels.

Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.

A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.

Motion Pacific's Melissa Contemp. Jazz class series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, CA, running weekly through November.

7 - 9pm · Weekly bluegrass jam with local musicians.

“Well at least nobody could ever accuse us of releasing too much music!” quips guitarist Greg Carmichael on the release of their latest EP The Empire of Lights, “but I think our fans know by now that we’re a little obsessive about only releasing music when we have something ready that we really love.” The four tracks on their latest release visit familiar themes for longtime fans, from the western shuffle of “8,000 Miles” to the reggae flavours of “Alisio”, the upbeat joy of “Back to Back” to the laid back groove of “Other People”. “We hope there’s something here for everyone,” says Miles Gilderdale, “we’re very lucky that over the years we’ve found fans that just get what we’re doing, so we can wear our influences on our sleeves and not have to try and fit into any one style.” With over thirty five years of recording and touring, the band’s longevity may be due in part to that spirit of never trying to fit in, but to just make music that they love, “I feel really grateful that we’ve been on such a long journey with our fans and they’re still there with us.” Carmichael says, “We talk after shows and it’s always such an honor to hear the stories of how our music has been the soundtrack to so many people’s lives”

Bonnie Raitt performs live with special guest Jon Cleary at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Blues, rock, and R&B from the legendary guitarist.

with Artikal Sound System & Pacific Roots

7 - 10pm · Live improvisational modular synth performance by M31 Transport.

Every first and third Fridays at Cat Alley Street, our beat conductors take you on a high-style ride showcasing underground street sounds- Brought to you by Subterrestrials Records. Doors and Bar open at 6pm, Music at 9pm. No Cover, 21+

7:00pm - 9:00 pm · Malakai Lawton is a Santa Cruz singer-songwriter, UC Santa Cruz music student, and also stars in a number of local bands. Known for his powerful vocals and fresh take on classic songs, Malakai also invites talented musical friends to join him on stage throughout the evening, making every performance unique. Expect great music, surprise collaborations, and an unforgettable night at The Cruz Room.

Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.

Join the MAH for a community art market as a part of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History's Evergreen Artist in Residency Program! Enjoy arts, crafts, exhibitions, vendors, live music, food trucks, and more!

7 - 9pm · We’re a band from Santa Cruz. We don’t care about computers. We care about loud guitars, beach parties, and making music with our friends.

Indexical is pleased to present an evening of music from the Nathan Clevenger Group and composer/improvisor Marc Perez. The Nathan Clevenger Group will be performing new arrangements of pieces from 'Astrolabe' (2025), a suite for large ensemble, as well the debut of a newly composed piece from a developing 'Astrolabe Apocrypha.' Marc Perez performs "Present/Out Of," a new multimedia work exploring the boundaries and relationship between sound, text & community. This piece aims to bring forth the question "how much of yourself can you give in order to be present and active, listening within a space?" About the Artists Nathan Clevenger is an Oakland-born composer and multi-instrumentalist, working on the margins of modern composition, jazz, and free improvisation. Since 2003, Clevenger's primary ensemble has been the Nathan Clevenger Group, which has ranged from 5 to 12 players and released four albums, most recently Astrolabe (2025). For Astrolabe, Clevenger expands his long-running Group to a 12-piece pocket chamber orchestra, featuring a five-member wind ensemble, cello, and a complement of three mallet percussionists augmenting the piano-bass-drums rhythm section. The seven-movement suite weaves together sounds and influences from 20th century concert music, jazz, film scores, collective and free improvisation, and percussion ensemble music, filtered through Clevenger's singular compositional aesthetic. Beth Schenck: alto & soprano saxophones Cory Wright: Bb & bass clarinets, alto flute Ian Carey: trumpet Lisa Mezzacappa: bass Jon Arkin: drums, percussion Jason Levis: percussion Nathan Clevenger: keyboards, percussion Marc Perez is a composer, performer, improviser, artist, author, curator and organization leader whose work is concerned with freedom of agency, access, trans-disciplinary arts & improvisation. As a performer, they have been featured at various festivals such as High Desert Soundings, Seoul International Computer Music Festival & Angel City Jazz Fest

The Olive Tree is a poetry mic and public gathering space hosted by local poet Gabriel Kittle-Cervine. This monthly event seeks to honor the deeply rooted tradition of spoken word poetry in Santa Cruz, while uplifting the emerging voices of today. Each monthly event includes a free writing workshop, poetry open mic, and a featured reader at the end, highlighting new publications from local writers, as well as the works of touring poets. @ The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, every 3rd Sunday afternoon! 2:30 - Free Workshop; 3:30 - Sign Ups, 4:00 - Open Mic, 5:00ish - Featured Poet Informed by previous public offerings like The Word Church, Kinetic Poetics Project, Poetry Santa Cruz, among others, this space is intended to create a new opportunity for local poets of all ages and cultural backgrounds to express themselves honestly and emphatically on a public stage. This is a room for honesty, accountability, and radical co-existence; through the practice of telling our truth, and being able to hold the truth of others, we seek to build our sense of community. All vinyl house music. 10$ suggested entry donation. 4 minutes per poet. Follow @olivetreepoetrymic on Instagram to learn more, and we hope to see you there!

Santa Cruz, get ready. BLVK H3RO LIVE with THE 3PEAT BAND * SELECTA 7 Grab your tickets here!! One of Jamaica’s most exciting new voices hits Santa Cruz for a night of reggae, dancehall, rhythm, and pure live energy. Big tunes. Full band. Heavy vibes. BLVK H3RO brings a fresh generation of Jamaican sound to the stage, backed by The 3PEAT Band with Selecta 7 keeping the night moving. Don’t miss this one. BLVK H3RO LIVE & THE 3PEAT BAND + SELECTA 7 Santa Cruz, California Come early. Stay late. Feel everything.

6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist, bassist, and bandleader whose collaborations include work with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Kenny Barron, to name a few. Williams has recorded soundtracks for movies including; David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and Spike Lee’s Clockers. Williams won a GRAMMY in 1979, and received five stars from DownBeat Magazine for his album, Crystal Reflections. In 2004, Williams celebrated the release of Griot Liberte featuring Stefon Harris, George Colligan, and Lenny White. Kevin Convey, of the Boston Herald, wrote, “Just when you thought nobody made the kind of jazz album that depends more on class, beauty, chops and communication than on concepts and star value, along comes bassist Buster Williams’ Griot Liberte. It’s enough to restore your faith in the art form.” In 2006, Williams performed with the Mary Lou Williams Collective on the critically acclaimed album The Zodiac Suite. In 2007, Williams recorded a trio date with the late John Hicks. Released as On the Wings of an Eagle, the album would be Hicks’ last recording. The Buster Williams Trio will feature Williams on bass, George Colligan on piano, and Domo Branch on drums. Buster Williams Website (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)

8 - 10pm · Weekly trivia night — gather your team and come test your knowledge!

Zwergenmusik - German Parent Toddler Class Session 3 October 20 to Nov 10, 2025 Montags 4:30-5:15 Music, singing, movement, instrument exploration, and craft activities for kids in German with Tatjana on Mondays. $100 per session. 50% off for siblings 9 months and older. Sliding scale available. For questions or to join contact Tatjana [email protected]

A recurring karaoke night held on the first and third Tuesdays at The 418 Project. Grab the mic and sing your favorite songs in a casual, welcoming setting.

Sober Karaoke is a fun, welcoming, and alcohol-free night where everyone is invited to take the stage and share their favorite songs. Whether you're a seasoned performer or singing in public for the first time, this is a supportive space to celebrate music, creativity, and community. Bring your favorite song, cheer on fellow performers, and enjoy an evening of connection without the pressure of a bar scene. All ages and experience levels are welcome—come solo, bring friends, or make new ones along the way. Because great music, great people, and great memories don't need alcohol. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 7:00–10:00 PM All Ages • Free to Participate The 418 Project • 155 River St. S., Santa Cruz Sing your heart out. Celebrate community. Be yourself.

7pm sign-ups · Weekly pinball competition for players of all skill levels.

Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.

A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.

Motion Pacific's Melissa Contemp. Jazz class series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, CA, running weekly through November.

7 - 9pm · Weekly bluegrass jam with local musicians.

A sign-up based Open Mic night for anyone involved in making electronic music, whatever the style, genre or format - anything from ambient and drone through synth pop, techno to industrial, noise and beyond! The intent is to showcase live performances of music that is PRIMARILY ELECTRONIC IN NATURE - e.g. acts using hardware or software synthesizers, electronic instruments, laptops, groove boxes, drum machines, sequencers and so forth. Interested in performing? Sign up at

The Joel Frahm Trio – featuring saxophonist Joel Frahm, bassist Dan Loomis, and drummer Ernesto Cervini – has quickly become one of today’s most exciting chord-less ensembles. Their acclaimed debut The Bright Side (2021) and follow-up Lumination (2024), both on Anzic Records, showcase original compositions full of groove, lyricism, and fearless interplay. Frahm’s warm, powerful sound and emotional directness find perfect balance with Loomis’ inventive bass lines and Cervini’s dynamic drumming. Together, they bring humour, blues spirit, and joy to the stage; captivating audiences across North America and Europe with music that is adventurous, deeply human, and unmistakably their own. Joel Frahm Website (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)

7:00 PM · Allen Riley performs his repertoire of covers of songs by The Smashing Pumpkins. This will be an energetic and atmospheric solo acoustic set with a mix of well-known classics and deep cuts from Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Adore, Machina, and more.

7 - 9pm · Local band featuring funk and rock with a strong dose of ’60s music, including The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, CCR, and more.

Indexical presents an evening concert with Amy Reed and Matt Wellins. Amy Reed performs Bibwika, a song cycle for heavy guitar. Matt Wellins opens with a set for live electronics. ALSO: Don't miss Wellins' hands-on junk electronics workshop on Sat., Oct. 24, 2026! About the Artists Amy Reed is a guitarist, improviser, painter and composer. They came up through the Bay Area and Central Valley hardcore, noise, freakfolk and creative music scenes. They carry the experience of music as a force of good (Oliver Lake). Their new release Bibwaka (sing) is a live studio session of solo song cycles layered in heavy guitar feedback. They have a trio with Biggi Vinkeloe (flute, Saxophone) and Peeter Uusklya (Percussion) with a 2023 release Cedar Smoke. New Paintings and Scores are published by Susie Ibarra's Label, Habitat Sound (2026, Berlin). They recently worked on field in Sikkim, India with Susie Ibarra's Himalayan sound team. Performed with Rhythm and Nature Orchestra in Ibarra's Four Meditations on impermanence premiering at PS21 Open Air Pavilion Chatham, NY. They lead MA Ensemble, performing original compositions and also Pauline Oliveros' Arctic Air and Six for New Time with IONE Live performance, audio and visual scores have been presented at CRISAP's Wild Energies: Live Materials; Unearthed: A Festival of listening and environment. Arab.AMP, NowNet Arts International Conference, The Center For Deep Listening Premier Festival RPI Troy, NY, IONE's Dream Festivals. Women and Roots Fellowship; GAC - Göteborg, West Sweden, and Words of the People language rematriation retreat, Tulsa, OK. Their writings and paintings are published in Adult Skateboarding Zine session 1-19 edited by Josh Kline. Matt Wellins, found most frequently at transfer stations, dollar stores, and internet forums for bootlegged films, otherwise resides in New Haven, CT. His work is broadly occupied with the ways that material objects resist control, the snafus of live performance, and how difficult it

Zen Meditation. Open to all. Free of charge.

Join us for the Día de los Muertos community celebration of traditional music, dance, and art at the MAH. This fall, the MAH invites you to our annual Día de los Muertos Celebration. On this beloved Oaxacan cultural holiday, the day will be filled with Musical and Dance Performances by Senderos. Throughout the day, we will have hands-on activities, live music, and the powerful presence of community. Explore the MAH to view beautifully crafted altars known as altares, or ofrendas, created by community organizations. Schedule for the Day 12-3 pm - Free Drop-in Art and Cultural Activities 1-3 pm - Musical and Dance Performances Video Storytelling: Honrando Mis Ancestros y Comunidad Learn about Día de los Muertos from our community partners and leaders of Senderos. Hear the story of Día de los Muertos in our community and the importance of honoring this beautiful celebration, together. Watch the video here! Would you like to volunteer at this event? Volunteer hours: 10-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm Join us as we welcome and greet people attending Día de los Muertos at the MAH. During the event, you'll be helping set up, walking around the facility to check in with guests, providing any assistance if needed, and helping break down. No experience is necessary. Training is provided. Contact [email protected]

Get ready to vibe with classic Laurel Canyon hits from the golden era of '67 to '75 live!

7 - 9pm · The New Shockwaves formed in 2015 out of Stretch's 1985 band The Shockwaves. Now it's Mitch on guitar, Max on bass, and Stretch on drums. The sound is instrumental psychedelic surf rock.

Musical Soulmates Performers Collaborative: Songs of tenacity, solidarity and liberation underscoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month

6 - 10pm · Carla Re hosts an amazing Karaoke all over the Bay Area. This is her first time here at The Cruz Room. Come join the fun!

6 - 8pm · Hosted Board Game Night — open & hosted games, library of 30+ games, raffle, merch, and a Learn to Play demo at 6:30pm. Taught on the spot.

Fonville x Fribush is the brand new musical collaboration from acclaimed drummer Corey Fonville (Butcher Brown) and in-demand organist Sam Fribush. Like a hip-hop link up from the 90s, the pair’s collective ear, musical talents, and friendship pushes the limits of the R&B organ trio sound into a youthful, tasty style of ‘blue collar jazz.’ Fonville x Fribush features a rotating cast of guitarists in the studio, including Charlie Hunter, Alan Good Parker and Morgan Burrs. Songs like “I Couldn’t Love You More” and “Blue Chips” immerse audiences in Atlantic Coast soundscapes of their hometown roots in North Carolina and Virginia. In 2026, they released their debut Fonville x Fribush EP, R&B Organ Trio, featuring Charlie Hunter.

8 - 10pm · Weekly trivia night — gather your team and come test your knowledge!

Born in Oakland, California in 1950, Susan Muscarella began playing the piano when she was eight years old. Predisposed to improvising, she was encouraged by her first teacher to play the music she loved – jazz. Muscarella made the decision to become a professional musician while still in high school. In 1975, she was a composition major at UC Berkeley when UC Jazz Ensembles invited her to join its program’s faculty. The extracurricular program’s students inspired Muscarella to expand the curriculum into a bona fide program of study. She was promoted to Director in 1984, and, for the next five years, grew the program’s enrollment, expanded its curriculum and produced the largest annual collegiate jazz festival in the country – the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. The Piano Trios of Bud Powell, Bill Evans & Keith Jarrett will explore the artistry and unique qualities of some of jazz’s most beloved piano trios. Can’t make it in-person? You can stream it! Click here to register.

7pm sign-ups · Weekly pinball competition for players of all skill levels.

Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is a class for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their caretakers. The class is based on the innovative and internationally renowned Dance for PD® program designed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. Trained Dance for Parkinson’s teachers use prompts and multiple dance styles to inspire movement, creative expression, and community. Dancers may sit in a chair, use a barre, or stand. Dance for Parkinson’s at Motion Pacific is open and free to the public. Classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s, no matter how advanced. Movement modifications will be made available and there is no dance experience required. Dance for Parkinson’s is offered every Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:15pm, with the exception of the first Wednesday of the month, during which class is not held. Classes are offered in-person, in the Lobby at The 418 Project.

A weekly beginning hip hop house dance class. Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and combinations in a structured, studio setting.

Motion Pacific's Melissa Contemp. Jazz class series at The 418 Project in Santa Cruz, CA, running weekly through November.

7 - 9pm · Weekly bluegrass jam with local musicians.

Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band

BITE ME! No Cover • Last Thursday of Every Month Cat Alley Street (upstairs above The Catalyst) – Santa Cruz https://catalleystreet.com A high-energy Goth / Industrial / Deathrock / EBM / Techno night in a swanky new vampire venue. THE DANCE CHAMBER Be among the first to experience our brand-new, state-of-the-art sound system. Our DJs will make you shake your fine goth ass from 6 PM onward. THE BAR Exclusive Bite Me cocktails, including the Banshee and London After Midnight. THE LOUNGE A cozy, quieter space across from the bar featuring hand-picked furnishings curated by the Baron's cat of Cat Alley Street himself. Plus the Macabre Makers Faire: • Jewelry and clothing makers • Tintype photography • Goth makeovers • Other dark delights BEST DRESSED Select free drink tickets awarded to our most impeccably dressed guest vampires. COME EARLY DJs start at 6 PM, and our new kitchen will be serving pizza. Vampires may not be assumed to eat human pizza, but trust the cat, it’s totally worth it! We’ve created a beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming vampire lounge and can’t wait to share it with the greater Goth community and kind-hearted misfits of all sorts. Fly upstairs. Last Thursday of each month. Bite Me!

7 - 10pm · Live improvisational modular synth performance by M31 Transport.