A touring tribute act is heading to the Santa Ynez Valley for an upcoming concert at the Chumash Casino Resort. On Friday, Jan. 26, Elton & The Early Years Band—musician Kenny Metcalf’s tribute to Elton John—will perform in the casino’s Samala Showroom at 8 p.m.
Over the years, Metcalf has carefully curated his act to “bring the full essence of Elton John’s spectacular shows to every single performance,” according to press materials, including emphasis on authentic costumes and other concert aspects to pay homage to Elton John’s performances.
Metcalf became an instant fan of Elton John’s after hearing his voice for the first time during the 1970s. A former drummer, Metcalf was inspired by Elton John to learn piano.
In the 1980s, Metcalf toured with the rock group Stryper as the band’s stage keyboardist. After departing from the band, Metcalf opened his own studio where he recorded with several artists and gained experience as a studio engineer.
Attendees of Metcalf’s upcoming show at the Chumash Casino Resort can look forward to hearing covers of “Benny and the Jets,” “Rocket Man,” “Candle in the Wind,” and more of Elton John’s hits. Tickets to the concert are $20 each. Visit chumashcasino.com or call (805) 686-0855 for more info.
The Chumash Casino Resort is located at 3400 Highway 246, Santa Ynez.
This article appears in Jan 18-28, 2024.