Utilizing a flatpicking guitar style, singer-songwriter Cyrus Clarke specializes in Grateful Dead-esque improvisational jams, whether live in concert or tucked away inside a recording studio. Aside from a successful solo career touring cities throughout California and beyond, the Americana artist is also well known as a founding member of both The Cache Valley Drifters and The Acousticats. One trademark Clarke hopes his original material carries is a sense of time and place in each song, using acoustic ambience and lyrical storytelling to create a visual atmosphere.
Clarke will be performing at Vino et Amicis Wine Bar in Orcutt on Friday, Feb. 14, from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission to the concert is free. To find out more about the show, call the bar at (805) 631-0496 or visit vinoetamicis.com. The venue is located at 165 S. Broadway St., Orcutt.
Going south
Guests of the Cold Spring Tavern are gonna wanna dust off their dancing shoes for Dusty Jugz, who will perform on Friday, Feb. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. This Carpenteria-based country band is also known locally as The Rincons, when they switch things up to play a more rock ’n’ roll-centric set list. Next up on the tavern’s docket is eclectic ensemble Heirloom, which performs on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. This collective of local musicians covers hits from a variety of genres, including blues, folk, ragtime, and more. Rock group Rankin’ File follows with a show that same evening, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The tavern’s weekend lineup wraps up on Sunday, Feb. 16, with blues and rags duo Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan (from 1:15 to 4 p.m.) and funk and soul act Soul Biscuit (from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.). Admission to every show at Cold Spring is complimentary. The tavern is located at 5995 Stagecoach Road, Santa Barbara. Call (805) 967-0066 or visit coldspringtavern.com for more info.
Also in the Santa Ynez Valley, the Maverick Saloon presents ’90s tribute group Flannel 101 on Friday, Feb. 14, from 8 to 11 p.m. A cover band of a different breed, ’80s homage The Molly Ringwald Project, takes the saloon’s stage the following evening, Saturday, Feb. 15, from 8:30 to 11 p.m. The venue also hosts an afternoon concert with Santa Barbara-based solo artist Sofia Guerra on Sunday, Feb. 16, from noon to 4 p.m. To find out more about upcoming artists at the Maverick, call (805) 686-4785 or visit themavsaloon.com. The saloon is located at 3687 Sagunto St., suite D, Santa Ynez.
More Music
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society presents its annual Youth Showcase at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Orcutt on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 3 to 4 p.m. Young, local musicians ranging from ages 8 to 18 will perform classical compositions during this special recital. Admission is $10 for adults and free for those ages 18 and under. Tickets are available at the door or online in advance at my805tix.com. For more details, call the Philharmonic at (805) 925-0412 or visit smphilharmonic.org. The church is located at 4380 Orcutt Road, Orcutt.
Also in Orcutt, Keith Cox, well known for his work with local favorite Different Strings, plays a solo show at Blast 825 Brewery on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. Cox will perform a mix of classic rock covers and originals. Admission to the concert is free. To find out more about the show, call the brewery at (805) 934-3777 or visit blast825brewery.com. Blast 825 is located at 241 S. Broadway, Orcutt.
Meanwhile, a little ways north in Santa Maria, Heart to Heart is celebrating the release of its latest album, Heartbreaker, at O’Sullivan’s Pub on Friday, Feb. 14, at 9 p.m. Influences of this Pismo Beach-based ensemble include Deftones, Living with Lions, Crime in Stereo, Finch, Transit, and Brand New. Vocalist Nick Zoppo leads the quartet, composed of Jonathan Hayes and Alex Lulow on guitars and Justin Bratcher on bass. For more info on the concert, call the pub at (805) 925-0658 or visit osullivanspub.net. The bar is located at 633 E. Main St., Santa Maria.
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote this week’s Local Notes. Contact him at [email protected].
