Joe Payne

Every year a positive, party atmosphere seeps into Santa Maria by way of polished and revved classic cars coming from far and wide to be a part of Cruzin’ for Life, an annual fundraising event in support of local cancer programs. This year, the events, which usually include the car show and cruise on a […]

A capella barbershop-style singing is a genre unto itself. Bringing images of mustachioed men in straw hats and red-and-white-striped shirts, barbershop style started with such Tin Pan Alley favorites as “Hello My Ragtime Gal,” “Heart of Heart,” and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Today, some talented local men keep the tradition of barbershop harmony alive. […]

It was early on a warm mid-August day, when Larry Keast was loading my piano into the back of his powder blue El Camino, that he started to share some of the stories he has collected over his 50-plus years in the music business. I had hired Keast to move my piano, being familiar with […]

Santa Maria has several selections for regular live entertainment whether it’s a DJ or a rock band. The Historic Santa Maria Inn has changed its outlook concerning its live music as of late, moving away from the DJ nightclub scene and aiming more for classic jazz, blues, and rock ensembles. The shift comes along with […]

Very few people truly deserve the title of virtuoso—one who has mastered, and shows an almost superhuman ability with, their instrument. Even fewer people find like-minded instrumentalists with whom to share their genius ideas. The Central Coast is lucky enough to have Calmenco!, a quartet of virtuosi that celebrates the unbridled beauty of the guitar. […]

Just over a year ago, at Santa Ynez’s Maverick Saloon, movie star/singer Jeff Bridged graced the stage with his band The Abiders and brought the house down. Bridges and the group performed songs from the soundtrack of the film Crazy Heart, which gained Bridges an Oscar for his portrayal of a down-and-out country singer, and […]

Icons of every genre make their way touring across California, and a favorite stop for many of these big-name artists is Santa Ynez’s very own Chumash Casino Resort. The casino’s Samala Showroom is able to hold up to 1,400 people—but it usually sells out, sometimes weeks in advance. The casino currently has an all-star lineup […]

The public library is a cornerstone in any community, offering near limitless access to knowledge and information. The Lompoc Library Foundation—a nonprofit organization that supports libraries in Lompoc, Vandenberg Village, and Buellton—adds to that awesomeness by presenting an educational concert series. “Free Family Concerts on the Library Lawn” is a series presented by the Lompoc […]

Just a couple of doors down from Santa Maria’s new library sits the 510 Event Center, named after its address of 510 South Broadway. The location has played host to many a restaurant and bar since it was built in the 1940s, and the current owners have breathed new life into the building with a […]

During the 1930s and ’40s in America, one ensemble reigned supreme: the big band. Band directors such as Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Billy May kept America dancing through the Great Depression and World War II. Today, big band orchestras are harder to come by, but some, like Dick Clark’s Big Band Orchestra, […]

Among the many amazing amenities, services, and programs offered by the city of Santa Maria’s Parks and Recreation Department, one sticks out as being not just fun for the entire family, but as a collaborative effort with the community and local organizations. Now in its ninth year, the “Concerts in the Park” series showcases talented […]

Santa Maria’s own Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts is a buzzing hive of activity. Actors, set designers, light technicians, and costume designers are working around the clock to make the world-class live productions of PCPA Theaterfest happen. And, as most great stage productions rely on music to tie things together, so does PCPA rely […]