Joe Payne

Never be afraid to try a new thing,” a wise man once said. Certainly the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society has its share of wisdom in presenting its first-ever “Pops” concert, as well as the inaugural “Pops in the Vineyard” fundraiser event on July 1. “Pops” usually refers to orchestral music outside the classical tradition, usually […]

With the Live Oak Music Festival passing by, it might seem that people in Santa Barbara County looking to enjoy an outdoor music festival will have to take a road trip, but the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival has proved that notion wrong. The Flower Festival is a five-day event that, if it weren’t for the […]

Anyone who’s been to KCBX Public Radio’s three-day Live Oak Music Festival can attest to the quality of music, passion, and fun to be had. Happening under the peaceful oaks of Live Oak Camp, right next to Cachuma Lake off of Highway 154, the festival is a relaxing weekend of camping, cooking, jamming, dancing, and […]

Of all the four-legged beasts that need taming, there are none quite as formidable as the piano. Boasting 220 strings under 200 pounds of pressure—each of which responds to environmental pressures such as heat and humidity—the piano is a living, breathing instrument. When the slightest thing goes wrong with one of these complex creatures, you […]

When Ruth Hoover first moved to the Santa Ynez Valley from Los Angeles, she was told that the people in the area weren’t big into jazz—they liked country and rock‘n’roll. Luckily for jazz lovers on the Central Coast, Hoover didn’t believe them, and kept a lookout for the perfect venue for a regular jazz concert […]

Jazz music lends itself to an almost infinite combination of instruments and uses of style. From a solo jazz guitar to a piano, bass, and drum trio, the elasticity of the genre can lead anywhere. The Allan Hancock College Jazz Band may not have the numbers the Glenn Miller Orchestra did, but it boasts enough […]

Thanks to the concerted efforts of several organizations and companies, most of which are local, Santa Maria residents will be enjoying a free community concert by touring bluegrass band Special Consensus. The group, led by inveterate banjo player and performer Greg Cahill, has been touring for more than 37 years, and brings its seasoned skill […]

The thought of a military band usually evokes images of rows of shimmering brass and sounds of lively marches a la John Philip Sousa. Rarely does one envision an electric light show, a full rock drum kit, and screaming guitar solos. But the United States Air Force Academy Band’s popular music ensemble Blue Steel aims […]

No great celebration is complete until music is added to the mix. The Santa Maria Strawberry Festival, now in its 25th year, is celebrating the city’s beloved berry with carnival rides, entertainment, confectionary arts, demonstrations, and, of course, live music at the Santa Maria Fairpark in the middle of town.   The Strawberry Festival has […]

The life of a traveling musician is full of twists, turns, and tumbles. It’s not a profession where the fittest survive; rather, that distinction goes to people most committed to the art. One local concert series gives a home on the road to traveling and local musicians who specialize in the storytelling and wisdom-sharing side […]

Singer-songwriter Ian Franklin splits his time between a few professions and locations. By day, he’s a board-certified musical therapist; by night, he performs at venues with his band Infinite Frequency. During most of the year, he stays in the Bay Area to be near his practice, but at least twice a year he makes his […]