Joe Payne

A virtuoso is a rare person to come by. A virtuoso is someone who demonstrates a supreme mastery of the fine art of music, usually centered on one instrument. Santa Maria is lucky enough to be receiving not one, but three piano virtuosi in concert. The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s upcoming show “Piano for Six […]

If you are looking for a fine example of community outreach, a chance to relax, and some down-to-earth local music for free, then you won’t want to miss a single day of the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department’s annual Concerts in the Park Series. The concert series runs every Sunday from now through August […]

The Santa Barbara County Fair offers a plethora of fun, family-oriented activities, including carnival rides, various food vendors, agricultural competitions, a mini rodeo, a destruction derby, and stage shows. But a huge part of the county fair has always been the music, and this year is no different. Four big-name acts highlight the July 13 […]

Events can always be supplemented by the magic of music. Weddings, parties, corporate meetings, fashion shows, bars, and night clubs are all perfect happenings or venues for a disc jockey, more commonly known as a DJ. Pete Sanger is a local who’s been spinning discs for more than 20 years in Santa Barbara and Ventura […]

I’ve been a close friend of and musical collaborator with local singer/songwriter, poet, and artist Champion McConnell since our days at high school (we both graduated in 2007). Champion has a distinct voice and songwriting style that together earn him comparisons to Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Woody Guthrie, and Buddy Holly. It came as a […]

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges has always been a respectable actor—for many reasons. He comes from good stock, that’s for sure. His father, Lloyd Bridges, was an iconic actor who worked in the biz for more than 60 years. Jeff followed in his dad’s footsteps in many ways, but what sets him apart is his music […]

On 1977, bourgeoning musician and musical educator Tim Zimmerman was having trouble motivating his class of Detroit area middle school students in their musical studies. He asked a church if they would mind hosting a performance of young brass musicians, and the church agreed. The King’s Brass was born. Now, 34 years later, Tim Zimmerman […]

Singer/songwriter Amy Obenski has enjoyed recognition and success from her personal style of folk-jazz fusion with a contemporary twist. Though Obenski is currently working on her fourth album, she’s made the time to stop by to perform an intimate show at Lompoc’s own D’Vine Wine Bar on June 3. Obenski is no stranger to Lompoc. […]

The Vineyard Valley Theater Company (VVTC) is set to present its latest fundraiser production at the intimate outdoor Solvang Festival Theatre. The show will feature the culturally diverse musical stylings of Ozomatli to benefit the Santa Ynez People Helping People (SYVPHP) youth program “Youth Down 2 Business” on May 27 at 8 p.m. The company […]