Music

While a potential budget sequester may have seemed far off in August 2011, when President Barack Obama signed the Budget Control Act into law, the across-the-board federal cuts are already upon us. Unfortunately for the Central Coast, that means a series of free community concerts has been cancelled. The United States Air Force Band of […]

Singer songwriter Teresa Gasca-Burk calls the first time she ever attended a live concert a pivotal moment of her youth. “One of the first concerts that I saw was a classical guitar player, and I think it was a life-changing event for me,” she said. “It was really moving, a wonderful thing to see at […]

The Information Age has been very good to us, allowing the unbridled pursuit and expansion of art and culture in any direction, with all of human history to draw upon as we jump into the future. One sub-cultural meme in particular has been the subject of much creativity and attention due to its creative outlook […]

Music acts have a difficult road to travel. Actually, when you’re a band like Air Supply—touring for about 130 to 150 shows a year—it’s more like scores of roads to travel. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges popular musicians face is striking a balance between playing the hits that first generated adoring audiences and continuing […]

There are people who view classical music as a stiff and rigid art form bound by rules. But to many others, the genre is home to more contemporary musical expression and relaxed attitudes. The Lompoc Concert Association, which has been providing quality musical performances to the Lompoc Valley for an impressive 65 years, is an […]

Music is a spontaneous endeavor. No two performances will ever be identical. Tales from the Tavern, a local concert series that calls Santa Ynez’s Maverick Saloon home, revels in the chaos and creation of a live performance by roping supremely talented songwriters to share their stories and art. “There’s a special kind of magic that […]

Chamber music depends on the space in which it is performed. A good room with the right acoustics can make a performance magical. Just such a space was the inspiration for the “Schoolhouse Music Evenings,” a concert series founded by Rose Knoles in 1981 when she was a teacher at Dunn School in Los Olivos. […]

What do cabaret and bluegrass music have in common? Not much! But the unlikely pairing of genres makes up the show “Bluegrass All-Stars and American Cabaret” to be performed for a fundraiser for Temple Beth El in Santa Maria. The show, a continuation of “From Broadway to Bluegrass,” which has been enjoyed at the temple […]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of classical music’s most famous composers, can serve as an example of the fact that age is no indication of degree of skill. The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society has organized its second annual “Youth Showcase” concert for Jan. 18, featuring performances by some of Santa Maria’s most talented musical youth. “When […]

History is made in a moment in time. Music can define that moment, ultimately putting that history in our grasp again in the present—if only for a while. The San Luis Obispo Symphony is making some history—and celebrating it—by presenting its first “California Missions Tour” in three stunning historical locations. Mission San Luis Obispo, Mission […]

The New Year is always a special celebration where, despite the conflicts of the past, we celebrate renewal and look to the future with a positive energy. A perfect complement to the merrymaking has to be music—music that makes you smile, dance, and welcome the midnight hour. While the New Year will be celebrated all […]

As soon as Thanksgiving passes, familiar melodies seem to weave their way into our lives via radios, television, and, of course, live music. The holiday season has inspired many a song and countless albums that capture the essence of what the time of year means to all of us. The Santa Maria Town Center has […]