Film
Film Review | In Search of a Song
‘Power Ballad,’ from John (‘Once’) Carney, is a sturdy, agreeably sentimental music dreamer saga showcasing new talents from Paul Rudd.
Music
Review | Salonen Scores Big with Ojai @ 80
Ojai Music Festival, now 80, brings back veteran — and ever-young — master composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director, to winning ends.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Academy Sounds Ahoy
Music Academy of the West kicks up its serious musical heels, launches summer festival, Live Oak Festival does up Father’s Day Weekend.
Visual Arts
Curatorial Democracy in Action at MCASB
At the Annual “Arte de Pueblo” exhibition at MCASB, all are welcome, resulting in a democratic potpourri of art from these parts.
Music
A Serious Summer Musical Cavalcade
The Music Academy of the West’s 79th annual festival feast begins, enriching the otherwise fallow summer months.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Belonging Revisited, à la Marsalis
Marsalis Brood in Town, Continuing Santa Barbara has, thankfully, been pretty welcoming to live performances of the Marsalis brothers for
Another Rich Cultural Season from A&L, Unveiled
Season reveal event unveils another strong program in store for UCSB Arts & Lectures.
Music
Jazz Colossus for the Ages
Master tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who performed in Santa Barbara, joins the ranks of bygone legends, but his mark is indelible.
Film
Film Review | Coupled-Up Crime, Paying and Otherwise
‘Carolina Caroline’ embraces the “lovers in criminal cahoots” genre, but adds unexpected emotional spin to the recipe.
Film
Horror with a Cause
The New Zealand film 'Mārama' addresses ancestral trauma among Māori characters, using the horror genre effectively.
Music
Acoustic Guitar Pageantry, the Ongoing Saga at 10
SBAcoustic celebrates its 10th anniversary, kicking off a new season with bluegrass master John Jorgensen.
Visual Arts
Selective Slice of Locavore Artistic Life
'Altered Realities', this year’s model of Westmont’s annual tri-county exhibit, teems with intrigue, diversity.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Grand News, Ojai Looms, Neo-Moody Bluesman
Grand on State opens its portals, officially, and Ojai Music Festival amps up its magnetic appeal this weekend.
Music
Review | Zito Marks the Blues Spot
Veteran blues star Mike Zito packs a potent punch in his local debut, hosted by the Santa Barbara Blues Society.
Film
Film Review | To Tune or Not to Tune
Daniel Roher’s ‘Tuner’ is a unique kind of thriller, casting an eye on the rarified world of the piano tuner, and the expressive power of sound.
Visual Arts
Seismic Attitude Shifts
This year’s UCSB MFA Exhibition goes by the title 'Fault Lines' and boasts conceptual gumption, as usual.
Visual Arts
Bunnies, Butterflies, and Birds, for Pop Art’s Sake
N.Y.C. Artist Hunt Slonem takes over a wall at Seimandi & Leprieur with his characteristic post–pop art imagery of bunnies and birds, and butterflies to boot.
Music
Ojai Music Festival: 80 Is the New… 80
World-renowned, contemporary-leaning Ojai Music Festival celebrates 80 years, with the master Esa-Pekka Salonen as the focus and music director.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Shoegazing and Other Musings Around the County
On our musical radar: Sun Kil Moon, Jalama Ranch, Willie Nile, Ojai Festival calling.
Film
One Space Battle After Another
Action trumps story in 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu', but Baby Yoda oozes charm.
Music
Review | Jim Messina: Country-Pop-Latin-Yacht-Rock Vet, Coming “Home”
Longtime Santa Barbaran and now outta Nashville, Messina pays a nostalgic, career-spinning return visit to the Lobero Theatre.
Film
Heartbreak Hotel
The haunted hotel genre is keenly tapped and rebooted in the Adam Scott-starring ‘Hokum’.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Blues We Can Use
Santa Barbara Blues Society brings the good stuff, on a Thursday; Lotusland becomes pianoland for a spring afternoon.
Music
Scott Kellaway Express, on State
The Grand on State, the buzzed-about new jazz venue, hosts jazz notables Tom Scott and Roger Kellaway, on Saturday, May 23.
Music
Music About Land, Environment, and Being in a Time and Place
Nathan Sherwood Liang caps off residency at Jalama Canyon Ranch with public performance, on May 23.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Seasons’ Closing Notes, Symphony and Chamber-sized
Santa Barbara Symphony and Camerata Pacifica close out seasons; Mads Tolling, Lotusland sounds, and Flight of the Conchords tickle ears.
Music
Bright Size Life in Continuing Progress
Kindly jazz guitar hero Pat Metheny returns to the Lobero Theatre, this time with his latest project, Side-Eyed III+.
Music
In the P!nk, Under the Solvang Night Sky
Global pop star and S.Y.V. resident P!nk lends her time and musical graces to SRO fundraiser in the al fresco Solvang Theaterfest.
Music
Equal Timing Americana
Kronos Quartet projects revised patriotism and further musical adventurism with adventurous "Three Bones" project, in West Coast premiere at Campbell Hall.
Music
Review | James Taylor: Sunny Day Man, Still on Fire
Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor pays another rewarding visit to the Bowl, with his killer band and songbook in tow.
Visual Arts
Native Artistic Instincts
Native American artist Mitchell Robles shows indigenous-themed art amid the vines of Roblar Winery, in the New Indah Gallery.
Music
Opera Review | Preacher Feature
Opera Santa Barbara’s impressive production of the operatic adaptation of "Elmer Gantry" invites true believers
Visual Arts
Eye on the Eye of Jeff Bridges
Iconic actor and artist of many dimensions Jeff Bridges takes his photography seriously, appears with an exhibition at the Tamsen Gallery.
Visual Arts
Neo-Expressionist Painter Hunt Slonem Makes a Special Appearance in Santa Barbara
Seimandi & Leprieur Gallery hosts the renowned artist for a rare appearance on May 15, with work on view through June 7.
ON the Beat
ON the Beat | Danish Delights, Continued
Jazz violinist Mads Tolling returns to his Danish roots in Solvang twice; Quire of Voyces sings to the tune of Vespers.
Music
Radio Daze
Zeb Norris, veteran KTYD voice dating back 50 years, returns to town and airwaves as “Morning Mojo” man.
Film
St. Michael’s World Conquest
"Michael" is a selective biopic that presents former “local artist” Michael Jackson as a princely, untarnished hero, with his father as the über-villain.
Music
Gospel According to the Versatile Soulstress Lizz Wright
Masterful singer Lizz Wright works her way around jazz, gospel, soul, and blues, and stops in at the Lobero Theatre on May 14.
Visual Arts
Dreamtime Visions, Past and Beyond
Santa Barbara Museum of Art exhibition culls art of diverse types and media mostly from permanent collection, around a theme of dreams.
Music
American Symphonic Moves
Santa Barbara Symphony focused on music from America in its latest concert program at The Granada Theatre.