This edition of ON the Beat was originally emailed to subscribers on November 30, 2023. To receive Josef Woodard’s music newsletter in your inbox each Thursday, sign up at independent.com/newsletters.
Making a Musical List
That season is upon us, when the actual or implied presence of the Holidays hovers over the cultural calendar, and Santa Barbara is blessed to have a number of ongoing holiday/holy day traditions — including the choral goodness of the Santa Barbara Choral Society’s “Hallelujah Project” and the sumptuous reverence of the Renaissance-to-modern a cappella Quire of Voyces (in the magical St. Anthony’s Chapel venue). Traveling revelers bring their Christmas music–stocked goods to town as well this year, a list including fast-rising jazz sensation Samara Joy (see story here ), the return of Santa Barbara-bred Foo Fighter Chris Shifflet and his “Holiday Hoedown” at SOhO, and trusty troubadour Jose (“Feliz Navidad”) Feliciano at the Lobero.
In chronological order, here is a list of Holiday happenings of the musical sort over the next few weeks, leading up to Christmas.