Every year, The Santa Barbara Independent puts its ear to the ground to hear the newest and best acts of Santa Barbara's music scene, and boy did we like what we heard this year. From folk to flute, this issue’s roundup features a mix of strong soloists and exciting group acts, and some of the artists have already garnered worldwide acclaim. Whether in their entrepreneurial spirit, their precocious talent, or their sheer ability to rock, what these acts all have in common is an uncanny eye- and ear-catching quality, all with the inviting spotlight shine that comes with being up-and-coming and on the rise. So while fame, fortune, and other factors may draw these acts to bigger cities in only a matter of time, for now we are proud to showcase these homegrown artists in their current state as flag-bearers of new Santa Barbara County sounds.
• Azeem Ward and His Magic Flute: The UCSB flautist and Internet meme tours the U.K.