Entertainment Music 

The Santa Cruz Mountains Welcome Peter Rowan

Bluegrass Music Hall of Famer Plays the Brookdale Lodge By Julie Horner Bill Monroe once observed that bluegrass music has its roots in Celtic music; that lilt is in the heart of the songs and in the sounds of the fiddle, the mandolin, and the guitar. He called the commonality between the two genres “the ancient tones.” Over St. Patrick’s… Read More
Columns Music 

The New Horizons Band Celebrates the Release of ‘Kaleidoscope’

By Julie Horner The New Horizons forthcoming album Kaleidoscope is what band founder, drummer and bass player Jimmy Palafox calls “a mashup of all my inspirations.” Featuring 12 tracks, their first full length album came out on January 12, 2024 and features original compositions by band members past and present. The official release party is March 30, 2024 at the… Read More
John Burton remembranch Columns Music Obituaries Valley People 

Peace Out: Remembering John Burton

“Life is a flicker. Burn bright as you can, while you can. Shine Light. Fly free my Brother, my friend, my bandmate, drummer and percussionist extraordinaire John Burton” – Ed Levy By Julie Horner Ben Lomond drummer John Burton was remembered with two public celebrations of life this winter, one at Joe’s Bar, the other at the Brookdale Lodge. According… Read More
Events Music 

China Cats Winter Dance Party 

Mountain Music Productions and the Santa Cruz County Veterans Hall present the China Cats Winter Dance Party at the Vets Hall in downtown Santa Cruz on Saturday, January 27 at 7:00 pm. Tix $20 Advance: https://bit.ly/ChinaCatsWinterDance The Bay Area’s longest-running tribute to the Grateful Dead, the China Cats have been burning up stages with the same band members since 2012.… Read More
Tempest Band Celtic Columns Music 

Brash, Bawdy, and Brilliant: Tempest Celebrates 35 Years of Rock-Driven World Music

By Julie Horner The year 2023 has been a blur. Tempest, the legendary folk rock band founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 80s by singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and Oslo, Norway native Lief Sorbye and Cuban born drummer Adolfo Lazo, is celebrating their 35th anniversary with a national tour. “We’ve done a lot,” Lief said. “It’s been a… Read More
Love Creek Band San Lorenzo Valley Columns Music 

Going With the Flow: Local Band Love Creek Releases First Album

By Julie Horner “We have some exciting news!!” Malakai Lawton messaged. “We are so happy to announce that we are going to be releasing a live album in the next few weeks!” Recorded on location at the Farmer and the Flea festival at Skypark in Scotts Valley this summer, Love Creek’s EP of originals and covers called “Redwood Grove,” recorded… Read More
Columns Music 

Vito and Friends: Rocking the Blues

By Julie Horner The Blues and Rock n’ Roll are two sides of the same coin, someone once said. Like feeling good, and being excited, and both very much the same in value. Rockin’ blues outfit Vito and Friends carries its weight in musical gold, deeply steeped in the Mississippi Delta sound with all the blue notes that grab your… Read More
Music 

Lani Poulsen and ‘the Essential’ Santa Cruz Sound

Lani Poulsen brings the essential soul to The Essentials’ Santa Cruz sound with captivating vocals and a whole lot of groove. By Julie Horner The Essentials are a high-energy dance band consisting of seasoned musicians from the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Cruz. Fluent in many different genres and styles, the 6-member group is focused on R&B, funk, soul, and… Read More