Santa Cruz Live Music Weekend Roundup: Halloween October 31 – November 3

Live Music Santa Cruz! The weekend roundup of concerts and festivals. Easy at-a-glance quick reference music guide!

By Julie Horner

Halloween Thursday, October 31

‘Frankenstein’ Barrel Tapping at Steel Bonnet Brewing
Part “Tiny Changes” Porter / Part “Shadowplay” Imperial Stout
Thursday, October 31 | 3:00 – 9:00
20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley

Ted Welty Solo at Jack O’Neill Lounge
Thursday, October 31 | 4:00 – 7:00
175 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

🦇 Trick-Or-Treat Street Felton
Thursday, October 31 | 4:00 – 8:00
Downtown Felton, Santa Cruz Mountains

🦇 Boulder Creek Trick-Or-Treat Street
Annual Parade of Frights & Delights
Thursday, October 31 | 5:00 – 7:00
Highway 9, Downtown Boulder Creek

🦇 Whiskey Hillbillies at Alice’s Restaurant
Costumes & Cocktails
Thursday, October 31 | 5:00 – 7:30
17288 Skyline Blvd, Woodside

🦇 Halloween Open House at Boulder Creek Recreation Center
Thursday, October 31 | 5:00 – 8:00
13333 Middleton Ave., Boulder Creek

🦇 Thriller Flash Mob & Witches Dance Ben Lomond
Annual DIY Trick-or-Treat Street Party
Thursday, October 31 | 5:00 – 9:00 | Thriller/Witch Dances 8:00
Riverside Ave, Ben Lomond

🦇 Santa Cruz Halloween Bar Crawl
Thursday, October 31 | 5:00 – 11:00
Check-In at Asti for Wristband | 5:00 – 9:00
715 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

Chas the Shotgun Suitor at Chaminade Resort & Spa
Thursday, October 31 | 5:30 – 8:30
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

🦇🍸 Henflings Soft Opening
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00
9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

Back Porch Boys Blues at Aptos Street BBQ
Thursdays | 6:00 – 8:00
8059 Aptos St, Aptos

Slow Coast Trio w/ Michael Lewis, Sam Nilsson, Dave Roda
VinoCruz
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00 – 8:00
4901 Soquel Dr., Soquel

🦇 Rio Road Halloween Show at Cork and Fork
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00 – 9:00
312-B Capitola Ave, Capitola

🦇 Hunny Pot w/ Diana Zitmanis & Jim Lewin
Spooktacular Soiree
Capitola Wine Bar and Merchants
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00 – 9:00
115 San Jose Ave, Capitola

🦇 Lumptious Halloween Costume Party w/ Rory Lynch
Shanty Shack Brewing
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00 – 9:00
138 Fern St., Santa Cruz

🦇 Afrobeats Halloween Party w/ La Familia De La Calle
Costumes + Dance Party
Abbott Square Market
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00 – 10:00
725 Front St., Santa Cruz

🦇 Downtown Santa Cruz Halloween Street Party
Annual DIY Troll & Roll on Pacific Avenue
Thursday, October 31 | 6:00 – 11:00

🦇 Halloween Trivia w/ Michael Gaither at El Vaquero Winery
Thursday, October 31 | 7:00 – 9:00
2901 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville
Reservations: (831) 607-8118

🦇 Unfinished Business at Vino By The Sea
Halloween Costume Party
Thursday, October 31 | 7:00 – 10:00
55 Municipal Wharf, Ste. B, Santa Cruz

🦇 Bow River Drunken Sailor Halloween Party
Over the Hill Gang Saloon
Thursday, October 31 | 7:00 – 10:00
3530 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

🦇 Jacks & Dogs + Highwire w/ Evie B at Joe’s Bar
Mountain Mayhem & Costume Contest
Thursday, October 31 | 7:00 – Midnight
Highwire 7:00 – 9:00 | Jacks & Dogs 9:30 – 11:30
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

🦇 Big Queer Events Halloween at the Hotel Paradox
Costume Contest | Dancing w/ DJ’s Mothership Connection
Thursday, October 31 | 7:00 – Midnight
611 Ocean Street Santa Cruz
$39+ | Tix on Eventbrite: bit.ly/HalloweenHotelParadox

🦇 Raindance Presents The Freaker’s Ball at the Brookdale Lodge
EDM Dance Party w/ Little John | Dark Burlesque + Live Painting
Thursday, October 31 | 7:00 – 2:00 am
$33 Advance | Tix: FB @raindancepresents

🦇 China Cats Halloween Ball at The Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building
Grateful Dead Costume Party & Contest | All Ages
Thursday, October 31 | 7:30 – 10:30
$25 Advance | $30 Door
Tix: mountainmusicproductions dot com

🦇 Dirty Honey + The Feel Halloween Bash
The Catalyst Club
Thursday, October 31 | 7:45
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

🦇 Billy Reese Band at The Crow’s Nest
Boos on the Bay & Costume Contest
Thursday, October 31 | 8:00
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
$6 Cover at the Door

🦇 Halloween Bash & Costume Contest at Callahan’s
Thursday, October 31 | 8:00
507 Water St., Santa Cruz

🦇 The Joint Chiefs Band at The Sand Bar
Chiller Thriller Dance Party
Thursday, October 31 | 8:00
211 Esplanade, Capitola

🦇 DJ XXIIIHRS at The Blue Lagoon
Halloween Throw-Down
Thursday, October 31 | 8:00 – Late
Free Before 9:00 pm | $5 After🔥👻🪦

Rapper Luh Tyler ‘Mr.Skii Tour’ at The Catalyst Club
Thursday, October 31 | 8:30
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

🦇 People’s Disco Halloween Bash w/ DJ Brother Dan (Terrestrial Funk)
Moe’s Alley
Thursday, October 31 | 9:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
No Cover

🦇 Halloween Haunted Arthouse: Dark Artwork, Perilous Poetry, Haunted Maze
lille aeske Arthouse
Thursday, October 31 | 9:00 – Midnight
13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek
$35 Suggested Donation
Tix: lilleaeske dot com

🦇 Spooky Rave in The Catalyst Atrium
Thursday, October 31 | 9:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

Friday, November 1

Bob Burnett at MJA Vineyards Westside Tasting Room
Friday, November 1 | 3:30 – 6:30
Ingalls St., Santa Cruz

7th Annual Watsonville Dia de Muertos Festival
Watsonville Plaza
Friday, November 1 | 4:00
350 Main St, Watsonville
Free

🦇 Ghostland Music Festival at Brookdale Lodge
Friday & Saturday, November 1 & 2 | 4:00 – 1:00 am
Two Nights, Three Stages, 40 Bands Spanning Multiple Genres
Advance Tix One Day $30 | Weekend Pass $40 | brookdalelodge dot com

Y2K24 International Live Looping Festival
Friday – Sunday | Various Times | Multiple Artists
Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater
1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz
Tickets on Eventbrite

Postman Jack & The Special Deliveries
San Gregorio General Store
Friday, November 1 | 5:00 – 7:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

John Michael Band at Kissed by an Angel Wines
Claire Valory, Daniel Lewis, Becca Kachman, Chuck Pagano, Doug Wilmerton
Friday, November 1 | 5:00 – 7:30
75 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley

Axe & Acoustic at Discretion Brewing
Friday, November 1 | 5:30 – 7:30
2703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel

Fiddle Eric at Stockwell Cellars
Friday, November 1 | 5:30 – 8:30
1100 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz

Liam Gillespie at Chaminade Resort & Spa
Friday, November 1 | 5:30 – 8:30
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

🦇 Karaoke Halloween Party at South Point Seascape
Friday, November 1 | 6:00
10 Seascape Village, Aptos

Dead Cowboys at Buena Vista Brewing Company
Friday, November 1 | 6:00 – 8:00
65 Hangar Way D, Watsonville

Lloyd Whitley Blues Trio at Mission Street BBQ
Fridays | 6:00 – 8:00
1618 Mission St., Santa Cruz

🦇 “All Saints Go Punk” Night w/ Outside The Lines
Steel Bonnet Brewing
Friday, November 1 | 6:00 – 8:00
20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley

The Ho’omana Hawaiian Band
Pono Hawaiian Grill
Friday, November 1 | 6:00 – 8:30
120 Union St., Santa Cruz

Claudio Melega at Aroma Restaurant
Fridays | 6:00 – 9:00
9600 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

Johanna Atkinson + DJ Seatlali
Fruition Brewing
Friday, November 1 | 6:00 – 9:00
918 East Lake Ave., Watsonville

Love Creek at Cork and Fork
Friday, November 1 | 6:00 – 9:00
312-B Capitola Ave, Capitola

Harry & The Hitmen at Shanty Shack Brewing
Friday, November 1 | 6:00 – 9:00
138 Fern St., Santa Cruz

The Nagging Doubts at Bites & Brews
Colonnade Stage Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Friday, November 1 | 6:30 – 7:30
400 Beach St, Santa Cruz

Fever + From One Hell + Big Shot + Grimoire + Parasite
Hardcore Night at SubRosa Community Space
Friday, November 1 | 6:30 – 10:00
703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

Bay Bop Jazz Band at Mid-County Senior Center
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 – 9:00
829 Bay Ave., Capitola | $10 at the Door
$10 at the Door

Jive Machine at Abbott Square Market
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 – 9:30
725 Front St., Santa Cruz

Jefferson’s Revival at Vino By The Sea
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 – 10:00
55 Municipal Wharf, Ste. B, Santa Cruz

Hot Rod Racing Club at The Cats Los Gatos
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 – 10:00
17533 Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos

The Joint Chiefs Band at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 – 10:00
119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Latin Collective at Sevy’s at Seacliff Inn
Friday, November 1 | 7:00 – 10:00
7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos

Eyes Like Lanterns at Treehouse Dispensary
Friday, November 1 | 7:30
3651 Soquel Dr, Soquel

Fire & Grace & Ash: Edwin Huizinga, William Coulter, Ashley Hoyer
Celtic/Americana/Classical at UCSC Music Recital Hall
Friday, November 1 | 7:30 – 10:00
402 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz
Tix: Eventbrite

Landon Conrath & The Strike in The Catalyst Atrium
Friday, November 1 | 8:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

The Crane Wives at The Catalyst
Friday, November 1 | 8:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

Dylan Rose Band at The Crow’s Nest
Friday, November 1 | 8:00
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
$7 Cover at the Door

Willie Watson at Felton Music Hall
Friday, November 1 | 8:00
Tix: feltonmusichall dot com

🦇 Creep-O-Ween at The Crepe Place
Tributes to: Red Hot Chili Peppers + The Pretenders + The Cure
Friday, November 1 | 8:00 – 11:30
1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
$15 Advance | $20 Door | Tix: thecrepeplace dot com

Midnight Blue at Joe’s Bar
Friday, November 1 | 8:30 – 11:55
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

Y La Bamba + Kiltro at Moe’s Alley
Friday, November 1 | 9:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Tix: moesalley dot com

Saturday, November 2

The NAPsters at San Gregorio General Store
Saturday, November 2 | 11:00 – 1:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

Y2K24 International Live Looping Festival
Saturday & Sunday | Various Times | Multiple Artists
Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater
1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz
Tickets on Eventbrite

Lumberjack Lineup Chainsaw & Axe Throwing Contest
Apple Jack’s
Saturday, November 2 | 2:00
8790 La Honda Rd, La Honda

🍀Juice Of The Barley From Ireland
Britannia Arms
Saturday, November 2 | 2:00 – 5:00
110 Monterey Ave., Capitola

Mild Colonial Boys at San Gregorio General Store
Saturday, November 2 | 2:00 – 5:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

Mark Schwartz at MJA Vineyards Westside Tasting Room
Saturdays | 3:30 – 6:30
Ingalls St., Santa Cruz

Tsunami at Kissed by an Angel Wines
Saturday, November 2 | 4:00 – 6:30
75 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley

🦇 Ghostland Music Festival at Brookdale Lodge
Saturday, November 2 | 4:00 – 1:00 am
Multiple Bands Spanning Multiple Genres
Tix: brookdalelodge dot com

Mike Hellman & The Banned Books w/ Mark Twang
Shanty Shack Brewing
Saturday, November 2 | 5:00 – 8:00
138 Fern St., Santa Cruz

The Shady Rest Band at Bruno’s Bar and Grill
Saturday, November 2 | 5:00 – 8:00
230 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley

Dirt Rakers at Discretion Brewing
Saturday, November 2 | 5:30 – 7:30
2703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel

Mojo Mix Blues Trio at Aptos Street BBQ
Saturdays | Sundays | Wednesdays | 6:00 – 8:00
8059 Aptos St, Aptos

Uilleann Pipers Ivan Goff & Mike De Smidt at Park Hall
International Uilleann Piping Day
Hands-on Demos + Concert
Saturday November 2 | 6:00
9400 Mill Street, Ben Lomond
$20 Suggested Donation at the Door

Bonny June & Bonfire at Cork and Fork
Saturday, November 2 | 6:00 – 9:00
312-B Capitola Ave, Capitola

Dave “Nomad” Miller at Davenport Roadhouse
Saturday, November 2 | 6:00 – 9:00
1 Davenport Ave, Davenport

Mr Bounceman w/Dancing Mandy
Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Saturday, November 2 | 6:00 – 10:00
119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz

Adaptations w/ Soloist Nancy Zhou at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Saturday, November 2 | 6:30
307 Church St., Santa Cruz
Tix: santacruztickets dot com

Alex Lucero Band at El Vaquero Winery
Saturday, November 2 | 6:30 – 9:30
2901 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville
Reservations: (831) 607-8118 | elvaquerowinery dot com

Crowd Control + Terra + Usurper + Here at the End
Anus Chewer + Nostalgia
Hardcore Night at SubRosa Community Space
Saturday, November 2 | 6:30 – 10:00
703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

Djangatos Hot Club Swing at The Ugly Mug
Saturday, November 2 | 7:00 – 9:00
4640 Soquel Ave., Soquel
Reservations: (408) 499-9441 | crbrundle@gmail.com

SambaDá at Abbott Square Market
Saturday, November 2 | 7:00 – 9:30
725 Front St., Santa Cruz

The Swag Tones at Sevy’s at Seacliff Inn
Saturday, November 2 | 7:00 – 10:00
7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos

Blue Ocean Rockers at The Cats Los Gatos
Saturday, November 2 | 7:00 – 10:00
17533 Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos

Haunted Cabaret: Enter the Liminal Space
Belly Dance Showcase at Desert Dream Dance Studio
Saturday, November 2 | 7:30
1025 Water St, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Symphony at the Santa Cruz Civic
Antonín Dvořák, Eric Wolfgang Korngold w/ Nancy Zhou + Josef Sekon
Saturday, November 2 | 7:30
307 Church St., Santa Cruz

NoBigDyl in The Catalyst Atrium
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

Jive Machine at The Crow’s Nest
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
$8 Cover at the Door

Ripe + Hembree at Felton Music Hall
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00
Tix: feltonmusichall dot com

Mimi Gilbert at lille aeske Arthouse
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00
13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek
Tix: lilleaeske dot com

Standup Comedy w/ Carla Clay at Bruno’s Bar and Grill
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00 – 9:30
230 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley

Aimee Mann w/ Jonathan Coulton
Rio Theatre
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00 – 10:30
1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: riotheatre dot com

Dark Dazey + Queentide + Worm Salt
The Crepe Place
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00 – 11:30
1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
$12 Advance | $15 Door | Tix: thecrepeplace dot com

Chicago Bill & The Next Blues Band at Joe’s Bar
Saturday, November 2 | 8:30 – 11:55
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

Comedy w/ Phil Johnson at 11th Hour Coffee
Saturday, November 2 | 9:00
1001 Center St, Santa Cruz

The Itals & Perfect Giddimani + DJ Spleece
Moe’s Alley
Saturday, November 2 | 9:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Tix: moesalley dot com

Honey Plant & the Foolish Fools
The Blue Lagoon
Saturday, November 2 | 9:00
923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz | $10 at the Door

Sunday, November 3

Rory McNamara & Rebecca Richman
Sunday, November 3 | 11:00 – 1:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

Y2K24 International Live Looping Festival
Sunday, November 3 | Various Times | Multiple Artists
Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater
1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz
Tickets on Eventbrite

Yuji Tojo at Davenport Roadhouse
Sunday, November 3 | 1:00 – 4:00
1 Davenport Ave, Davenport

The Whiskey Hill Billies
Sunday, November 3 | 2:00 – 5:00
7615 Stage Rd., San Gregorio

Andy Fuhrman & Friends
MJA Vineyards Westside Tasting Room
Sundays | 2:30 – 5:30
Ingalls St., Santa Cruz

Cardiel w/ BIGRIG + The Crotches
Moe’s Alley
Sunday, November 3 | 3:00
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Tix: moesalley dot com

Joel Martin’s Vintage Soundz at Fruition Brewing
Sunday, November 3 | 3:00 – 5:00
918 East Lake Ave., Watsonville

The Kerry Sheepdogs Celtic at Steel Bonnet Brewing
National Sandwich Day
Sunday, November 3 | 3:00 – 5:00
20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley

Back Porch Boys Blues at Discretion Brewing
Sunday, November 3 | 3:00 – 5:00
2703 41st Ave Ste. A, Soquel

Velour at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Sunday, November 3 | 3:00 – 6:00
119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz

Blue Lightning at Cork and Fork
Sunday, November 3 | 3:00 – 6:00
312-B Capitola Ave, Capitola

Bean Creek Bluegrass w/ Hank & Ella
El Vaquero Winery
Sunday, November 3 | 4:00 – 7:00
2901 Freedom Blvd, Watsonville
Reservations: (831) 607-8118 | elvaquerowinery dot com

Billy Reese at Joe’s Bar
Sunday, November 3 | 4:00 – 7:00
13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek

Lucas Lawson at Chaminade Resort & Spa
Sunday, November 3 | 5:00 – 8:00
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

Songwriters in the Round at The Cats Los Gatos
Sunday, November 3 | 6:00 – 8:30
17533 Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos

Grateful Sundays w/ Matt Hartle & Friends
Felton Music Hall
Sundays | 6:00 – 9:00
6275 Highway 9, Felton

Carabeza + Awahnichi and Talking Ghosts
Mateo Briscoe and the Slothbois + Intica
SubRosa Community Space
Sunday, November 3 | 6:30 – 10:00
703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

Jazz Night Live at Hold Fast Lounge
Sundays | 7:00 – 10:00
529 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz

Tornillo + Razz at The Catalyst
Sunday, November 3 | 8:00
1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Tix: catalystclub dot com

Live Comedy at The Crow’s Nest
Sundays | 9:00
2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
$8 Cover at the Door

Hot Ticket Alert

The Coffis Brothers – Album Release Show
Felton Music Hall
Saturday, November 30 | 8:00
Tix: feltonmusichall dot com

China Cats New Year’s Eve Ball
The Santa Cruz County Veterans Hall
Tuesday, December 31 | 9:00
Tix: mountainmusicproductions dot com

Greensky Bluegrass at The Catalyst
Sunday, January 19 | 8:00
Tix: catalystclub dot com

Fred Eaglesmith Band w/ Tif Ginn
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Sunday, January 26 | 5:00
Tix: kuumbwajazz dot com

The SLV Post Weekend Roundup of Music

The weekend roundup of live music is compiled by Julie Horner for the San Lorenzo Valley Post newspaper and is posted every Thursday on Facebook: @SLVPostNews and on SLV Post’s website. See something we missed? Share your event to the Santa Cruz Mountains Entertainment News Facebook group: @santacruzmountains | Email: julie@slvpost dot com

Featured image: Dia de Muertos is celebrated on Friday, November 1, 2024 & Saturday, November 2, 2024.

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