Music

September 5, 2026

Motown Legend Diana Ross Sparkles at the Santa Barbara Bowl

By Carly Rattner

Motown legend Diana Ross graced the Santa Barbara Bowl stage on Aug. 27 as part of her “Diana in Motion” tour.

August 31, 2026

Phoebe Bridgers makes her return with the strangely intimate “Lost Weekend”

By Sophia Benito

Phoebe Bridgers' new record fills in the gap for the two years she spent out of the public eye, the complex personal losses she endured and her love life.

May 9, 2026

Tracks of the month: April 2026

By Artsweek Staff

Artsweek staff's favorite tracks of April 2026.

February 3, 2026

A sacred show: Magnetize and guest Johanna Warren create a musical haven

By Sofia Cain

Isla Vista band Magnetize opened for singer-songwriter Johanna Warren in a backyard concert on Jan. 18.

January 22, 2026

Looking East looks forward

By Stella Mullin

The local Goleta band is set to release its debut album, "Break of the Day," on Jan. 23.

January 15, 2026

Geese: What’s all this honking about?

By Stella Mullin, Jack Dindia

Geese returns to this melting pot of genres — post punk and art rock — with youthful chaos, earning them the title of “Gen Z’s first great American rock band.”

October 9, 2025

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is the biggest let down of Taylor Swift’s career

By Kendra Martinez

So far, the album has fallen nothing short of mediocre for longtime Taylor Swift fans and only time will tell if that holds true.

September 25, 2025

Big Thief enters new era with release of “Double Infinity”

By Sofia Cain

"Double Infinity" leans into expansive orchestral, synth and percussion backings that, at moments, tend to lack harmony.

August 23, 2025

Summer listens for various summer scenarios

By Lauren Chiou

Straight from the Spotify of Artsweek editor Lauren Chiou.

July 27, 2025

Let’s hear it for the album of the year: Lorde makes momentous return with ‘Virgin’

By Lauren Chiou

The New Zealand singer-songwriter released her fourth album on June 27, an explosion of nostalgia, sensuality and vulnerability.

July 11, 2025

Tracks of 2025: Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What’ brings her so close to main pop girl status

By Kenneth Heung

The Canadian singers third studio album is an ode to 2000s dance pop production, with an added modern flair.

July 11, 2025

Tracks of 2025: FKA Twigs explores music, euphoria and sex with ‘EUSEXA’

By Kenneth Heung

Released back in January, FKA Twigs' third album pushes the boundaries of experimental pop.

January 30, 2025

Mac Miller’s ‘Balloonerism’ and the legacy left behind — from UCSB and beyond

By Kyra Schimpf

“Balloonerism” is the second album to be released after Miller’s passing in 2018, and is what many expect to be the final album released by his estate.