Music

July 19, 2024

Artsweek’s 2024 mid-year report

By Lauren Chiou

The best movies, shows and albums from 2024 (so far).

May 29, 2024

Queens of the Stone Age bring hard rock to the Santa Barbara Bowl

By Kyra Schimpf

The group visited the Bowl as a part of their “The End is Nero” tour, promoting “In Times New Roman…,” the band’s first new album in six years.

May 28, 2024

A year in review: Chart-topping Asian and AAPI artists

By Jasmine Kwan

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month. Check out some of this year's top Asian and AAPI artists to celebrate!

May 12, 2024

Review: The Santa Barbara Symphony delivers titanic sounds

By Zachery Kramer

Under the baton of their very own music and artistic director, Nir Kabaretti, the Santa Barbara Symphony presented “Mahler Meets Klezmer: Titans of Sound” on April 20.

May 2, 2024

Rhiannon Giddens blends music and storytelling at Arlington Theatre

By Ella Bailey

The Grammy-winning folk artist from North Carolina performed at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre on April 23 for her 2023 album, “You’re the One.”

May 2, 2024

Herbie Hancock: Legends stay legends

By Rahul Unni Aravindakshan

On April 17, jazz artist Herbie Hancock took to the stage at Santa Barbara's Arlington Theatre.

April 25, 2024

“Down Bad,” or just bad? “The Tortured Poets Department” disappoints

By Lauren Chiou

Cathartic, raw and tortured indeed — Taylor Swift is brutally honest in her 11th studio album, and not in a good way.

April 18, 2024

The Santa Barbara Symphony presents classic Hollywood in classical fashion

By Zachery Kramer

On March 16, the Santa Barbara Symphony celebrated movie magic as it performed alongside movie clips in an expression of classic Hollywood cinema scoring and Santa Barbara’s connection to filmmaking.

March 25, 2024

Say She She’s discodelic SOhO Show

By Caitlin Scialla

Brooklyn-born group Say She She wowed Santa Barbara on Friday Feb. 9, selling out SOhO Restaurant and Music Club.

March 25, 2024

I.V. bands take on SOhO Restaurant and Music Club

By Caitlin Scialla

On Feb. 8, SOhO Restaurant and Music Club hosted three Isla Vista-based bands: Eternal Wave, Ray and Paul and Field Daze.

February 29, 2024

Tracks Of The Month: February 2024

By Artsweek Staff

Artsweek staff’s top tracks from February. 

January 16, 2024

“A (Samara) Joyful Holiday:” Bringing Classic Jazz to Santa Barbara

By Lucy Dixon

Samara Joy McLendon closed out the UCSB Arts & Lectures fall season with her show, “A Joyful Holiday” at The Granada Theater in Santa Barbara on Dec. 8, 2023. 

November 22, 2023

Sampha opens up his spirit on “Lahai”

By Ethan Woelbern

After a six-year hiatus following his last record, R&B pioneer Sampha returned with “Lahai” on Oct. 20 – a short but sweet LP that more than justifies its wait. 

November 13, 2023

In review: Kevin Abstract’s third solo album “Blanket”

By Lorna Kruesel

Released on Nov. 3, “Blanket,” Kevin’s Abstract’s third solo studio album showcases the artist’s versatility and boldness.

November 9, 2023

“1989 (Taylor’s Version):” Swift never goes out of style

By Lauren Chiou

Exactly nine years after the original release of "1989" in 2014, Taylor Swift did the same thing. Except this time, the album belongs to her. It’s “Taylor’s Version.”

November 9, 2023

Bidding farewell to the Beatles with last song “Now and Then”

By Stella Mullin

Regarded as the last song all four Beatles will be credited with, “Now And Then” marks the closing chapter of arguably the greatest rock band of all time.