Music

Artsweek’s 2024 mid-year report

July 19, 2024 by

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

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

May 29, 2024 by

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.
read more

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

May 28, 2024 by

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

Review: The Santa Barbara Symphony delivers titanic sounds

May 12, 2024 by

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.
read more

Rhiannon Giddens blends music and storytelling at Arlington Theatre

May 2, 2024 by

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.”
read more

Herbie Hancock: Legends stay legends

May 2, 2024 by

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

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

April 25, 2024 by

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

The Santa Barbara Symphony presents classic Hollywood in classical fashion

April 18, 2024 by

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...
read more

Say She She’s discodelic SOhO Show

March 25, 2024 by

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

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

March 25, 2024 by

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

Tracks Of The Month: February 2024

February 29, 2024 by

Artsweek staff’s top tracks from February. 
read more

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

January 16, 2024 by

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. 
read more

Sampha opens up his spirit on “Lahai”

November 22, 2023 by

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. 
read more

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

November 13, 2023 by

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

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

November 9, 2023 by

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.”
read more