The Diamond Gala

by Gina Graham

February 1, 2024

Celebrating a decade of dance in Santa Barbara, Momentum Dance Company brings their ten-year anniversary celebration to The Lobero Theatre this summer. MDC’s owner Betsy Woyach has created a legacy in Santa Barbara with MDC’s National Award-winning Competitive Company and elite level of dance education offered for dancers ages 3-18. The MDC family could not be more excited to present our talented and diverse group of dancers to our community this summer. MDC’s dancers are guaranteed to entertain, warm your hearts, and get you up out of your seats with an array of styles and ages performing in this 2 hour dance performance.

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Colin Quinn

by Josh James

January 31, 2024

COLIN QUINN (Writer/Performer) is a stand-up comedian from Brooklyn (okay, Park Slope), who has been a part of your whole life even though you never asked for it. From MTV’s Remote Control to SNL to Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Mr. Quinn is not one to take a hint and bow out gracefully. He’s been on Broadway with Colin Quinn: An Irish Wake and Colin Quinn: Long Story Short and Off-Broadway with his show Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional, Colin Quinn: The New York Story, directed by Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn: Red State, Blue State, and most recently Colin Quinn: The Last Best Hope. Recent credits include Trainwreck, Girls, and his web series Cop Show, streaming now on Colin’s YouTube channel. His latest book, Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States, is now out from Macmillan publishing.

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Lyle Lovett Acoustic Band

by Josh James

January 16, 2024

One of music’s most vibrant and iconic performers, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. Whether touring as a ‘Duo’ or with his ‘Acoustic Group’ or his ‘Large Band,’ Lovett’s live performances show not only the breadth of this Texas legend’s deep talents, but also the diversity of his influences.

Among his many accolades, besides the four GRAMMY® Awards, Lovett was given the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award, and was named Texas State Musician. His works, rich and eclectic, are some of the most beloved of any artist working today.

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Cancelled Podcast

by Gina Graham

January 16, 2024

EXTRA! EXTRA! CANCELLED is hitting the stage LIVE! Get up close and personal for a discussion with your favorite co-host besties Tana Mongeau and Brooke Schofield in these unfiltered, uncut, interactive live shows! After years of growing up under the constant scrutiny of public opinion, social media juggernaut, Tana Mongeau, takes back the mic. Acting as a natural evolution of her acclaimed “storytime” videos, this show offers an intimate look at Mongeau, her meteoric rise to superstardom, and the unavoidable moments of vulnerability that make this cyber-personality all the more human. Brooke Schofield being the brains and voice of reason between the dynamic duo is exactly what the show needed. Brooke, who was born and raised in Arizona, started her academic journey with nursing but discovered her true passions were in LA. After Brooke’s move, she grew a following quickly over social media thanks to her unique and satirical commentary on everyday life. CANCELLED LIVE will not only continue to spill all the tea that you see on their podcast each week, but it will be with no cuts, no bleeping out names… they’ll probably cancel themselves a time or two by saying all the things that they can’t say online. Grab your tickets now so you can be in the room to hear all the things they can only say LIVE!

Please note: all attendees will be subject to bag searches, wanding, and metal detectors at the door.

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ILLUMINATE Film Festival 2024

by Gina Graham

January 11, 2024

Opening Night at the Lobero, April 5, With Deepak Chopra

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Community Kick-Off Mixer on the Lobero Esplanade.
The evening begins with a festive pre-show mixer outside the Lobero where attendees can mingle, share perspectives, sample local healthy beverages and get their photos taken on the “green carpet.”

The Lobero bar will open at 5:30 pm with coffee, wine and cocktails.

6:30 pm: Welcome and Keynote from Deepak Chopra
Best-selling author, Deepak Chopra, will inaugurate the festival with an inspiring talk about cultivating a “Quantum perspective” to help us become a better version of ourselves as individuals and as an awakening humanity.

7:00 – 9:00 pm: Opening Night Film: Love Over Money
From an early age, John Robbins was groomed as the heir apparent to the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream empire which was co-founded by his father, Irv Robbins in 1945. Growing up, John had it all: money, prestige… and unlimited ice cream. He was in line to inherit what had become a billion-dollar empire but started to question the company’s values. Concerned about the health risks and detrimental environmental impact of the company’s products, and in disagreement with his father over the Vietnam war, John makes a decision that no one could have predicted.

This exclusive screening of Love Over Money will be followed by an interview and Q&A with the film’s co-directors, James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch.

This film is sponsored by the Joan Sanger Charitable Trust.

About Illuminate
The Illuminate Film Festival was founded in Sedona in 2014 and has recently relocated to Santa Barbara. Illuminate’s mission is to leverage the power of cinema to inspire lasting personal and social transformation while serving as a global hub for visionary filmmakers. The key sponsor for the 2024 Illuminate Film Festival is the Holomovement.

For information about the rest of the festival and to buy tickets go to www.2024.illuminatefilmfestival.com

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SSBA – Tina the Ballerina 2024

by Gina Graham

December 27, 2023

Tina the Ballerina is the tale of a young girl from the French countryside, who gets the opportunity to go to the dance festival in Paris. On her way, she travels through meadows of flowers, eventually reaching the bustling city with street performers, jesters and the Paris Opera Ballet. Children ages 2 and up are featured in this story of Tina’s adventures.

ssb-academy.com

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SSBYD – A Spring Celebration of Dance – 2024

by Gina Graham

December 21, 2023

This performance features the State Street Ballet Young Dancers, the pre-professional performing group of teenagers associated with State Street Ballet, in a performance of excerpts from Coppelia and new works, including works by Oscar Bravo Ly and Autumn Eckman.

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GAVIOTA: A Celebration with Scojo & The Keel

by Gina Graham

December 7, 2023

A celebration of the Gaviota coast and the release of Scojo and The Keel’s album called Gaviota. The show will feature local artists, poets, wildlife experts and other people connected to the Gaviota coast.

GUEST SPEAKERS:
Chris Chapman: artist; former preserve manager of Arroyo Hondo Preserve ~ Guner Tautrim: 6th generation rancher/farmer on the Gaviota Coast ~ Meighan Dietenhofer: wildlife biologist and District Representative ~ John Iwerks: artist and former preserve manager of Arroyo Hondo ~
Tanya Atwater: geologist ~ Doyle Hollister: poet, therapist, mystic; multigenerational family on the Gaviota Coast~
Shaw Leonard: director of the film Gaviota: The End of Southern California.

The evening will also feature the artwork of Chris Chapman and John Iwerks, and a blessing by the Coastal Chumash.

SCOJO & THE KEEL IS:
Scott Claassen: vocals, guitar, piano ~ Charles Kernkamp: drums ~ David Paul: violin ~ Ana Schmid: vocals ~ George Daisa: vocals ~
Preston Towers: percussion and vocals ~ Norm Nelson: bass ~ Dennis Berger: saxophone – Ruben Salinas: saxophone

SPECIAL MUSICAL GUESTS:
Ross Flournoy, Bear Erickson, and more!

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Felipe Esparza

by Gina Graham

December 5, 2023

Felipe Esparza is a stand-up comedian and actor who’s come a long way since winning NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2010. While that may have opened doors and helped build his fan base around the country, his hard work and focus in more recent years has brought him longevity. With three successful stand-up specials on Netflix and HBO, his “What’s Up Fool? Podcast” holding steady as one of the top comedy podcasts for the last eight years, and his sold-out tour dates all over the country, Felipe is now at a point where he is moving more into TV and film. He has been a recurring favorite on TV Shows such as Superstore, The Eric Andre Show, Gentefied, and Victor and Valentino, as well as appearing in films including Guest House with Pauly Shore, 7th & Union with Omar Chaparro, Daddy Daughter Trip with Rob Schneider and You People with Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill. Felipe is currently on tour and working on his fourth stand-up special.

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It’s Magic! 2024

by Josh James

November 28, 2023

It’s Magic! has been delighting magic enthusiasts for more than five decades, with an exciting lineup of amazing guest stars from Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle and exotic showrooms around the world that changes each season. This new live show features Broadway Tony® Award-winner Jay Johnson, comedy magic favorite Dana Daniels, international magic award winner Juliana Chen, magic’s favorite comedy team Les Arnold and Dazzle, and world-renowned magician Jason Bishop in his first Santa Barbara appearance. A Las Vegas show suitable for the whole family, with each act carefully selected to represent the variety of the art of magic.

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Benise – Fiesta! 2024

by Gina Graham

November 24, 2023

BENISE – FIESTA!

Emmy Award Winning Spanish Guitar and Dance Spectacular!

It’s one hot night as Benise, “The Prince of Spanish Guitar,” and his Emmy Award winning production come to town as part of his global tour. Armed with his Spanish guitar, Benise will take the audience on an unprecedented and epic adventure through Spanish Flamenco, Cuban Salsa, Brazilian Samba, Parisian Waltz, exotic drumming, and more!

‘The Prince of Spanish Guitar’ – Dancing With The Stars

‘Bennissimo!’ – Chicago News

‘Extreme Flamenco Fusion’ – Screen India

FIESTA! showcases songs from Benise’s 7^th PBS Special. Performing classic Rock anthems from Led Zeppelin and AC/DC and fusing them with Spanish guitar and dance to bring a fierce intensity to these new interpretations. In addition, Benise adds his signature touch to classics such as “Ave Maria, “Moonlight Sonata,” and Vivaldi’s “Summer” from The Four Seasons.

For Benise, music has always been a journey. From his humble beginnings as a street performer, to being featured on the #1 rated show in the USA – Dancing With The Stars, and performing around the world. “I wanted to push the boundaries of Nuevo Flamenco/Spanish guitar while combining the elements of dance and theater. This show is a celebration of all the shows we’ve done over the last 20 years,” comments composer, virtuoso guitarist and creative force behind the event, Benise.

The Emmy Award-winning composer along with an international cast of musicians and dancers will entertain audiences with a two-hour show that “is an escape from all their problems,” Benise says. “Much like the recent PBS special, with this show I want to take the audience on an escape to Spain…to a beautiful Spanish courtyard filled with Flamenco dancers, stunning costumes, and fiery Spanish guitars. BENISE adds, “This is a great show for the whole family; I really think we have something for everyone. I hope people will be inspired by our story, by the music, by the production–and have the passion to follow their own dreams. I have always loved to travel, my heritage is Bohemian (from Prague), so I think it’s in my blood. I can’t wait to go to new cities, meet new people, and play every night–it’s what I live for.”

The Theatrical World Music and Dance spectacle that has been called

“The Latin Riverdance”
benise.com

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Immediate Family 2024

by Josh James

November 21, 2023

Very often a band’s formation can come from what seems like a preordained convergence. Musicians meet, they may perform together in various configurations. Time goes by as each one develops their own career. But sometimes there can be a musical attraction that puts them together again, and finally, each member seems to realize at the same time: this is a band. When that happens, it becomes clear that fate has a hand in what has come together. And like the time-tested saying goes, don’t fight it.

That is exactly what occurred when The Immediate Family became a band – Danny Kortchmar, **Waddy Wachtel**, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, and Steve Postell – probably have more session and live show mileage than just about any other living players today. Each is known for their prodigious ability to be in the right place and at the right time on an endless list of best-selling and hugely influential recordings over the past 50 years.

The Immediate Family’s sophomore studio album, Skin In The Game via Quarto Valley Records, takes everything the quintet excels at and shows how groups of this caliber grow in ways that often aren’t expected. The band is also the subject of a full-length documentary that goes into depth about the long history of the group and all the accomplishments each individual member has made. Directed by Danny Tedesco, the movie will be distributed by Magnolia Pictures in late 2023.

This show is the band’s Record Release Party!

**Event Update: Elliot Easton, guitarist from The Cars, will be stepping
in for Waddy Wachtel for this event.**

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Cat Power 2024

by Josh James

November 14, 2023

Last November in London, Cat Power took the stage at Royal Albert Hall and delivered a song-for-song recreation of one of the most fabled and transformative live sets of all time. Held at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in May 1966 – but long known as the “Royal Albert Hall Concert” due to a mislabeled bootleg – the original performance saw Bob Dylan switching from acoustic to electric midway through the show, drawing ire from an audience of folk purists and forever altering the course of rock-and-roll.

In her own rendition of that historic night, the artist otherwise known as Chan Marshall inhabited each song with equal parts conviction and grace and a palpable sense of protectiveness, ultimately transposing the anarchic tension of Dylan’s set with a warm and luminous joy. Now
captured on the live album Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert, Marshall’s spellbinding performance both lovingly honors her hero’s imprint on history and brings a stunning new vitality to many of his most revered songs.

A singularly gifted song interpreter whose catalog includes three acclaimed covers albums (2000’s The Covers Record, 2008’s Jukebox,
2022’s Covers), Marshall holds an especially strong affinity for the songwriter-poet. Like the original concert (and all of Dylan’s 1966 world tour), Marshall kept the first half of her set entirely acoustic, then went electric for the second half with the help of a full band: guitarist Arsun Sorrenti, bassist Erik Paparozzi, multi-instrumentalists Aaron Embry (harmonica, piano) and Jordan Summers (organ, Wurlitzer), and drummer Josh Adams.

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Alan Parsons and Friends 75th Birthday Tribute Concert

by Gina Graham

November 8, 2023

Join Alan Parsons, Michael McDonald, Al Stewart, Joe Bonamassa, Terry Sylvester (The Hollies), David Pack (Ambrosia) and special guests in an all-star tribute concert to Alan on his 75^th birthday. VIP tickets include premium seating, and an opportunity join the artists backstage for a meet and greet. Proceeds benefit One805 and the First Responders of Santa Barbara County.

alanparsons.com

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The Wailin’ Jennys

by Josh James

November 7, 2023

The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse — three distinct voices that together make an achingly perfect vocal sound.

Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’ Jennys have grown over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. Founding members Moody and Mehta along with New York-based Masse continue to create some of the most exciting music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their musical game with each critically lauded recording, and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.

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