ON The (Music) Stage
Keep an eye out for indie artist Nicole Sophia this weekend; she’ll be showcasing her new single “Pancakes” (from her debut EP Reveal Your Heart) onstage at the Pacific Pride Festival on Saturday, August 26, at approximately 2 p.m. An openly queer singer-songwriter, Nicole Sophia’s music tells the story of her personal journey of self-discovery and embracing vulnerability, as well as self-described badassery. Also hitting the stage at the Fest (11 a.m.–7 p.m. at Chase Palm Park Field) are DJ Darla Bea, Calypso Jetè Balmain, LG Team Genius, the Vivian Storm Experience, Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus, and the La Boheme Dancers, among others. Visit PacificPrideFoundation.org for all of the scoop.
One805LIVE! is heading our way on September 22 with an amazing benefit concert for our Santa Barbara County first responders. It will be headlined by Maroon 5, who is donating 100 percent of their performance to the cause, with more performers to be announced soon. Not only that, the Grammy-winning band will join the party at Kevin Costner’s oceanside estate in Summerland. I’ll have a full story about the work of the organization soon, but tickets are available here now. In addition, there’s an online auction leading up to the event, featuring a whole slew of fun stuff — everything from signed guitars from Robby Krieger (The Doors), Katy Perry, Kevin Costner, Maroon 5, and Elliot Easton (The Cars); a signed drum from Travis Barker and one from Danny Seraphine; a VIP Depeche Mode concert experience; and a luxury cruise from the Dominican Republic, St. Barts, Antigua, the Virgin Islands, and much more. Click here to bid and get in on giving back for a good cause!
ON The (Dance) Stage
I’m looking forward to Sunday’s joyful performance of “Dancing Out Loud,” a free public event presented by award-winning dancer, choreographer, and deaf artist and advocate Antoine Hunter and members of the Urban Jazz Dance Company, which he founded. Taking place on August 27 at 5 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art front terrace, Hunter describes his piece by saying it “puts the capital D in Deaf, representing power, culture, and strength.” The public performance accompanies the current (and excellent) exhibition The Private Universe of James Castle: Drawings from the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation and James Castle Collection and Archive. Read Josef Woodard’s story about the exhibition here.