Unveiling Another Epic Santa Barbara Bowl Season

The sublime sensory pleasures of an evening under the stars at the Santa Barbara Bowl speak for themselves, and they’re made even more special because no matter how many times we chant “Open sesame,” this magical musical universe only opens its doors to us for 36 shows between the months of April and October. 

Programming that 36-show puzzle is, as you can imagine, an incredible balancing act — and Moss Jacobs is the ringleader at the helm, leading all the bookings and promotions for the Bowl. “Most people don’t think about the balancing of shows, which may be one of the hardest things that I do. That’s one of the keys,” says Jacobs, whose official title is Goldenvoice senior vice president.

There are certain shows that you absolutely have to go for if they’re available, he explains. For the 2023 season, he puts the classic rock artists James Taylor (May 31), Van Morrison (Sept. 16), and Diana Ross (June 13) in that category. “James Taylor and Van Morrison have been holding their dates at the Bowl for many months, probably since the fall of 2022. … This year, Diana Ross was a late find, if I can call it that way. She not only is a classic artist … [but] she is a legendary artist. And she’s not playing L.A. proper at this time, so when that came up, I jumped on it really quickly and got her in there.”