"The guitar is a whole lot more than a guitar...
there's a whole attitude towards life wrapped up in it" (Charles Fox)
SB Acoustic ~ an Ongoing Series of Live
International Acoustic Music Concerts
Fingerstyle & Jazz
Gypsy & Flamenco
Americana & Blues
Slack Key & more
12 Sunday Nights per year @ 7:30pm
at SOhO 1221 State St. in Beautiful Downtown Santa Barbara
Summer '22 Season
Extra Concerts to Keep You Going!
WeBanjo3 (Ireland) 7/29/22
at the Ventura Music Festival $30+
They’re two sets of brothers from Galway: Chart-toppers who converge Americana, Bluegrass and Celtic with pop-sensibility songcraft. Galway-based We Banjo 3 has one foot in Irish music and one foot in Americana music, seamlessly combining the virtuosity and precision in each genre’s traditional disciplines with the artful song-craft and infectious live performance of today’s musical landscape.
“We Banjo 3 has something impossibly beautiful at its heart, what they do they do better than anyone else”
Use promo code oward10 for 10% off!
Django Festival AllStars (France) 7/30/22
at the Ventura Music Festival $30+
Each member a world-class soloist, together they have contemporized the swing-jazz music that took the world by storm in the 40’s courtesy of the great Romany-French guitarist, Django Reinhardt.
Use promo code oward10 for 10% off!
Taimane (Hawaii) 8/2/22
at SOhO $25+
Taimane retakes the stage at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club as part of her first tour outside of Hawai‘i since January 2020. Her recent Hawai‘i performances and robust 2022 world tour schedule clearly demonstrate that she is hungry to pick up right where she left off, dazzling audiences with her unique talent, style and repertoire - from Bach to rock, flamenco infernos to tribal hymns. While Taimane is known for her virtuosity, she is, first and foremost, a world-class entertainer, and we are thrilled to welcome her back to Santa Barbara.
Peppino D'Agostino (Italy/USA) 8/14/22
at SOhO
Peppino D’Agostino emerged on the acoustic guitar scene in the early 80’s as a leading member of the second wave of the great fingerstylists that helped redefine the instrument in the ’90s. His remarkable technique, penchant for open tunings, and percussive effects are the basis of his unique compositional style which has been inspiring musicians and audiences alike for decades. Add to that his natural warmth, playfulness, and broad musical tastes and you have the recipe for what he calls “minestrone music”. D’Agostino continues to evolve and grow in ways that would have been hard to predict when he first showcased his melodic yet emotionally intense style on the recordings Acoustic Spirit, Close to the Heart, and Every Step of the Way which was named one of the top three acoustic guitar albums of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine readers.
Antonio Rey (Spain) 9/11/22
at the New Vic $45
Fall '22 Season
Brooks Robertson (USA) 10/2/22 $25
Christie Lenee (USA) 10/23/22 $25
Idiomatiques (USA) 11/13/22 $25
Twanguero (Spain/USA) 12/4/22 $25
Please come and support live music!
Eat, drink, listen and smile at SOhO.
SBAcoustic is the best bargain for live acoustic music, anywhere, anytime.
The Guitar Show TBA
"It’s one the most beautiful experiences I know. Someone has spent a lifetime learning how to get the most beautiful sound possible out of an instrument that someone else has spent a lifetime learning how to build those sounds into…and we come together to play what a similar human has done with writing music. And finally, the whole thing merges when fellow music lovers come to hear and see it all. Many good things happen in this life, but none better than this." (Michael Chapdelaine)
Details to be Announced Soon
"The Celebration was one of the all around most meaningful and entertaining experiences I have ever had and I thank you from the bottom of my heart..." (SBAIC'16 attendee)
Winter '23 Season
Calum Graham (Canada) 1/22/23 $25
John Jorgenson Gypsy Jazz Quintet 2/5/23
John Jorgenson (manouche guitar, bouzouki and clarinet) and Rory Hoffman (guitar, accordion and piano) are the two of the most versatile musicians that I know of; they can play just about anything on any instrument, and in his outrageously hot Gypsy Jazz Quintet will be accompanied by guitar, violin and percussion.
Jorgenson’s dynamic Quintet and its authentic gypsy jazz - the string-driven swing created by “Django” Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in 1930s Paris - has been hailed the “U.S. ambassadors of gypsy jazz.” His Quintet is the only American act to ever headline the prestigious Django Reinhardt Memorial Festival in France, and has been featured at “Djangofests” in the US, UK, Germany and Canada. Jorgenson’s compositions for the Quintet additionally draw in elements from Latin, Romanian, Classical, Rock and Greek music. One of the elite gypsy jazz players in the world, he portrayed Django Reinhardt in the film “Head in the Clouds”.
John is music virtuoso across multiple genres, known for his exquisite licks and world-class musicianship on acoustic guitar, bouzouki, clarinet and vocals for this show as well as mandolin, saxophone and pedal steel. He has contributed to numerous GRAMMY®-winning and platinum-selling albums. The Quintet includes four additional distinguished musicians: Casey Driscoll on violin; Rory Hoffman on guitar, piano and accordion; Simon Planting on bass and Rick Reed on percussion.
“A mix of soulful romance and rollicking celebration, with Jorgenson’s fingers a blur that created avalanches of notes and chords, his dazzling prowess often caused listeners to gasp at the speed and sound…” - All About Jazz
“Jorgenson’s dexterity, speed, and beauty on acoustic guitar were astonishing, and one could only watch in awe…I struggle to think of a more accomplished guitarist I have seen on stage.” - No Depression
“John Jorgenson has insanely fast fingers – they’re nothing but a blur when he’s notes-deep into a song.” – NPR
Becca Stevens (USA) 2/19/23 $25
Clive Carroll (UK/USA) 3/5/23 $25
Spring '23 Season
Abby Posner (USA) 3/26/23 $25
TransAtlantic Guitar Trio (UK/Germany/USA) 5/7/23 $35
The Carl Verheyen Acoustic Band (USA) 6/4/23 $30
Past Concerts
It's been an honor & privilege to host live music
by over 100 of of the world’s great string (and more) players since 2016.
We are so fortunate to have such talent amongst us who have the
freedom of expression to do what they do.
Don't take it for granted ~ get out and enjoy it while you can;
the musicians and venues need your support now more than ever.
A Call 2 Peace
(with Federico Ramos,
Eduardo Del Signore,
Scarlet Rivera &
Ron Wagner)
Don Alder
Muriel Anderson
Paul Asbell
Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan
Adrian Bellue
PIerre Bensusan
Claude Bourbon
Trace Bundy
Clive Carroll
Michael Chapdelaine
Nick Charles
Chucumite
Craig D’Andrea
Alex DeGrassi
Jerry Douglas
(with Maura O’Connell
& a huge band)
Antoine Dufour
Ken Emerson & Kimo West
Tommy Emmanuel
(with Richard Smith
& Brooks Robertson)
Vicki Genfan
Nina Gerber & Chris Webster
Teja Gerken & Doug Young
Goh
Trevor Gordon Hall
Mark Hanson
The Hot Club of Nashville
(with Richard Smith,
Annie Sellick,
Pat Bergeson,
Aaron Till,
Charlie Chadwick &
Josh Hunt)
The Idiomatiques
(with Craig Sharmat,
George Quirin,
Brian Mann &
Kim Collins)
Claude LaFlamme
Michael Lorimer
Nick Johnson
J2B2
(with John Jorgenson,
Herb Pederson,
Patrick Sauber &
Mark Fain)
Laurence Juber
Justin King
Kaki King
Alberto Lombardi
Marley's Ghost
(with Jerry Fletcher,
Ed Littlefield Jr.,
Bob Nichols,
Mike Phelan,
Dan Wheetman &
Jon Wilcox)
Sean McGowan
Tony McManus
Maria Muldaur
(with John Jorgenson &
Simon Planting)
Kai Narezo
Kinloch Nelson
George Quirin
Donovan Raitt
Del Rey
Joe Robinson
Sam ’n’ Ash
Richard Smith
Tim Sparks
Walter Strauss
Kenny Sultan
Luca Stricagnoli
Taimane
Sofia Talvik
The Transatlantic Trio
(with Richard Smith,
Joscho Stephan &
Rory Hoffman)
Hiroya Tsukamoto
Andres Vadin Project
(with Yosmel Montejo,
Diego Alvarez Muñoz,
Manuel Gutiérrez &
Jade Valdes)
Dani Vargas & Jenna Columbet
Carl Verheyen Acoustic Band
(with Dave Marotta &
John Mader)
Willie Watson
Andrew York
Contact
If you would like to be added to our e-blast list
Acoustic Music & the Guitar
"Acoustic music is the timeless sound of nature and resonating materials – wood, bone, gourd, gut and skin. It predates the spoken language of modern culture, crossing all borders and barriers. It speaks to great, universal truths of very personal, yet familiar stories. Those stories keep legacies alive, allow them to be shared, and create new ones going forward".
(Derek Johnson aka Musicalist)
Music is unparalleled in its impact across civilization; it is infinite and evolving across time, place, religion and culture. It is the door to our souls, the balm for our spirit, an inspiration to feel deeply, our common language, and the heart of community.
The humble guitar is known for its enormous musical versatility across all cultures and genres. It has been the voice of people to tell their stories, and attainable to everyone regardless of wealth or social status.
"The guitar can truly change the world...we've seen that in ministry and education;
it has affected international borders. It's a very dangerous tool." (Richard Hoover, with a smile)
Background image: Benedetto Guitars