LUCINDA WILLIAMS: “It’s all come full circle,” says Lucinda Williams about her powerful new album, Good Souls, Better Angels. After more than forty years of music making, the pioneering, Louisiana-born artist has returned to the gritty blues foundation that first inspired her as a young singer-songwriter in the late 1970s. And after spending the last year on her sold-out “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” 20th Anniversary tour, Williams has reunited with that game-changing 1998 album’s co-producer and engineer Ray Kennedy, recording Good Souls, Better Angels with her ace touring band at his Nashville studio. Joining them as co-producer is Williams’ manager Tom Overby, to whom she’s been married for a decade and who contributed lyrics to her masterful songcraft. “That’s what I always dreamed of – a relationship with someone I could create with,” Williams enthuses.

The result – Good Souls, Better Angels – is the most topical album of Williams’ career. The dangerous world we live in, the constant barrage of a frightening news cycle, depression, domestic abuse, a man without a soul – and, yeah, the devil – figure prominently among its twelve tracks. “The devil comes into play quite a bit on this album,” Williams says. “I’ve always loved the imagery in Robert Johnson songs and those really dark Delta blues that are sort of biblical. I was inspired by Leonard Cohen – he dealt with that in his songs – and Bob Dylan and Nick Cave.” While, Good Souls, Better Angels reflects many dark realities that surround us, the album is tied together with themes of perseverance, resilience and ultimately, hope.

As for the topicality of the material, Williams says, “Because of all this crap that’s going on, it’s on the top of everybody’s minds – it’s all anybody talks about: Basically the world’s falling apart – it’s like the apocalypse. That’s where that Old Testament stuff comes from. It’s different from my other albums in that there aren’t the story songs about my childhood and all. It feels exciting.”

From the driving blues of the opening track “You Can’t Rule Me” to the ominous gothic “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” from punk-blues-fueled “Bone of Contention” to fire ‘n brimstone “Drop by Drop (Big Rotator),” Williams has never been more raw and direct, with gut-punching wordplay crossing the Good Book with hip-hop with Ginsbergian beat poetry. The Williams-Overby collaborative songwriting experiment clearly has been a success. “It just happened organically,” says Williams. “Tom and I started working on songs together and he came up with some of the ideas. He gave me lines that he’d written and I took it from there. I love it because it expands things. ‘Man Without a Soul’ was his idea, and he came up with ‘Big Black Train,’ about that big black cloud of depression. When I listen to that track, it makes me cry.”

Recording live in Ray Kennedy’s vintage-equipped studio, Williams and her longtime band – guitarist Stuart Mathis, bassist David Sutton, and drummer Butch Norton – cut most of the songs in two or three takes, with the rhythm section’s rock-solid pulse and Mathis’ versatile sonic attacks backing Williams’ distinctive passion-drenched vocals. The brutal “Wakin’ Up,” punctuated by Mathis’ chainsaw guitar, viscerally details a woman’s harrowing escape from domestic violence, while the pensive “Shadows & Doubts” sheds light our quick to judge, social media led society and how everyone may love you one moment, but completely abandon you the next. Williams turns Greg Garing’s honky-tonk shuffle “Down Past the Bottom” into a dark-night-of-the-soul hard rocker. Tongue-in-cheek irony leads the swingin’ “Bad News Blues” as Williams bemoans a plethora of “liars and lunatics/fools and thieves/clowns and hypocrites” and Mathis’ guitar work slithers around the lyrics like a snake. The bittersweet counterpoint “When the Way Gets Dark,” with its lovely melody and evocative guitar, offers hope to us all, Williams urging in her most tender vocals, “Don’t give up/Take my hand/You’re not alone.”

Williams has traveled a long road since her 1979 debut, Ramblin’ on My Mind, followed by Happy Woman Blues, her first album of originals released forty years ago in 1980. (She says that she’s still “the same girl” except that now “I have a bigger fan base and I can afford to stay at better hotels.”) Over the course of fourteen remarkable albums, three Grammy awards, and countless accolades, including Time’s Songwriter of the Year of 2001, Williams is one of our most revered artists, beloved for her singular vocals and extraordinary songs. Her recent double albums, Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (2014) and Ghosts of Highway 20 (2016), released on her own label, received some of the best reviews of her career.

Giving voice to all her experience, Williams ends Good Souls, Better Angels with the luminous “Good Souls,” one of the last songs written for the album. It is a deeply moving invocation: “Keep me with all of those/who help me find strength/when I’m feeling hopeless/who guide me along/And help me stay strong and fearless.”

Amen.

Lucinda Williams - Official Site

The Jenny O'Leary Quartet is led by the swinging and soulful jazz vocalist Jenny O'Leary. She is backed by a trio of professional jazz musicians. Jenny sings a wide repertoire of standards, bossa novas, ballads, swing and pop.

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

FREE

Dinner, Drinks, & Live Music at The Crepe Place.
Please come join us for the inaugural monthly jazz dinner night at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, CA. Join us on the back Patio for two hours of live jazz music performed by local professional musicians to accompany your food and libations.

If you would like to bring an instrument and sit in please contact a house band member ahead of time and be respectful of these Jam Guidelines:

1. The bandstand is a space for communication, respect, and deep learning.
2. As musicians we are here for the music AND the audience, they are our patrons, be sensitive to their listening needs.
3. If there are numerous horn players on stage, please keep solos short to allow room for other musicians to perform.
4. When playing with a vocalist, keep your solos to 1-2 choruses maximum.
5. No I-Real/Real Books on stage. The goal is to come together and play songs we know. Please learn the changes at home and use your ears on stage, not your eyes.

We are excited to bring back the LEGENDARY FUNK NIGHT to THE CREPE PLACE! Join us on TUESDAY nights for a boogie down dance party from 8pm until midnight!

Cayuga Jazz band plays swing, jazz standards, blues, be-bop, bossa novas and other American improvisational style music rooted in the 1940s 50s and 60s. Front line trumpet, tenor and alto saxophones play arranged parts supported by bass, guitar and sometimes piano.

The Cayuga Jazz Band is:

Greg Morrison - guitar

Jeffrey Werner - bass

Len Moore - trumpet

Marcia Quackenbush - Alto & Tenor Sax

Raymond Mendoza - guitar

Steve Gray - alto sax

Death and Saxes is a jazz quartet focused on improvisation-- exploring the classic music of the 50s and 60s. Founded by saxophonist John Bouwsma, the band offers spontaneity and excitement at every show. Featuring John Bouwsma on Tenor Saxophone, Harrison Brand on Guitar, Jamie Brudnick on Upright Bass, and Ben Sibley on Drums.

AUX MEADOWS: Aux Meadows is an instrumental Americana trio hailing from Oakland, California. Comprised of musicians who initially connected through their children's preschool, the band's lineup includes lap steel, synthesizer, and guitar, creating a unique blend of country and new age sounds.

​

Formed in 2021, following a post-vaccination jam session, Aux Meadows embraces the influences and techniques honed during lockdown to produce open, unfussy compositions that are both rustic and shimmering, astral and twangy. Their debut album has been praised as "an excellent entry to the Cosmic Americana axis" by Raven Sings the Blues and "kosmische country gazing at the stars" by the Slow Music Movement.

Music | Aux Meadows

KYLE BRADSHAW:

Kyle Bradshaw | Kyle Bradshaw

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

Wanna be a rock star? It all starts here…

Sign up for an Open Mic slot at 6:30pm.

Open Mic runs from 7 to 9pm.

FREE - 5:30 to 7:30

Rick Zeek - Guitar, Vocals

Patti Maxine - Lap Steel, Vocals

Rhan Wilson - Guitar, Vocals, Looping

Jazz, the dog. - Mascot, best friend.

SUN HOP FAT: For years Sun Hop Fat has been at the forefront of introducing the unique sounds of Ethiopian Jazz. Their music blends the rhythms of traditional American funk and jazz with harmonies and melodies from East Africa. Originally the band focused on covering arrangements from the “golden era” of Ethiopian Jazz, but now their sound includes many original compositions. This all-star band includes standout musicians from other popular San Francisco Bay Area groups.

Sun Hop Fat has developed a solid following throughout Northern California by playing a number of clubs and festivals. The ability of the band to captivate sit down jazz crowds as well as steal the spotlight in prime festival slots, encouraging crowds to get up and dance, makes the group flexible in its appeal and garners support from diverse audiences.

“…a steady wall of extraordinary moving sound and beats…” – San Francisco Examiner

Homepage | Sun Hop Fat

BOB O’NEILL’S ABSENT MINDS: Presenting original music from the extensive catalogue of singer, songwriter, guitarist Bob O'Neill.  Along with Bob on vocals and guitar the band features Johnny McCullough's colorful guitar playing, Gary "Killer" Andrijasevich  on drums and David Adams on bass. 

Bob O'Neill's Absent Minds brings to the stage a mindful musical experience of enjoyable textures and groves. 

LATE NIGHT CEREAL: Part of a balanced breakfast, stays crunchy in milk, it's local band Late Night Cereal getting frosted on the Crepe Place stage from 8:00 to 11:00 pm! 🥣🐄🎸🌮🍔🍺

The most well known unknown musicians in Santa Cruz!!! Michael Martyn is a 50 year veteran of the Santa Cruz acoustic folk scene!

MICHAEL MARTYN GUITAR AND VOCAL

PATTI MAXINE SLIDE GUITAR AND VOCAL

PAUL SADOFF GUITAR

FUZZY JOHN OXENDINE DRUMS

RETURN TO NAGOYA:

Return to Nagoya | Spotify

Die Over Again Version 1 | Return To Nagoya

VOX YOMI:

VOX YOMI | Spotify

VOX YOMI (@vox__yomi) • Instagram photos and videos

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

KEN MARGOLIS:

KEN MARGOLIS MUSIC

EMPIRE GRADE: Empire Grade is a four-piece rock band from Santa Cruz, CA.  Blending different eras and genres of rock together, Empire Grade's style is both reminiscent and fresh.  The group originated with rhythm section William Crick (drums) and Neville Gruhler (bass).  They met guitarist and pianist Nick Sax, set up a jam, and had instant musical chemistry.  The three musicians immediately set about arranging and writing songs, and playing shows across the Santa Cruz area.  The band played as a three-piece until meeting vocalist Charlie Vail.  Charlie's first session with the band made one thing apparent: Vail was here to stay.  The band has since played numerous shows at multiple venues across the UCSC college scene, DIY venues, organized a SoCal tour, and played the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill on Hollywood's Sunset Strip.  Find their singles "Get out of the Way" and "Power Trippin" on all music platforms.

FREAK ACCIDENT: The Freak Accident is a Demented Vaudeville Punk collision led by Victims Family/Jello Biafra + GSM guitarist-vocalist Ralph Spight. They've made 4 LP’s and 2 EP’s of tragicomic genre-hopping smart-ass punk.
Ralph, bassist Austin Lannan and Stark Raving Brad on drums will unleash their seventh magnum opus "The Midnight Show" on February 6th,2026 on Nadine Records and Nerve Center Recordings.  

Music | The Freak Accident

DRUNK HORSE:

Drunk Horse (@drunkhorse_) • Instagram photos and videos

Drunk Horse Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More... | AllMusic

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

Science on Tap

Monthly on the FIRST MONDAY of the month.

​

Come one, come all to the “science café” in Santa Cruz. This event is designed to connect the Santa Cruz community to the latest research happening just up the hill at U.C. Santa Cruz.  It is not an exclusive “club meeting” for scientists and science majors - we aim to appeal to all audiences! So come join us at the Crepe Place, grab a beer, relax, and hear some interesting and cutting-edge science that’s happening near you!

​

Science on Tap is based on the Nova and Sigma Xi "science café" model and is generally on the FIRST MONDAY of every month.

Wanna be a rock star? It all starts here…

Sign up for an Open Mic slot at 6:30pm.

Open Mic runs from 7 to 9pm.

FREE

Dinner, Drinks, & Live Music at The Crepe Place.

Please come join us for the twice a month jazz dinner night at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, CA. Join us on the back Patio for two hours of live jazz music performed by local professional musicians to accompany your food and libations.

If you would like to bring an instrument and sit in please contact a house band member ahead of time and be respectful of these Jam Guidelines:

1. The bandstand is a space for communication, respect, and deep learning.
2. As musicians we are here for the music AND the audience, they are our patrons, be sensitive to their listening needs.
3. If there are numerous horn players on stage, please keep solos short to allow room for other musicians to perform.
4. When playing with a vocalist, keep your solos to 1-2 choruses maximum.
5. No I-Real/Real Books on stage. The goal is to come together and play songs we know. Please learn the changes at home and use your ears on stage, not your eyes.

We are excited to bring back the LEGENDARY FUNK NIGHT to THE CREPE PLACE! Join us on TUESDAY nights for a boogie down dance party from 8pm until midnight!

ADAM SPRY: Adam Spry is a San Francisco-based artist and multi-instrumentalist that invokes a unique blend of power pop, indie folk and nostalgic indie dad rock. Garnering comparisons to Emitt Rhodes, Fruit Bats and Hiss Golden Messenger, Spry's songs embrace the waves of uncertainty that inevitably crash into us all, while simultaneously providing a reminder that the storm shall pass. 

"...a perfect mix of storytelling and indie-rock vibe that takes us from Beatles to Franz Ferdinand without ever truly sounding like any of them." - Where The Music Meets. 

Whether performing with his lively backing band, or an intimate solo set, Adam Spry has captured audiences while touring throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, The UK and Mexico. Adam has been a mainstay of the Bay Area music scene, sharing the stage with artists such as Crash Test Dummies, The Franklin Electric, Rayland Baxter and The Mother Hips. 

EPK — Adam Spry

Please call The Crepe Place at 831-429-6994 to make a reservation in the garden.

BRIAN FITZGERALD TRIO

Led by guitarist Brian Fitzgerald, the Brian Fitzgerald Trio is an engaging, multi-layered musical convergence that features Fitzgerald on 7- string guitar, Mike Anderson on bass and Bruce Handloff on drums. While each member is an accomplished jazz musician and top-flight soloist, this trio uses remarkable, seemingly telepathic communication skills to create thoughtful, sophisticated arrangements that feature a modern, captivating and unique sound that provides solid melodic footing, while leaving room for spontaneous, creativity. With a band requirement of having fun, combined with few, if any musical boundaries, all mixed into an open, improvisational jazz format, is a sure recipe to expect the unexpected. A listener will be treated to anything from hard swinging traditional jazz arrangements to re-imagined classic pop tunes often disguised in clever, thought-provoking arrangements. Performances include Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, Abbott Square Market, Cabrillo Music Festival. KPIG Radio, Los Gatos Fiesta de Artes, Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival, Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Artichoke Festival, Begonia Festival, Jazz On the Wharf and others

LEFTY ROSA:

Lefty Rosa | Spotify

Lefty Rosa (@leftyrosa) • Instagram photos and videos

PLASTIC NANCY: Some skull-crushing psychedelia for the whole family to enjoy!

Plastic Nancy (@plasticnancyofficial) • Instagram photos and videos

She's So Fancy | Plastic Nancy

Plastic Nancy | Spotify

THE UMBRELLAS: The Umbrellas are four renegade romantics crafting irresistible indie pop hymns. The band’s self-titled 2021 debut album became a breakout moment, winning critical praise and sparking an international tour. Follow-up LP ‘Fairweather Friend’ goes a step further – absorbing the sonic attack of their live shows, it balances this with studio finesse, allowing the San Francisco four-piece to become the band they’ve always aspired to be.

It’s a record overflowing with highlights. The candyfloss melodies of introductory track ‘Three Cheers!’ are matched to an impactful percussive punch; ‘Say What You Mean’ finds The Umbrellas working with total confidence, letting the song ride out to its chiming conclusion, four voices working in precision. ‘When You Find Out’ offers rotating notes of guitar punctuated by a vocal that pushes past angst to accept a world full of hope. A lean 10 track affair, it grasps towards beatific pop while fuelled by a sense of risk, and the precision that comes from long months on the road.

The Umbrellas coalesced around a group of musicians who would frequent legendary San Francisco record emporium Amoeba Music. Singer and guitarist Matt Ferrera links with bassist Nick Oka, while Keith Frerichs is the powerhouse drummer. A chance encounter with Morgan Stanley singing karaoke at a Fourth of July party cemented the line-up around an avowed thirst for melody. “All of us love really earnest pop songs,” Nick points out. “I guess we got to a point in our lives where we wanted to be genuine.”

Music | The Umbrellas

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

We are excited to bring back the LEGENDARY FUNK NIGHT to THE CREPE PLACE! Join us on TUESDAY nights for a boogie down dance party from 8pm until midnight!

CHEV DOG:

Stream CHEV DOG music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud

Death and Saxes is a jazz quartet focused on improvisation-- exploring the classic music of the 50s and 60s. Founded by saxophonist John Bouwsma, the band offers spontaneity and excitement at every show. Featuring John Bouwsma on Tenor Saxophone, Harrison Brand on Guitar, Jamie Brudnick on Upright Bass, and Ben Sibley on Drums.

MEDICINE ROAD: Leader & songwriter, Paul(a.k.a. Pablo) Eagle from Lacey Washington, uses his Native American roots of storytelling, and mixes it in with the bands music. He calls their brand of music Americana-delic. It's new, original, yet sounds familiar, as if the 60's meshed with the 21st Century!

  Paul's musical heroes have shaped the way he writes his music. He's influenced by Native American musicians like Jesse Ed Davis, Loli Vegas(Redbone), Robbie Robertson, Gene Clark(Byrds), Buffy Sainte Marie, and American rock bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin(1st & 2nd albums), the Beatles, Grateful Dead and so many more! 

Home | Medicine Road

HENRY WARDE BAND: There is something special about California Country Music, it's always had a distinct sound and that is true about Hank & Ella’s Band. At live shows people always leave feeling uplifted by their high energy performances, and great stage presence. The band is known for making a dance party happen anywhere they play.

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

Wanna be a rock star? It all starts here…

Sign up for an Open Mic slot at 6:30pm.

Open Mic runs from 7 to 9pm.

FREE

Dinner, Drinks, & Live Music at The Crepe Place.
Please come join us for the inaugural monthly jazz dinner night at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, CA. Join us on the back Patio for two hours of live jazz music performed by local professional musicians to accompany your food and libations.

If you would like to bring an instrument and sit in please contact a house band member ahead of time and be respectful of these Jam Guidelines:

1. The bandstand is a space for communication, respect, and deep learning.
2. As musicians we are here for the music AND the audience, they are our patrons, be sensitive to their listening needs.
3. If there are numerous horn players on stage, please keep solos short to allow room for other musicians to perform.
4. When playing with a vocalist, keep your solos to 1-2 choruses maximum.
5. No I-Real/Real Books on stage. The goal is to come together and play songs we know. Please learn the changes at home and use your ears on stage, not your eyes.

SUN HOP FAT: For years Sun Hop Fat has been at the forefront of introducing the unique sounds of Ethiopian Jazz. Their music blends the rhythms of traditional American funk and jazz with harmonies and melodies from East Africa. Originally the band focused on covering arrangements from the “golden era” of Ethiopian Jazz, but now their sound includes many original compositions. This all-star band includes standout musicians from other popular San Francisco Bay Area groups.

Sun Hop Fat has developed a solid following throughout Northern California by playing a number of clubs and festivals. The ability of the band to captivate sit down jazz crowds as well as steal the spotlight in prime festival slots, encouraging crowds to get up and dance, makes the group flexible in its appeal and garners support from diverse audiences.

“…a steady wall of extraordinary moving sound and beats…” – San Francisco Examiner

Homepage | Sun Hop Fat

Cayuga Jazz band plays swing, jazz standards, blues, be-bop, bossa novas and other American improvisational style music rooted in the 1940s 50s and 60s. Front line trumpet, tenor and alto saxophones play arranged parts supported by bass, guitar and sometimes piano.

The Cayuga Jazz Band is:

Greg Morrison - guitar

Jeffrey Werner - bass

Len Moore - trumpet

Marcia Quackenbush - Alto & Tenor Sax

Raymond Mendoza - guitar

Steve Gray - alto sax

Rosebud is a band of veteran musicians from the Bay Area and California Central Coast. The band plays a mix of original music as well as interpreting songs from the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Van Morrison, David Lindley, and many more. The band typically mixes all these into their set, but has been known to play shows of all Grateful Dead or shows of all original music.

Rosebud features rhythm guitarist Scott Cooper, whose music can regularly be heard on KPIG radio and other stations. His debut CD reached #5 on the national jam band charts. The band is grounded by the drumming of Mark Corsolini, formerly of Dark Star Orchestra and Melvin Seals' JGB. Lead guitarist Fred Rodriguez is an in-demand soloist whose tone and taste are reminiscent of Jerry Garcia and Dickie Betts, while maintaining an identifiable and individual voice of his own. Fred played in the popular trio Three-Legged Dawg along with bassist Andy Birchett. Lastly, keyboard player Lachlan "Citizen" Kane rounds out the band with his stellar vocal harmonies, honky tonk piano and signature plaid attire.

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

Science on Tap

Monthly on the FIRST MONDAY of the month.

​

Come one, come all to the “science café” in Santa Cruz. This event is designed to connect the Santa Cruz community to the latest research happening just up the hill at U.C. Santa Cruz.  It is not an exclusive “club meeting” for scientists and science majors - we aim to appeal to all audiences! So come join us at the Crepe Place, grab a beer, relax, and hear some interesting and cutting-edge science that’s happening near you!

​

Science on Tap is based on the Nova and Sigma Xi "science café" model and is generally on the FIRST MONDAY of every month.

EMPIRE GRADE: Beginning in early 2025, Empire Grade is a four-piece rock band from Santa Cruz, CA. Blending different eras and genres of rock together, Empire Grade's style is both reminiscent and fresh. 

The group originated with drummer William Crick and bassist Neville Gruhler. They met guitarist and pianist Nick Sax, set up a jam, and had instant musical chemistry. The three musicians immediately set about arranging and writing songs and playing shows across Santa Cruz.

The band played as a three-piece until meeting vocalist Charlie Vail. Charlie's first session with the band made one thing apparent: Vail was here to stay.

The band has become a reputable Santa Cruz band, organized a SoCal tour, and released two singles. They are currently working on their debut album which will be released in late 2026.

Empire Grade - Official Website

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

Wanna be a rock star? It all starts here…

Sign up to participate at 6:30pm. Open Mic is from 7 to 9pm.

BROWN DOG:

Lick Of Winter | Brown Dog

Brown Dog | Spotify

RICHARD TRIPPS:

Richard Tripps | Richard Tripps

SILVER LINING SERENADERS: "A vibrant musical ensemble based in New Orleans, they embrace the city's active trad jazz scene with a repertoire heavy on vintage jazz, swing, and Western swing.  This collective of passionate musicians, anchored by violinist Ella Thomasine and guitarist Scott Stobbe, are popular along the Frenchmen Street corridor and beyond, capturing the essence of New Orleans' musical legacy by blending infectious rhythms, soulful melodies, and a jubilant atmosphere that inspires listeners and dancers."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Silver-Lining-Serenaders

http://www.thesilverliningserenaders.com

WILD IRIS: Wild Iris is a songwriting collaboration between Kate Mullikin and Bryan Shelton from Santa Cruz, CA. Wild Iris is an acoustic mix of musical genres. Local guitarist Bryan Shelton's folksy picking style along with Kate Mullikin's evocative lyrics and smokey vocals make their duo a fresh listening experience. Formed in the Fall of 2013 at a beach-side convenience store, Wild Iris have since released their first full-length album (2016), The Sleepless Light (2019) and Forward Now (2022).

HOME | wild-iris

Music | Wild Iris

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

RUTH GARBUS: Ruth Garbus is a musician living in Brattleboro, VT. Primarily a songwriter and vocalist, Ruth has released numerous solo albums, EP's, and singles. She is also a member of the groups Earth Flower and Gloyd.

Music | Ruth Garbus

PLANKTON WAT:

Plankton Wat | Band Profile | Sun Cru

VILLAGE OF SPACES:

That's Understanding | Village Of Spaces

THE GUS FACTOR: The Gus Factor is an amalgam of musicians whose range of melodic influences drives original music with edge, funkiness, intensity, and soul. The Gus Factor consists of lead guitarist Mark Tveskov, drummer Matt Blakeley, and bassist Joe Capezza, all based in Southern Oregon; and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Pete Gonda, who hails from the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Mark and Pete formed the band on the East Coast in the late 1980s before going separate ways with westward moves in the 1990s. Meanwhile, they continued various musical endeavors in their respective locations, but these ventures lacked the same kinetic Gus energy fans thrived on. Pete joined forces with Mark, Matt and Joe in 2025, and the Western Edition of The Gus Factor was born.

When asked how he would characterize our music, Mark's son remarked: "Swampcore!" Come groove with us and hear for yourself.

Socials:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

TEN STEP DRAW:

Ten Step Draw (@tenstepdraw) • Instagram photos and videos

HEX PEST:

Music | HEX PEST

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

SUN HOP FAT: For years Sun Hop Fat has been at the forefront of introducing the unique sounds of Ethiopian Jazz. Their music blends the rhythms of traditional American funk and jazz with harmonies and melodies from East Africa. Originally the band focused on covering arrangements from the “golden era” of Ethiopian Jazz, but now their sound includes many original compositions. This all-star band includes standout musicians from other popular San Francisco Bay Area groups.

Sun Hop Fat has developed a solid following throughout Northern California by playing a number of clubs and festivals. The ability of the band to captivate sit down jazz crowds as well as steal the spotlight in prime festival slots, encouraging crowds to get up and dance, makes the group flexible in its appeal and garners support from diverse audiences.

“…a steady wall of extraordinary moving sound and beats…” – San Francisco Examiner

Homepage | Sun Hop Fat

THE IAN FAYS: This San Francisco indie, electronica, folk rock band was formed on June 9, 1984 - the day singer-songwriter sisters Lizz and Sara Fay were born. "The music just kind of followed," say the Fay twins. "Dad Fay didn't believe all his kids needed bedrooms, but rather the Fay family always needed a music room. The living room was covered with amps, cords and 4-track machines. One boring summer, the siblings all started to put this junk to good use." The Fay family migrated up to Humboldt County, where they pretended to go to college but really invested in "matching costumes and large quantities of lollipops." They also adopted (real) sister, Lena, and (pretend) brother, Bradley, into the band. Soon the Ian Fays, named in honor of "the most gorgeous boy" at the twin sisters' junior high school, began gigging and presto - the Ian Fays were signed to Italian label Homesleep Music.

Grateful Sundays at the Crepe Place take place in the beautiful garden.  Full meals are available, and the Garden Bar is open for service!

For the past number of years, Matt has hosted the highly successful series "Grateful Sundays".  This ongoing residency has attracted the finest musicians in the Grateful Dead music genre.  While constantly in-demand as a stage and session player throughout the Bay Area, Hartle is also a founding member and musical linchpin of no less than four, Santa Cruz-based bands: Shady Groove - the funky blues, jazz-rock and R&B outfit (a Bay Area favorite going strong since 2001); Painted Mandolin - an acoustic quartet featuring multi-instrumental wizard Joe Craven, of The Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and David Grisman Quintet; Spirit of 76 - a premier collection of Grateful Dead players, focusing on the jazzy, mid-'70's incarnation of the Dead; and Matt is also renowned as the firebrand lead guitarist of The China Cats, the highly respected Grateful Dead tribute act, a Bay Area favorite.

JOINT SOULS:

Joint Souls | Spotify

HARRY AND THE HITMEN: Join us for our end of Summer GARDEN PARTY! An afternoon of music and dancing on the Crepe Place Garden Stage with our pals Harry and the Hitmen! Bring the whole family!

Harry and the Hitmen

SASUPAKE: Sasupake (sah-soo-PAH-kay) is a quartet based in Santa Cruz, California. We play whatever we enjoy, and whatever adapts well to our instrumentation of kanun, accordion, bass and drums.

SQUIRRELS OF WISDOM: Squirrels of Wisdom was formed when four women came together to perform at a homegrown music festival in 2018. They had such a good time that they’ve been playing together ever since. Their scurry of Squirrels has now grown to six and they’re having more fun than ever! With each band member contributing song ideas, they play an eclectic mix of original songs and rocking covers. The Squirrels of Wisdom are in it for the fun of it and they’ll put a smile on your face and a shake in your tail!

Squirrels of Wisdom

CASANOSTRA:

CASANOSTRA - LiVE - California March 2025 - (C) (P) All Rights Reserved

SPLENDOR: Splendor the first shoegaze band to come out of a Santa Cruz. A mix of romantic rock and ethereal soundscapes.

POOR MAN’S WHISKEY: Northern California’s outlaw music bards bring a reputation for high-energy live shows and an incomparable fusion of bluegrass/old time, southern rock, and old school jam to stages and festivals worldwide. Poor Man’s Whiskey has been growing exponentially in the past 5 years selling out venues across the country such as the legendary Fillmore in SF.This “High-Octane Hootenanny” will certainly delight those interested in a foot-stompin good time. Poor Man’s Whiskey has evolved into a ragged, spontaneous beast pulling from equally deep wells of story-telling originals, expertly crafted covers and zany on-stage shenanigans. PMW has released 6 studio albums and have a stunning repertoire to choose songs from creating a new show every night. In addition to their upbeat original sets Poor Man’s Whiskey have developed special late night “tribute sets” with their original bluegrass/americana twists which include “Dark Side of the Moonshine” (bluegrass interpretation of the classic Pink Floyd album) , “Graceland” (tribute to the classic Paul Simon album),  “Old and In the Way”,  “Tribute to Allman Brothers Band”, and “Tribute to Kate Wolf”.  Crowds of all ages will sing, dance and have a good time!

Poor Man's Whiskey PMW_Homepage - Poor Man's Whiskey

A new-on-the-scene band playing Kris Kristofferson (and adjacent) covers. They are a collection of musicians from various groups: Sugar By the Pound, Wolf Jett, Skinny Ricky and the Casual Encounters, Sol Majestic, etc. They play Kris, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash songs.

Instagram @thesilvertongueddevils

MR VALE’S MATH CLASS: Mr. Vale's Math Class is more than the sum of its parts—the six-piece funk band brings rollicking dance-party vibes backed by zippy horns, wink-and-a-nod lyrics, and an energizing stage performance to the Pacific Northwest and beyond. If only high school math class were this much fun.

Oscillating between playful and serious, the band riffs its way through blues, funk, and jammy notes from bygone eras, with modern, fresh lyrics that feel plucked from a math wizard's hat. Rest assured, Mr. Vale's Math Class will have you grooving to the golden mean, even if you can't find your protractor or remember how to do quadratic equations. 

Led by the multi-instrumentalist and math tutor Jordan Vale on keys, trumpet, and vocals, the group includes musicians Nick Hamel on guitar, Milo Fultz on bass, James Ford on drums, David Burrows on auxiliary percussion, and Lhanna Writesal on saxophone, along with a rotating cast of dynamic guest musicians.

Always cooking up something new, Mr. Vale's Math Class released Live, Math, Love part 1 in 2026, a four-song EP that blends funky grooves, heartfelt moments, and clever math-inspired storytelling and builds on the band's identity as cheeky educators with serious musical chops. The EP followed several 2005 and 2022 singles and its 2002 album We Can Help You Out, which Eleven PDX called "a funky, jazzy, lovefest."