Slam poet chamption Buddy Wakefield performs at SCMF July 20.
With over 100 acts to catch in a single day, the Santa Cruz Music Festival might seem a bit overwhelming. DJ or live band? Slam poetry or electro-pop? Assembled below is a list of 15 artists who might not all be familiar, but are all worth seeing. All shows are July 20 in downtown Santa Cruz, and tickets are available at Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz, or through santacruzmusicfestival.com
ALMOST CHAOS Just looking at them, it’s hard to believe this quartet of Santa Cruz teens has been playing since 2007—when the members were barely 12 years old. However, all doubts disappear as soon as they start playing. The reggae-rockers were voted one of the top 10 teen bands at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) convention in 2010 and 2012. Plus, they’re playing a FREE stage so there’s no excuse not to support a great local act. Woodstock’s Pizza, 4pm.
BUDDY WAKEFIELD A poet’s life is as interesting as his words, and this two-time Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2004, 2005) is a perfect example. In 2001, he walked away from his executive assistant position for a biomedical firm, sold his possessions and moved into his car to tour the poetry circuit. Since then he has written three books, recorded three spoken word CDs (one for Sage Francis’ Strange Famous Records label) and is known as one of the top slam poetry artists today. His words will move your soul and take your brain for a spin. This show will definitely be packed, so get there early. Kuumbwa, 4:50pm.
CLARK KENT At only 20 years old, Santa Cruz DJ Clark Kent is already making a name for himself in the dubstep world. His original tracks and remixes pour through different genres of music, creating a diverse mix of heavy beats and sweet melodies. Rosie McCann’s, 3:35pm.
THE COUP This Oakland-based, political hip-hop group has been blazing the scene since 1990, writing rhymes to empower the powerless and remind people of their rights. Founding members Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funkstress just released The Coup’s sixth full-length album, Sorry to Bother You, last year, so there will be a whole new arsenal of material to drop on Santa Cruz’s ears. Boots Riley will also be performing at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center with a spoken-word segment that will definitely be buzzed about. Catalyst Atrium, 11pm.
ELIQUATE Five-piece socially conscious party rockers Eliquate have been playing the Santa Cruz scene for three years, tirelessly writing rhymes and perfecting their live performance. After a few Kickstarter fundraisers, the band bought and fixed a school bus, then embarked on a U.S. tour last April. In the past three months since returning, they recorded their first full-length album, which will be dropping in August. Catalyst Atrium, 8:45pm.
MAGIC BRONSON Hailing from the City of Angels, Magic Bronson is a producer duo whose “California-in-the-summertime” dance beats recently landed them a contract with the digital label Woodlake Records. Matthew Lieberman and Michael Nicastro first met in 2009, after each had played in various bands throughout the L.A. scene, and decided it was time for something new. Without relying too heavily on the bass, Magic Bronson creates fun pop music that floats through the room leaving shaking hips and smiling lips. Streetlight Records, 5pm.
MIDI MATILDA One of 2013’s breakout indie artists, with over 100,000 views on their debut music video, San Francisco-based electro-pop duo Midi Matilda is definitely having a moment. Self-described as “Daft Punk meets the White Stripes” (they’re heavier on the Daft Punk), Midi Matilda is for anyone who loves dancing to ’80s pop under the neon lights. They’re being hailed as one of the top bands to see at Outside Lands this summer, so beat the crowds by catching them at SCMF. Blue Lagoon, 11pm.
MY SATELLITE This darkwave pop quartet has played the Los Angeles circuit for a couple of years now, earning a mass following of over 10,000 people on Facebook. Their music is a hallucinatory daze of colors and sounds, dreamily taking its audience to wherever their minds allow. I couldn’t even tell you where I saw them perform, I just remember how captivated I was by what I was hearing. It’s an experience I’ll be looking for again at SCMF. Streetlight Records, 6pm.
NATIVE SIBLING Native Sibling is an appropriate name for this brother-sister duo from Santa Cruz. Ryan and Kaylee Williams summon the natural sounds of their hometown mountains to play a delicate and graceful style of folk. Their deeply rich and emotional music floats its listener down a cool river of dreamy ballads safely to a place called “home.” Streetlight Records, 1pm.
PLANET BOOTY If you’re looking for a party, then San Francisco rockers Planet Booty will funk you up. Outrageous costumes, choreographed dance moves and spaced-out electro-synths blending disco, 80’s and gospel funk make Planet Booty a full-sensory show. If James Brown, Rick James and Giorgio Moroder ever got down together, Planet Booty would be the love child. Blue Lagoon, 9pm.
PUMPKIN Los Angeles-based DJ Pumpkin has been rising quickly in the electronic scene, spinning to massive crowds at the annual Lightning in a Bottle festival. Since 2006, Pumpkin has been a part of the esteemed Pocket Underground collective of producers and DJs, carving a name for himself with bands like Florence + the Machine and the Mowgli’s seeking his talent for remixes. Seeing him spin for a tiny crowd at Motiv will give people street cred for years to come. Motiv, 5:30pm.
REDLIGHT DISTRICT For the love of Jimi Hendrix, go see this band! The Redlight District is a true rock band in every sense of the word, with their psychedelic-dipped blues riffs, steady rhythm section, soulful keyboards and frontman sex appeal. Streetlight Records, 7pm.
ROADKILL GHOST CHOIR As their name suggests, Roadkill Ghost Choir’s music is an eerie slice of Americana. Born in Deland, Florida, RGC comprises six guys who list their band interest as “long hair,” and play a blend of rock flavored with folk and dusted by the road. It’s what Neil Young would’ve sounded like if he’d never discovered the distortion pedal. Kuumbwa, 6:30pm.
SMASHELTOOTH Born in punk rock, raised in reggae and giving birth to the latest in trap and dance floor hits, Santa Cruz DJ Smasheltooth never lacks mixes to play. Lately, she’s been making a name for herself on the festival circuit, spinning at the Bounce Festival along with both Emissions and Raindance campouts. Wherever she performs there’s sure to be a party, and the Santa Cruz Music Festival is the perfect place for the tiger to show her fangs. Motiv, 7:30pm.
VULTURES AT ARMS REACH Playing together for barely two years, this Santa Cruz sludge-filled doom trio already has two EPs under their dark hoods, with rumors circulating of a full-length album later this year. Their vocals are brutally hurled down a cliff by an avalanche of sound coming from the guitar and rhythm section. Vultures At Arms Reach will expand your mind by grabbing a hold of your eardrums and pushing them through a meat grinder of metal. Blue Lagoon, 7pm.
