For the Week of July 13, 2009.

Monday /// Tuesday /// Wednesday /// Thursday

PICK OF THE WEEK

Eric Hutchinson rocks and rolls into The Catalyst

Eric Hutchinson performs Thursday at The Catalyst.

Addictive, finger-snapping, catchy. There’s something about Eric Hutchinson’s tunes that sticks in your mind and leaves you bouncing down the street long after the music is gone. Hutchinson’s “Rock and Roll” can be heard everywhere these days, from Jimmy Kimmel Live to the trailer for Away We Go.

The Maryland singer-songwriter, who has been touring nonstop since January 2008 in support of his self-released album Sounds Like This, visits The Catalyst on Thursday. After losing a deal with Maverick Records when the label folded, Hutchinson became an “overnight” success when a friend emailed celebrity blogger Perez Hilton a link to his MySpace page. Hilton’s recommendation put Hutchinson’s album into iTunes’ top 10.

Since then, Hutchinson has been working on his goal of touring all 50 states while working on songs for his second album. He’s up to state 45.

Catch Eric Hutchinson with San Diego singer-songwriter Anya Marina. 8:30 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Ages 16+. (831) 423-1338.

Monday

EDITOR’S PICK: Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Rio. The a capella sounds of Ladysmith Black Mambazo come to Santa Cruz. Catapulted to fame when they appeared with Paul Simon on Graceland, the South African group’s latest album Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu, won the 2009 Grammy Award for best traditional world music. 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. $30 – $45. Advance tickets online at kuumbwajazz.org. (831) 423-8209.

Shipwrecked! director at Capitola Book Cafe. Director Eric Ting talks about his production of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies’ Shipwrecked! An Entertainment – The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told By Himself), which is part of Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s 2009 season. 7:30 p.m. Capitola Book Cafe, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. Free. (831) 462-4415.

Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.

Sara Watkins at Don Quixote’s. Singing melodies from her solo debut, Sara Watkins of the Grammy Award-winning group Nickel Creek will be backed by Sean Watkins (also of Nickel Creek), Sebastian Steinberg and Don Heffington. 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $12. Under 21 allowed with parent. (831) 603-2294.

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Tuesday

EDITOR’S PICK: Sweden’s Abalone Dots at Don Quixote’s. An all-women’s bluegrass group from Sweden, Abalone Dots is known for their incredible harmonies. 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $10. Under 21 allowed with parent. (831) 603-2294.

Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.

Poets Francisco X. Alarcón & Lorna Dee Cervantes at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Listen to the lyrical. Poetry Santa Cruz and Bookshop Santa Cruz team to bring poets Francisco X. Alarcón (Sonnets to Madness and Other Misfortunes)and Lorna Dee Cervantes (Drive: The First Quartet) to the store for readings. 7:30 p.m. Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz. $3 donation suggested. (831) 423-0900.

The Legendary Santa Cruz Poetry Slam at The Crepe Place. Watch poets duke it out. It’s like a poetry death match, but no one dies and there’s a prize at the end of it. 8 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. $4. (831) 429-6994.

Entropyfunk & Fish Out Of Water at Moe’s Alley. Funky is as funky does, says Entropyfunk’s Myspace page. The Atlanta-based funky soul powerhouse makes their Santa Cruz debut on a special double-bill with Fish Out of Water. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $5 in advance, $8 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

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Wednesday

EDITOR’S PICK: Chicago Afrobeat Project at Moe’s Alley. Blowing in from the Windy City, this non-traditional band brings high-energy rock and experimental jazz to its afro-centric sound. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.

Mark Russo & The Classycats at Esplanade Park. Swing to the saxophone stylings of Mark Russo & The Classycats, part of Capitola’s Twilight Concert Series. 6 – 8 p.m. Capitola Village Esplanade Park, corner of Esplanade and Monterey Avenue, Capitola. Free. (831) 475-5935.

Pathways to the Past at MAH. Celebrate Santa Cruz County history. The Museum of Art and History holds a talk with historical journal Pathways to the Past editor Joan Gilbert Martin and contributors Carolyn Swift, Stanley D. Stevens and Alverda Orlando on the latest edition. 7:30 p.m.. Museum of Art and History at The McPherson Center,705 Front Street, Santa Cruz. Free (831) 429-1964.

Michael Kang with the Chris Berry Trio at the Veterans Memorial Building. String Cheese Incident’s Michael Kang (mandolin, violin, guitar) joins Chris Berry’s world fusion band, CB3 (Chris Berry Trio) and the rhythm section from the 2009 Grammy Award-nominated electronic dance band Brazilian Girls in an ecstatic night of free-flying global fusion jamming. Fast-rising Bay Area group High Heat, featuring Sean Hodge opens the evening. Proceeds benefit Seva Foundation. 7:30 p.m. Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St, Santa Cruz. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. (831) 454-0478.

Mystic Roots in The Catalyst’s Atrium. Hip-hop mixes with reggae and dancehall beats when the Mystic Roots Band headlines The Catalyst’s Atrium. This Chico-born, Oceanside-based band plans to release its new full-length album later this summer. Top Shelf and Natural Incense will also groove. 8 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Ages 16+. (831) 423-1338.

R.O.M.P. at The Crepe Place. What does it stand for? Who knows. 8 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 429-6994.

Electric Leaves at The Blue Lagoon. Ambient with a beat. Santa Cruz’s Electric Leaves plays The Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. (831) 423-7117.

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Thursday

EDITOR’S PICK: Eric Hutchinson in The Catalyst’s Atrium. If you want to rock, you rock. If you want to roll, you roll. If you want to see Eric Hutchinson, you go to The Catalyst’s Atrium. Hutchinson, who’s been heard everywhere from the trailer to Away We Go to Jimmy Kimmel Live, headlines the show, which also features San Diego singer-songwriter Anya Marina. 8:30 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Ages 16+. (831) 423-1338.

Cirque Magnifique at the Boardwalk. Cycle stunts, gravity-defying balance and more grace the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when Cirque Magnifique rolls into town. Performances will be held Monday-Thursday noon & 3 p.m. and Sunday noon & 6 p.m. Through August 20. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.

Johnny Almond’s Big Bash at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. This extremely rare live appearance by woodwind devotee Johnny Almond features heavy-hitting collaborators from the Bay Area and beyond. 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Dinner available one hour before. First come, first served. 1-866-55-TICKETS or (831) 427-2227 for information.

Monroe Crossing at Don Quixote’s. Banjos will be busting out all over when the Minnesota bluegrass group Monroe Crossing comes to Felton. 7:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $10. Under 21 allowed with parent. (831) 603-2294.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Cabrillo. Four actors play forty characters in this hit musical exploration of relationships produced by Cabrillo Stage, Santa Cruz’s only professional musical theatre company. 8 p.m. Closes July 26. See http://www.cabrillostage.com for other date/time details. Cabrillo’s Erica Schilling Forum, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. $20 child (6-12), $23 senior (60+), $26 adult. (831) 479-6154.

Indian Jewelry & Psychic Ills at The Crepe Place. Hard-driving girl rockers Indian Jewelry and trance musicians Psychic Ills bring their Fear This tour to Santa Cruz. 9 p.m. The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz. $8. (831) 429-6994.

Sila & The Afrofunk Experience join Bayonics at Moe’s Alley. Singing in Swahili? Check. Hip-hop spiced with Latin flavor? Check. Dig the groove until last call when Bay area bands Sila & The Afrofunk Experience and Bayonics share the bill at Moe’s Alley. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. (831) 479-1854.

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