[ July 3, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] The Smithereens at the Boardwalk. They’ll say anything you want to hear. Eighties group The Smithereens rock the Beach Bandstand with hits “A Girl Like You,” “Blood and Roses,” “Behind the Wall of Sleep” and more. 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Beach Bandstand, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 423-5590.

[ July 3, 2009; 9:00 pm; ] Eek A Mouse at The Catalyst. Catch the beat when Jamaican reggae star Eek A Mouse, whose name refers to a racehorse he once bet on, plays The Catalyst. Hits include “Wah Do Dem,” ” Modelling Queen,” “Wild Like a Tiger” and more. 9 p.m. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $14 in advance, [...]

[ July 4, 2009; 10:30 am; ] A Fifties Fourth. Hula Hoop contests, a Sock Hop, live music and an all-American barbecue take revelers back to the Fifties for the Fourth at Roaring Camp. 10:30 a.m. Roaring Camp, Graham Hill Road, Felton. Parking $7. (831) 335-4484.

[ July 4, 2009; 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. ] A 1909 Independence Day Celebration. Wilder Ranch State Park holds an old-fashioned Fourth of July, complete with a parade, speeches, historic lawn games, a cake walk, ice cream cranking, crafts, wagon rides, food and more. The Society Orchestra and the 5 Ms Band will perform popular 1909 tunes. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wilder Ranch [...]

[ July 4, 2009; 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. ] Party in the Park. Pony rides, a petting zoo, a climbing wall, food booths and bounce houses will be the background for all-day performances by local band Extra Large during Aptos’ Party in the Park. 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road, Aptos. Free, but $5 donation requested. (831) 688-1467.

[ July 4, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] Fireworks and fun in Scotts Valley. Carnival booths, bounce houses, pony rides, food booths and live music will keep revelers busy until the fireworks start. 6:30 p.m. Mike Hadley and the Groove go onstage. 9:15 p.m. fireworks start. Skypark, 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley. $5 in advance, $7 day of. (831) 438-3251.

[ July 6, 2009; 7:00 pm; 10:00 pm; ] With a four octave range that wrings emotion from jazz standards, The New York Times calls him “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time.” Elling, with the Laurence Hobgood Trio and saxophonist Ernie Watts, pays tribute to the music of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. 7 & 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 [...]

[ July 8, 2009; 8:30 pm; ] Killer bluegrass from New York City? Yes, New York City. The Five Deadly Venoms bring their unique vision of American acoustic and Bluegrass music all the way from the Big Apple to Felton. 8:30 p.m. Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $15. Ages 21+. (831)603-2294

[ July 9, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, arranger… is there any title this native Santa Cruzian doesn’t hold? The current New Yorker returns to her former hometown for a jazzy night. 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Jazz & dinner combo $24.60 in advance. Reservations required. Dinner [...]

[ July 10, 2009; 12:00 pm; ] Join the cast of Shipwrecked! An Entertainment and director Eric Ting for some behind-the-scenes insights into this adventurous play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies. The play opens Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s season on July 24. Noon. Nickelodeon Theater, 210 Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz. Free. (831) 459-2159.