AI PlannerSanta Cruz in December
Exciting events and experiences happening this month in Santa Cruz.
Moe's Alley and KPIG Present: Ana Popovic at The Rio Theatre w/ Anthony Arya
Event Information
Moes Alley and KPIG present legendary blues artist Ana Popovic at The Rio Theatre with special guest Anthony Arya!Wednesday, December 3, 2025Doors: 6pm / Show: 7pm$35 in advance / $40 day of the show All Ages*All sales are final***This show is at The Rio Theatre - 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz - not at Moes Alley***ANA POPOVICIn the 25 years since the release of her debut record, Hometown, tail-gunning blues virtuoso Ana Popovic has proved herself a force of nature with a vintage Stratin hand. Guitar World Ana Popovic Melds Rock, Blues, and Jazz for Fiery Power No Depression A badass with a silver Strat, she performs the heck out of this song [Worked Up], owning it with swagger and grace. Worked Up captures her love of funky grooves plus the edginess of rocking guitar power. Rock & Blues Muse Los Angeles-based and critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Ana Popovic is set to release her highly anticipated album Dance To The Rhythm (Electric Heel Records) on September 26, 2025. Produced by Popovic and Buthel, the album showcases a groundbreaking fusion of groove, blues, funk, and soul. Building on the success of her previous work, Dance To The Rhythm pushes boundaries, seamlessly blending infectious dance grooves (Dance To The Rhythm / Sho Nuff) with raw blues guitar and powerful lyrics. From the soulful Soulution to the funky Hottest Ticket In Town and the bluesy Dwell On The Feeling, California Chase, the album weaves a rich tapestry of musical styles, reflecting Popovics masterful versatility. The track Sisters and Brothers channels a Steely Dan-like arrangement, while Hurt So Good brings a contemporary mainstream flair. The ultimate jam comes in the form of a clever reimagining of Paul Simons 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. ANTHONY ARYAAnthony Arya is an Americana performing s The Voice. Coach Adam Levine said: It blows my mind Im telling you right now, your whole situation, the way you engage with an audience, the way you sing you are so special, dude. People are gonna fall madly in love with how you do it.Since then, he has released 4 full length albums winning national awards for his songwriting. From his soulful lyrics to gritty guitar riffs, some say Anthony Arya is at the forefront of the next generation of singer / songwriter / guitar-players once defined by musical icons like Neil Young and Tom Petty.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Moe's Alley Presents: The Slackers w/ The Inciters + DJ Malamento
Event Information
Moes Alley presents the return of The Slackers with special guests The Inciters plus DJ Malamento (aka Ben M, the drummer for The California Honeydrops)!Saturday, December 6, 2025Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+* Tickets go on sale Thursday, August 14th at 10am PT **All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com===THE SLACKERSFor 34 years, the NYC-based and critically acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.Since 1991, the Slackers have released fifteen albums and countless singles, while their 1000s of live performances feed their fans with energetic sets of ecstatic music. The Slackers have been called the Sound of New York by the New York Times. They were described by Brooklyn Vegan as a clean mix of Ska, Reggae, and Soul that gets dirtied up by Vic Ruggieros tough New York accent. In April 2022, The Slackers released a new album, Dont Let The Sunlight Fool Ya (Pirates Press) which quickly shot to the top of the US Billboard charts. The first time that a Slackers album has charted! Ironically after 30 years as a band, they qualified as a Billboard new artist! The Washington Post noted that the Slackers remain at the top of their game. The chart topping sales of Dont Let The Sunlight Fool Ya capped a 2 year comeback of the Slackers. When Covid stopped live shows in 2020, the Slackers pivoted to livestreams and made 5 full band concerts that were broadcast internationally to an audience of thousands. After the streams, they stayed in the studio and recorded the tunes that became Dont Let the Sunlight Fool Ya.The Slackers capped this comeback with a series of frenetic tours in 2022 and 2023. They played everything from clubs to festivals in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Brazil. In 2024, they booked 90 shows. They are also currently working on a 20th anniversary reissue of their classic album, Close My Eyes for September and on a new single of original music for October. THE INCITERSThe Inciters play northern soul music.Northern Soul takes the Motown/Stax ethic but adds a stronger back-beat with more adventurous production, and The Inciters continue this tradition in grand style. With ten members (sometimes more!) wielding drums, bass, guitar, a full horn section, and three female vocals, The Inciters have no problem filling a room with the powerful sound of soul. The three vocalists lead the band through finely crafted original songs as well as traditional soul music that will get you out of your seat and start to dance!The Inciters are from Santa Cruz, but travel the world in support of their internationally released records.Seeing them in their hometown is a unique experience. They bring in guest singers on occasion, sometimes quite famous soul artists. And they always have as much fun on stage as the audience does!
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
TELEPHONE NUMBERS, THE SHIMMERS, BUBBLE DAGGER
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Santa Cruz Warriors vs Valley Suns
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
PAPERBILLS TOUR
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Moe's Alley Presents: The Beat Farmers w/ Dirt Preachers Union
Event Information
Moes Alley presents Roots Rock n Roll legends The Beat Farmers with special guests Dirt Preachers Union! Thursday, December 11, 2025Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+*All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com=====THE BEAT FARMERSThe Beat Farmers are an American rock & roll band formed in San Diego, California in 1983. They went on to release seven albums before disbanding in 1995, following the untimely death of drummer Country Dick Montana, who died on stage in British Columbia, Canada during a Beat Farmers show.The band was a big part of the 1980s Roots Rock/Americana movement that included Los Lobos, The Blasters, Lone Justice, Rank & File, Jason & The Scorchers and The Long Ryders, just to name a few. They are continuously mentioned as a major influence on many of the acts on the current American scene.The original lineup of The Beat Farmers consisted of Jerry Raney, Buddy Blue, Rolle Love and Country Dick Montana. Blue left the band after two albums and was replaced by Joey Harris, who went on to record the next five albums with the band, including what many consider their crowning achievement, The Pursuit Of Happiness.DIRT PREACHERS UNIONThe Dirt Preachers Union is the stripped down, hot-rodded, diesel fueled progeny of Big Medicine Head, featuring the songs of Bob Gemmell and Johnny McGuire. The lineup is Bob Gemmell and Johnny McGuire on guitar and vocals, Dave Murray on bass and Chris Kressman on drums.With a musical sensibility tethered to the American west, Bob Gemmell has put together a run of cinematic albums that cover a range of influences, but are consistent at the core. Picture a Frederick Remington painting hanging over a smoky bar where Hank Williams leans into a deep conversation with Joe Strummer. Listen to Lonesome Desert Crawl from the first Big Medicine Head album Rex Hotel and try not to think of a big-block Dodge pounding across an empty Nevada highway.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
The Chop Tops - Final Reunion Shows w/ Los Dryheavers, The Swillbillys & Astro Zombies (Night 1)
Event Information
Moes Alley presents two nights of The Chop Tops, celebrating their two final hometown reunion shows! Friday nights show includes Los Dryheavers, The Swillbillys and Astro Zombies. Friday, December 12th (Night 1)Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+THE CHOP TOPSAfter 10 years of retirement, they are back Sometimes They Come Back, and this time its with a red-hot reunion album Fabrikate! This final 7th addition to The Chop Tops discography covers a lot of musical ground in the genre-blurring style theyre known for. Features tracks ranging from; Spaghetti Western and Santa Cruz Surf Instrumentals, Bluegrass Tales of the Devil NRoll, topped off with its Haunting Hot Rod title track! This final reunion album cruises to all the right stops along the way. In 1995, Sinner formed The Chop Tops as a way to share his love of rockabilly music but he also enjoyed other musical styles (like surf, punk, and psychobilly) and didnt want to stop playing them completely. So, the band blended their favorite music genres to create their own wild sound. The Chop Tops even coined the phrase Revved-Up Rockabilly to describe their unique combination of these styles. The band took their breed of rockabilly music across the U.S. and AU to perform more than 200 shows each year throughout their second decade of touring. Thanks to their musics unique style, blurring the lines between genres, theyve shared the stage with legendary greats from Chuck Berry to Dead Kennedys to Dick Dale and many more! So get in your ride, step on the gas, and race down to see The Chop Tops reunion showyoull be glad you didnt miss it!====+*All sales are final - no refunds*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
EZRA LIPP'S MAGIC IN THE OTHER
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
The Chop Tops - Final Reunion Shows w/ The Swillbillys, The Inciters & Surf Creeps (Night 2)
Event Information
Moes Alley presents two nights of The Chop Tops, celebrating their two final reunion shows! Saturday nights show includes The Swillbilly, The Inciters and the Surf Creeps!Saturday, December 13th (Night 2)Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+THE CHOP TOPSAfter 10 years of retirement, they are back Sometimes They Come Back, and this time its with a red-hot reunion album Fabrikate! This final 7th addition to The Chop Tops discography covers a lot of musical ground in the genre-blurring style theyre known for. Features tracks ranging from; Spaghetti Western and Santa Cruz Surf Instrumentals, Bluegrass Tales of the Devil NRoll, topped off with its Haunting Hot Rod title track! This final reunion album cruises to all the right stops along the way. In 1995, Sinner formed The Chop Tops as a way to share his love of rockabilly music but he also enjoyed other musical styles (like surf, punk, and psychobilly) and didnt want to stop playing them completely. So, the band blended their favorite music genres to create their own wild sound. The Chop Tops even coined the phrase Revved-Up Rockabilly to describe their unique combination of these styles. The band took their breed of rockabilly music across the U.S. and AU to perform more than 200 shows each year throughout their second decade of touring. Thanks to their musics unique style, blurring the lines between genres, theyve shared the stage with legendary greats from Chuck Berry to Dead Kennedys to Dick Dale and many more! So get in your ride, step on the gas, and race down to see The Chop Tops reunion showyoull be glad you didnt miss it!=====* All sales are final - no refunds* Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Santa Clara Broncos Mens Basketball vs. University of North Texas Mean Green Mens Basketball
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Moe's Alley Presents: Anuhea w/ special guest Wehilei
Event Information
Moes Alley presents a night of Island reggae with the return of Anuhea with special guest Wehilei!Thursday, December 18, 2025Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+*All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com===ANUHEAThe name Anuhea translates from Hawaiian as a fragrance or cool breeze. In the world of island/reggae music, Maui songbird Anuhea Jenkins has been JUST that: A cool breeze to the island music scene. This multi-talented artist entered the room in 2009 like a breath of fresh island air, beautifully blending vibes of reggae, pop and Rs eclectic and multi-faceted musical style is paralleled by her work ethic and fun-loving personality. Anuhea has toured extensively throughout the US, and New Zealand, Australia and Japan. She has been awarded multiple awards, including the prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2019, and also the IHeart Radio Island Music Award for Female Artist of the Year. After 10 successful years in the music scene, dozens of hit songs and multiple accolades, Anuhea remains humble when shes rightfully referred to as one of the top musical artists from Hawaii of all time.WEHILEIWehilei (Brianna Wehilei Lim Ryder) is a fast-rising Hawaiian reggae artist from Hilo, Big Island, with deep musical roots. Coming from a family rich in musical tradition, her debut album Music Heals the Soul has captivated audiences with its heartfelt lyrics, island reggae sound, and a blend of Hawaiian cultural influence. In 2023, Wehilei made waves by winning Single of the Year for her song Kohala, HI at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, often regarded as Hawaiis Grammy Awards. She also took home Reggae Album of the Year and Most Promising Artist of the Yearsolidifying her status as one of Hawaiis brightest emerging talents.Her music combines classic reggae rhythms with a modern touch and authentic Hawaiian flair, reflecting her upbringing and connection to her island home. Wehileis music tells stories of love, life in Hawaii, and her cultural experiences, with standout tracks like Cruisin and Kohala, HI gaining recognition across the islands.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Santa Clara Broncos Mens Basketball vs Loyola University Chicago
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Santa Cruz Warriors vs Osceola Magic
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
(((folkYEAH!))) Presents: Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes
Event Information
(((folkYEAH!))) presents an evening with Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes!Sunday, December 28, 2025Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+Tickets on sale Wednesday, August 27th at 12 noon*All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com====CHUCK PROPHET AND HIS CUMBIA SHOESWake The Dead, Chuck Prophets extraordinary new album recorded with Qiensave?, dives headfirst into the world of Cumbia music. The songs are intoxicatingly rhythmic, all but demanding you move your body while you listen. There are flashes of rock and roll, punk, surf, and soul, wrapped up in the rich legacy of a genre that traces its roots back hundreds of years and thousands of miles.Prophets streak of more than a dozen critically acclaimed solo records stretches all the way back to 1990, when the California native first shifted focus from his tenure with pioneering neo-psych band Green on Red to working under his own name. Since then, Prophets songs have appeared in a slew of films and television shows, and his work has been covered by Bruce Springsteen, Solomon Burke, Heart, and a host of others. Rolling Stone dubbed him a streetwise city kid with an eye for the country, while Uncut proclaimed him a renaissance-rocker, and NPR declared that no one can turn tales from the outer limits into catchy songs quite like Prophet does.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Santa Cruz Warriors vs Osceola Magic
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
NEW YEARS EVE WITH HARRY AND THE HITMEN!
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Ready to Experience Santa Cruz?
Plan your perfect itinerary around these amazing events
Use our AI planner to create a personalized Santa Cruz itinerary for December 2025. Chat with our AI assistant to get recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and activities that complement these events. Our intelligent trip planner considers your preferences, budget, and travel dates to create the perfect Santa Cruz travel plan. Features include real-time weather updates, interactive maps, and local insider tips.
