aiplannersanta cruz events & things to do in february
Exciting events and experiences happening this month in Santa Cruz.
Moe's Alley Presents: Coco Montoya
Event Information
Coco is coming back for rockin blues Sunday afternoon show! Sunday, February 1, 2026Doors: 3:00 pm / Show: 4:00 pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+*All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com====COCO MONTOYAOne of the most prodigious and gifted electric bluesmen on the planet...a deeply soulful singer and incendiary guitarist [with] a seemingly endless penchant for invention. AllMusicSmoking songs and heavy hitting guitar full of fire and passion...Montoyas rough-edged voice is filled with feeling. Bluesy, powerful and unpredictable...[It]really gets the blood flowing. Blues Music MagazineMontoya is a show-stopper...heartfelt singing and merciless guitar with a wicked icy burn. He is one of the truly gifted blues artists of his generation. Living BluesJust play what you feel, be real about it, and enjoy yourself. Thats what Albert Collins taught me, says the award-winning guitar virtuoso and soul-deep singer Coco Montoya. The self-taught, left-handed Montoya mastered his craft under Collins tutelage. Incorporating lessons learned from his mentors, the iconic Collins (for whom he originally drummed), and UK legend John Mayall, Montoya puts his own stamp onto every song he performs. Since his first solo album in 1995 (which won him the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist), Montoyas endlessly inventive guitar work and passionate, hard-hitting vocals have kept him at the top of the blues world. With his new Alligator Records album, Writing On The Wall (his sixth for the label), Montoya delivers what he is already calling one of the best records hes ever made. For the very first time on Alligator, he decided to bring his road-tested bandnoted keyboardist and songwriter Jeff Paris (Keb Mo, Bill Withers), bassist Nathan Brown, and drummer Rena Beaversinto the studio with him. Between the camaraderie of the long-time bandmates and the sheer talent of all involved, the results have left Coco, in his words, over the moon.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
(((folkYEAH!))) Presents - Tropical Fuck Storm w/ J.R.C.G.
Event Information
(((folkYEAH!))) presents Australias own Tropical Fuck Storm with special guest Sub Pop recording artist J.R.C.G.!Monday, February 2, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$25 in advance / $30 day of the show21+*Tickets on sale Friday, October 24th at 10am PT**All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com====TROPICAL FUCK STORMIt was the silence as much as the disease that proved so unsettling. The world had gone inside, underground, taking with it some of its more destructive aspects. The clean and clear air in major cities was a jarring reminder of the airborne rot we had grown used to. Stuck indoors, we went stir crazy, imagined new worlds, dystopian worlds, apocalypses of the small and large variety. There were viral social media stories, most of them fake, about animals reoccupying cities, dolphins taking back the canals of Venice, elephants getting drunk in abandoned Chinese corn wine distilleries and passing out in tea gardens . In those first fearful days of the pandemic, we wrote ourselves out of existence and imagined what the world would be like without us. We missed the noise; we carried it inside us. We tried to find melody in the madness.Most of us have lived some inner Tropical Fuck Storm over this past year and a half. Gareth Liddiard, frontman for the Aussie band with a name perfectly suited to the times, was like the rest of us in feeling the malaise. On not writing any new songs for the first six months of the global shutdown, he says, Why would I? Everything seemed pointless. Even for a band thats made a career out of crafting songs attuned to political and social crisis, there was a new bleak in the air, what the band calls give-a-fuck fatigue. A Laughing Death in Meatspace and Braindrops, Tropical Fuck Storms 2018 and 2019 records, probed the destructive force of consumerist culture, the imperialistic reaches of the United States, the threat posed by a warming planet. The band wedded a brave new worldview to an ever lively acid punk sound. Which made you sometimes despair. While still wanting to dance.J.R.C.G.To experience Justin R. Cruz Gallegos pulverizing Sub Pop debut is to get burned down to ashes and burst forth, born anew. Grim Iconic(Sadistic Mantra), the Tacoma-based artists second album, is driven by opposing forces: noisy abstractions and tightly structured beats, anguish and dissolution at the outside world and empowerment within, apathy and catharsis. Grim Iconic(Sadistic Mantra) weds scouring electronics to hooky songs and Gallegos powerful drumming in a way that feels visceral and new. Its his most personal statement to date, at once playful and intent, driven and combustible, total fucking chaos mixed into glints of broken-glass beauty.Born in Tucson, Arizona, Gallego experienced culture shock as a child after relocating to the frigid climes of the Pacific Northwest. He found solace in the Seattle punk scene centered around Iron Lung Records and has since remained a fixture in the underground community.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Moe's Alley Presents: Say She She "Cut & Rewind Tour" w/ Katzù Oso
Event Information
Moes Alley presents the return of Say She She with special guest Katz Oso!Tuesday, February 3, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$30 in advance / $35 day of the show21+*All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com=====SAY SHE SHETheres nothing more resonant than the human voice. It contains timbres and textures no other instrument can replicate, but most importantly, its immensely powerful: One voice can spark an uprising, but many voices in unison create a movement. Nya Gazelle Brown, Sabrina Cunningham, and Piya Malik, the three women who front NYC punk-chic, discodelic band Say She She, understand how to wield such power. They soar above irresistible grooves, locking together in gorgeous three-part harmonies that cleverly disguise the feeling of righteous rebellion permeating their music. Theirs is a multi-pronged call to action: Move your body, expand your mind, and recognize your strength. KATZ OSOKatz Oso is a Chicano artist born and raised in the heart of Los Angeles. His melodic vocals and contemporary sounds are influenced by his multicultural upbringing in East LA and Boyle Heights. After the release of his two buzzworthy harmonic EPs, Colour, and Pastel, Katz Oso takes us to another alternative dimension with his debut album, Tm. Osos album is a timeline portal into his heros journey growing up in his Boyle Heights neighborhood. From the heart and soul he brings to life una historia de amor to escape the current reality and transcend into a melodic universe filled with synthesizer and upbeat tempos. Visually, our hero takes on the new alter ego with the Luchador mask, a symbolic representation of his roots and serves as an ode to his Chicano cultura.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
TOBACCO CITY, SCOTT HIRSCH
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
(((folkYEAH))) Presents: STINGRAY With YEOBO
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
MANIA: The ABBA Tribute
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
THE VAXXINES, JONNY MANAK AND THE DEPRESSIVES
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
JONNY FRITZ
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
DAVID RAMIREZ, SHARON SILVA
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Moe's Alley Presents: Long Beach Dub Allstars w/ Bedouin Soundclash
Event Information
Moes Alley presents the return of Long Beach Dub Allstars with special guests Bedouin Soundclash!Sunday, February 15, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$35 in advance / $40 day of the show21+*Tickets on sale Friday, Dec. 12th at 10am PT**All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com=====LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARSLong Beach Dub Allstars formed in 1997, rising from the tragedy of Bradley Nowells passing to carry on the spirit of the reggae-rock movement that Sublime helped pioneer. Founded by Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, alongside Long Beach music staples Opie Ortiz, Miguel Happoldt, and Marshall Goodman, the band became a driving force in blending reggae, dub, ska, punk, and hip-hop into a sound that shaped an entire generation.Their early albums, Right Back (1999) and Wonders of the World (2001), were foundational for the reggae-rock genre, bridging Sublimes legacy with a new wave of artists. Their sound captured the raw energy of Southern California, blending reggae grooves with punk attitude and hip-hop rhythms, influencing countless bands that followed.After a hiatus, LBDA reunited with fresh energy, dropping their self-titled 2020 album and solidifying their place as torchbearers of the reggae-rock movement. Their latest record, Echo Mountain High, takes their sound to new heightsmixing psychedelic elements with reggae, ska, and dub, while staying true to the signature Long Beach sound. Written during the pandemic, the album was crafted in Opie Ortizs backyard before coming to life in the studio with an all-star lineup, including Chris Dowd (Fishbone), Jesse Wagner (Aggrolites), and Devin Morrison (Expanders). The result is an album that pays homage to their roots while pushing the genre forward.With Opie Ortiz (vocals), Miguel Happoldt (guitar), Tim Wu (horns), Roger Rivas (keys), Ed Kampwirth (bass), and Gil Sharone (drums), Long Beach Dub Allstars continue to evolve, proving their music is more than nostalgiaits a living, breathing force. From headlining festivals to inspiring new generations of musicians, their influence is undeniablekeeping the sound and spirit of Long Beach alive and thriving.BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASHCanadian indie rock and reggae royalty Bedouin Soundclash took a creative hiatus after climbing to the pinnacle of the Canadian music industry, and now theyre back better than ever to continue the next chapter in their singular genre-defying career a career which has seen them celebrated at home and abroad with JUNO awards, Top 10 radio hits, and international tours with No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Interrupters, and Thievery Corporation. This year Bedouin Soundclash return with a brand new album titled We Will Meet in a Hurricane, OUT NOW on Dine Alone Records.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
Moe's Alley Presents: Rebirth Brass Band
Event Information
Moes Alley presents the return of Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band! Wednesday, February 18, 2026Doors: 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====REBIRTH BRASS BRANDjust saw THE REBIRTH BRASS BAND, unbelievable. hard as hell, free as a ray of light, there is not a band on earth that is better. stunning. - Flea, Red Hot Chili PeppersFor almost 4 decades, the Grammy winning Rebirth Brass Band has been stunning fans with a fiery live show and a rich musical catalog. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while weaving a tapestry that combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, R&B and the sounds from the streets they grew up on. From their legendary 25+ year run of Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf to stages all over the world, Rebirth is the soundtrack of the Crescent City and her premier musical ambassador.Founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over 35 years ago, Rebirth began their career playing on the sidewalks of the French Quarter, and quickly landed gigs at second line parades. Those auspicious beginnings have led to thousands of shows to music aficionados everywhere, including heads of state and royalty.The bands unique soundtrack of New Orleans has also garnered admiration from artists of all genres. Theyve shared the stage and collaborated with everyone from the Grateful Dead to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Maceo Parker, Green Day, U2, James Brown, 311, G-Love, MuteMath, Juvenile, Train, Big Freedia, Ani Difranco, Galactic, Allen Touisant, Neville Brothers, Quincy Jones and Trombone Shorty.
Ticket Information
Check venue for pricing
(((folkYEAH!))) Presents: Bitchin Bajas
Event Information
(((folkYEAH!))) Presents Bitchin Bajas!Thursday, February 19, 2026Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$20 in advance / $25 day of the show21+*Tickets on sale Friday, Nov. 7th at 9am PT**All sales are final*Avoid scammers! Only purchase tickets from moesalley.com or ticketweb.com====BITCHIN BAJASThe next album from Bitchin Bajas the trio of Cooper Crain, Rob Frye and Daniel Quinlivan is near! The successor to 2022s Bajascillators glides easily into frame, but once there, Inland See is deceptively immediate: four songs, entirely within themselves, all together forming an essential whole. Inland See is out September 26; the lead single Skylarking arrives today with a new visualizer featuring visuals by Nick Ciontea.With every successive Bitchin Bajas release, we see that the real key for them is a sense of discovery, that tingle that comes when you feel something breaking through. The sky opening up. Take Skylarking: a remarkable construction, built to and fro in the ether, but with a deceptive grasp of four-on-the-floor rhythm. A space dance that achieves completion in almost aggressive terms aggressive like an oxygen bath! showcasing jewels from their world music and jazz archives, then returning to their undulous source drone, riding smoothly back into silence. The stuff that fills this Inland See holds you up powerfully, as if youre floating, saltwater or helium-wise effervescent, effortless, elemental. This music was mostly written on the road. Its an unusual happening for Bitchin Bajas! They were open for it, though the landmarked Bajascillators kept them out there for a while, and when inspiration struck, there theyre rolling. When it was time to render it to tape and find the record there, they did the whole thing at Electrical Audio, recorded in Studio B by Cooper. Recording all together in the room there lent a sense of space, which they dug and captured as natural as possible. No reverb at all added after the fact. Some additional recording and mixing was done at home by the Bajas, then Phil Baljeu did up the art. Soon enough, Inland See is flowing toward you, through the hi-fi and youll feel it all in the air.
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 February 2026. 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.
