The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Fishbone is a band. Fishbone is Red Hot.

Starting in Junior High School as part of the bussing program transporting students to schools within or outside their local school districts as a means of rectifying racial segregation, Fishbone were breaking stereotypes. This essentially was the spark that started the bands creative and influential drive that would lay the foundation that other bands would follow for decades to follow.

Born out of the punk rock scene of Los Angeles, CA, Fishbone came out as a force of songs and live energy leaving bands not wanting to follow them. A feeling that continues today.

Signed to Columbia Records in 1984, Fishbone released 4 albums and 3 ep’s and toured the world headlining shows, festivals and leaving people stunned and still one of the best shows ever seen. A constant statement that still is used today from fans to artists that shared the stage with them. After years of touring and rotating members, Fishbone in 2024 is back to their most solid line up which includes original members, Angelo Moore (vocals/Saxophone), Chris Dowd (Keys/Vocals), Dirty Walt (Trumpet/Vocals), rounding it out with drummer, Hassan Hurd, Aryon Davis and Mark Phillips.

With their last critically and fan acclaimed EP recorded produced by Fat Mike of NOFX that came out on Fat Wreck Chords in 2023, in 2024, Fishbone is getting ready to reclaim their live touring throne, leave the audience wanting more, thinking more, influencing younger bands, and paving the foundation and legacy they have been laying for decades. #FuckRacism

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $42
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

Enhancement

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $36.75
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $34.50 Gen, $59.50 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.etix.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) spreads holiday cheer on its annual Big Band Holidays tour. Rising star vocalists Ekep Nkwelle and Robbie Lee join the JLCO to bring Yuletide greetings to dozens of cities across the country. Under the music direction of JLCO trombonist Chris Crenshaw, the evening will feature soulful renditions of holiday classics, playful improvisation, and entertaining storytelling. Enjoyed by audiences of all ages, these uplifting performances create lasting memories that will keep you returning to Big Band Holidays for years to come.

Please note: Wynton Marsalis will not appear with the JLCO on this performance.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $69.93 Gen, $93.24 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $25 Gen, $45 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.etix.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

The Annual Noel Q King Memorial Lecture

Marilynne Robinson, a prolific novelist and essayist, is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and a National Humanities Medal. President Barak Obama applauded “her grace and intelligence in writing.” Her most recent book, Reading Genesis, is a meditation on the origins of humankind and the meaning of God’s enduring faith in humanity.

This year, Marilynne Robinson will deliver the Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Humanities Institute and explore the Institute’s annual theme: Humanity. The Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture honors the life and work of Noel Kind, a founding faculty member of Merrill College and advocate for the comparative study of world religions.

Marilynne Robinson is the recipient of a 2012 National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Barack Obama, for “her grace and intelligence in writing.” She is the author of Gilead, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; Home, winner of the Orange Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; and Lila, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her first novel, Housekeeping, won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. In 2021, all four Gilead novels were selected for Oprah’s Book Club. Robinson’s nonfiction books include Reading Genesis, What Are We Doing Here?;The Givenness of Things, When I Was a Child I Read Books, Absence of Mind, The Death of Adam, and Mother Country.

This event is presented by The Humanities Institute and Porter College and co-sponsored by Merrill College, Bookshop Santa Cruz, and Shakespeare Workshop.

Show time: 6:30 PM, doors 5:30 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.thi.ucsc.edu

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in local politics, attending every political fundraiser under the sun…but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming and lackluster. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education, and parks. One year later, Lauderdale called China Forbes, a Harvard classmate who was living in New York City, and asked her to join Pink Martini as the lead singer, and collaborator. Their first song “Sympathique (Je ne veux pas travailler)” became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards and is still the band’s number one song. Says Lauderdale, “We’re very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad and therefore have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent a broader, more inclusive America…the America which remains the most heterogeneously populated country in the world…composed of people of every country, every language, every religion.” Featuring a dozen musicians, with songs in 25 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages on six continents. After making its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998, the band has gone on to play with more than 50 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2014, Pink Martini was inducted into both the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. Pink Martini has released 11 studio albums on its own independent label Heinz Records (named after Lauderdale’s dog), selling over 3 million albums worldwide. In 2019, the band released two EPs featuring the vocals of Pink Martini’s newest members Jimmie Herrod and Edna Vazquez. Both vocalists have toured with the band for the past year and are officially part of the group with the release of Herrod’s EP Tomorrow and Vaquez’s Besame Mucho, both of which were co-produced by Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes. In 2024 the band is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $68.25 Gen, $99.75 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Help! It’s Christmas! To hell with Santa, Rudolph, Mrs. Claus and, yes, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, too! We’re not sitting on that man’s lap this year! Nosirree, not getting down on our knees for anybody either. All you need to get through this holiday season is John Waters; St. Nick the Dick, Father Fistmas, Kris Kringleberries! Ho ho ho was never like this!

Once again Waters is touring the country on his slippery sled of sewage with his comedy bag of tricks, handing out filthy sticks and stones to bad little nonbinary boys and girls and everybody in between and beyond. Ninety minutes of Christmas jeer and holiday beatings! Go ahead, teabag that tree with your own balls and then knock it over on yourself on purpose! Scream, drag queens and kings, scream! Yes! We’re all getting cha-cha heels this year! Postage-due Christmas cards, too. We want gift-wrapped get-out-of-jail holiday coupons! Mistle-toejam! As Dawn Davenport would say, "We asked and we’d better get!” Happy hole-iday! Merry Diss-mas! We’re the gift that keeps on desperate living. It’s a John Waters Christmas and you’d better watch out!

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $45-$125
Group Therapy Description: A limited number of Group Therapy Tickets will be available. This includes preferred seating, a small group therapy Q&A with John following the show and a selfie from distance. Those tickets are the $125 tickets shown above
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Presented by Fielder Films

From the creators of "Island X", comes a new film about five brothers who hitch a ride on a first-of-its-kind surf expedition, and voyage into a remote, mysterious region in pursuit of a dream.

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $15
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Artists website: www.fielderfilms.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

If you want to experience the best Beatles tribute ever, you won’t want to miss The Fab Four-The Ultimate Tribute. The 2024 tour brings their all-new show to the stage, celebrating The Beatles’ first visit to the USA, with performances from the Ed Sullivan show and the Meet The Beatles album, as well as the Beatles’ greatest hits of every era.

The Emmy Award Winning Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles’ classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Yesterday,” “A Day in The Life,” “Twist And Shout,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Hey Jude”, the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing.

Their incredible stage performances include three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles ever-changing career, and this loving tribute to the Beatles has amazed audiences in countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, France, Hong Kong, The United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Brazil.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: start at $39.50
Advance tickets: www.ticketmaster.com
Artists website: www.thefabfour.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

The Grammy-nominated African American vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock® marked it’s 50th anniversary beginning in November 2023 with a powerful three-year celebration that will honor their storied past and set the course for the future of the group, which has been described as, “one of the most dynamic, versatile and still relevant musical collectives today.”

Since the group’s inception in Washington, D.C. in 1973, Sweet Honey in the Rock has thrived as a performance ensemble founded on the missions of empowerment, education, and entertainment. Their current lineup includes vocalists Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, Aisha Kahlil, Nitanju Bolade Casel, and Rochelle Rice, with Romeir Mendez on upright acoustic/electric bass, and American Sign Language interpreter Barbara Hunt.

Throughout their five decades, the ensemble members have worked to create engaging and socially conscious music that consistently takes an active stance toward making our planet a better place for all in which to live. Their musical landscape embraces multiple genres/generations and addresses civil and human rights, women’s issues, gun violence, death, love, spirituality, children’s songs, and so much more.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $58.28 Gen, $81.59 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.kuumbwajazz.org

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Supporting Second Harvest Food Bank

Buy tickets
Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. The tour will visit Santa Cruz with films that explore themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission of using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. This year's event will be screening the Medley Playlist - a little bit of everything from Mountainfilm.

About Mountainfilm Festival 
Mountainfilm is a documentary film festival that showcases stories about environmental, cultural, climbing, political and social justice issues. Mountainfilm is held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. Along with exceptional documentaries, the festival goes beyond the film medium by bringing together world-class athletes, change makers and visionary artists for a multi-dimensional celebration of indomitable spirit. Mountainfilm’s mission is to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. To learn more about Mountainfilm, visit www.mountainfilm.org.

List of films screening in the Medley Playlist
Leaving a TreadAs the popularity of mountain biking grows across Mexico, riders like Israel Carrillo work to blaze the trail — literally. Carrillo shares the challenges athletes face in a growing sport, financially and otherwise, while showing off his hometown of Guanajuato.

Dancing Warrior
On windswept hills surrounded by the bluffs of the Lakota Badlands sits the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. For the native youth, living here can be a struggle – the teen suicide rate is among the highest in the country. But many have found hope and purpose in the traditional sport of horse racing known as “Indian Relay.” We follow one teen racing team, named Dancing Warrior, who come together to compete and support each other as they face the challenges of life on the reservation. Witness the coming of age story of Lakota teens, as they find strength in tradition and passion in competition.

Ascend (some graphic scenes)
Ascend follows the inspiring story of a group of young women from Afghanistan who pursue their passion for climbing and mountaineering despite facing grave risks. But when the Taliban seized power in 2020, they were forced to flee their homes and start anew in the United States. Members of the Yosemite Search & Rescue team learned about the women’s plight and invited them to spend a week in Yosemite, where they could safely reunite and find solace with the climbing community. Through this heartwarming tale, viewers witness the strength and resilience of these young women as they adapt to life in a new country and forge new friendships with fellow climbers.

Re
Twenty years ago, Re forged a new path in the outdoor sports community as one of the few women in her field. As an action sports photographer, she is dedicated to working with and showcasing the strength and individual personalities of female athletes. Re landed the first cover shot of a woman for Backcountry Magazine and the first all-female cover shot for Skiing. She views her work as a catalyst, fostering a social shift in the perception of female athletes in popular culture.

Near the River
In the tourist town of Livingstone, Zambia, a group of local men who make their living portering kayaks aspire to become safety kayakers on the Zambezi River. However, the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Scheme threatens to flood the famous rapids of the Zambezi and eliminate river-related jobs.

Ghost Resorts: JapanWith ski lifts no longer spinning and buildings falling into disrepair, abandoned ski areas are nestled among the snowdrifted peaks of Japan. The country’s massive economic boom in the 1980s fueled a wild demand for skiing and an explosion of new mountain resorts. The financial collapse that followed in 1991 decimated both the Japanese economy and the ski industry. Today, hundreds of ghost resorts span the mountains as silent witnesses to the pace of change. Yet the deep powder beckons those who seek to experience an unconventional backcountry adventure.

The Last Observers
Lennart Karlsson and Karin Persson have recorded weather measurements every three hours — temperature, air pressure, wind, wave height and cloud types — at a lighthouse on the southwestern coast of Sweden for 36 years. The dedicated couple have amassed over 100,000 observations and seen rapid changes in recent years as migratory birds arrive earlier in the spring, and heavy rains and drought become more frequent. Theirs is the last remaining manual weather station in the country – and it too will soon become automated. In The Last Observers, the pair reflect on their simple yet joyful life where they find true happiness through symbiosis with nature.

Above The Noise
The world around us can feel overwhelming and loud. In response, Maya delves into her practice of skydiving as a means to focus inwards. She gently inspires us to find our own means of grounding ourselves in flow.

Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $20
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.mountainfilm.org

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Land Trust Santa Cruz County: HWY 17 Wildlife Crossing First Year Impacts

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is thrilled by the amazing support our local community (and beyond!) has shown for the Highway 17 wildlife crossing! YOU have been key to the crossing’s success. The first year of data is in and we’re excited to share who has been using the tunnel, what we’ve learned and give you a peek at what’s next.

Featuring expert ecologists and researchers, Tanya Diamond and Ahíga Snyder from Pathways for Wildlife, with an introduction by Chris Wilmers PhD from the Santa Cruz Puma Project, the Land Trust will be sharing year one findings and lots of exciting footage of wildlife using the Highway 17 crossing.

We hope you can join us for this fun and informative event!

The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Th Land Trust protects, cares for, and connects all people to the vibrant natural and working lands that are essential for our community and nature to thrive together for generations to come. We see a future in which the amazing diversity of lands that define and connect us to the Santa Cruz County region — the wild and working forests, the globally unique wildlife habitats, the coastal landscape, and our rich farming and ranching heritage — are cared for and preserved forever.

Pathways for Wildlife

Pathways for Wildlife is a research organization developed by Wildlife Ecologist Tanya Diamond and Wildlife Researcher Ahíga Snyder. Tanya and Ahíga work with land trusts, conservation organizations, and transportation agencies to help identify important wildlife and habitat linkages by conducting wildlife connectivity surveys and implementing connectivity designs for wildlife movement within a landscape. The information used to develop wildlife connectivity plans includes data from field cameras, roadkill surveys, tracking data, GIS habitat suitability modeling, and linkage analyses. Pathways for Wildlife was a critical partner in building the scientific case for the Highway 17 crossing, and the Land Trust is grateful to have their expertise in monitoring wildlife engagement with the completed crossing.

Santa Cruz Puma Project

The Santa Cruz Puma Project is a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their work involves deploying telemetry collars on mountain lions that collect continuous movement and location data from each animal. By studying and analyzing data collected from these collars, Chris Wilmers PhD and his team hope to answer important physiological and ecological questions that have so far evaded science. In addition to providing solutions to pressing environmental problems, the research project will further enhance the understanding of cougar habitat requirements as well as provide guidance on important movement corridors for lions within and between the Santa Cruz Mountains located in the central coast of California. The Puma Project’s partnership and collar data played a vital role in selecting the location for the HWY 17 crossing.

Chris Wilmers recently joined the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County board and has also contributed to land protection and management efforts for parks and open space in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains through his engagement in various capacities with the Trust for Public Lands, Wildlife Conservation Network, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Sempervirens Fund, the Bureau of Land Management, Caltrans, and other NGOs.

Show time: 1:00 PM, doors 12:00 PM
Tickets: FREE
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: landtrustsantacruz.org
Event website: www.pfwildlife.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Warren Miller is going big for 75 years! Stacked with unbelievable action and unexpected stories, Warren Miller’s 75 will bring fans to powder stashes and chutes around the world, from Canada, Colorado, California, and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria, and New Jersey. Catch a diverse lineup of snowsports legends, Olympic hopefuls, world champions, X Games stars, and emerging talents on the big screen this fall, including snowboarders Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, and Toby Miller, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Mark Abma, and Aaron Blunck.

With original segments and unique collaborations, this year’s film will set the tone for the next 75 years of ski and snowboard filmmaking. Get ready for the celebration that is “75”. Tickets are on sale now at warrenmiller.com.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $22
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Event website: warrenmiller.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Snatam Kaur is a world-renowned, Grammy-nominated devotional singer, touring musician, teacher, and author known for her stirring, luminous vocal quality and insightful teaching.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $65 Gen, $105 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.embed.brightstarevents.com
Artists website: www.snatamkaur.com

Come celebrate, commiserate, or sit and wait while enjoying a night of fun and distraction at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz!

No matter the outcome, let’s make Election Night a shared experience! Experience an exciting variety show featuring comedians DNA and Richard Stockton, along with musical performances by Carolyn Sills, Gerard Egan, and Alison Steele.  For a unique twist, master fly fisherman Matt Bohn will demonstrate his skills by attempting to snatch dollar bills straight from audience members’ hands! Your emcee Sven Davis will keep you updated on local, state, and national races throughout the evening.

In the lobby, indulge in a vibrant atmosphere with snacks and refreshments, chair massages, worry beads, body paint by Brenda Leach, micro-therapy sessions, fortune telling, and even Bubble Magic by renowned practitioner Tom Noddy. If the election doesn’t go your way, our Complaints Department professionals will be available on site for your convenience.  

Respectful participants from all voting dispositions are welcome. Expect the unexpected, so bring your sense of humor and some small bills!

Contact: Sven Davis at rio@svendavis.com or 831-706-5585.
Website: riotheatre.com/events

Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: FREE
Event website: www.riotheatre.com

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

with special guest Jonathan Coulton

Aimee Mann is one of the most distinguished singer-songwriters of her generation. Her successful solo career has spanned several decades with several Grammy nominations, two Grammy awards, and the release of nine critically acclaimed solo albums, including the profoundly popular soundtrack for the film Magnolia, which garnered an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Song. Earlier in her musical life, Mann fronted the band ‘Til Tuesday, releasing three albums. She has also made numerous memorable cameo appearances in films such as The Big Lebowski and TV shows like Portlandia and The Daily Show. Her latest release,"Queens of the Summer Hotel," continues to showcase her exceptional songwriting and musical talent.

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $35 Gen, $50 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Artists website: www.aimeemann.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Musician East Forest embarks on a mission pairing music with psychedelics to bring about transformative healing to a world in crisis.

Music for Mushrooms is a narrative documentary highlighting the personal journey of shamanistic musician and filmmaker East Forest (Krishna-Trevor Oswalt) – a collaborator of the late Ram Dass – whose bold experiments pair music with guided psychedelic experiences to create spaces of healing for a fractured world. The film captures East Forest as he discovers a practice of guided ceremonial concerts that offer participants an immersive environment to confront their pain and fears, fostering hope, and moving them to re-engage with their own true north. Weaving together interviews and conversations with artists, academics, and cultural experts in the fields of psychedelics, science, music and philosophy - voices like Ram Dass, Xochitl Ashe, Hanifo Nayo Washington, Spring Washam, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, Jon Hopkins, Peter Broderick, ANNA, and more - the film explores first hand experiences, wisdom traditions, and data-backed evidence of how these timeless tools impact the human psyche, nervous system, and more.

Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $21
Advance tickets www.eventbrite.com
Event website: www.eastforest.org

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Particle Fever Barney Barron World Premier Doors Open at 6:30 with music and raffle and prizes. Movie starts at 7:30pm with music by Burleigh Skidmore

Welcome to the world premier of Particle Fever, a groundbreaking documentary by Josh Pomer about the amazing world of surfing innovator and artist Barney Barron. "Everyone who knew Barney was better for it, and everyone who sees the film will get to know Barney" Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with music, a raffle, and the World Premier of PARTICLE FEVER BARNEY BARRON. Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to witness the birth of a cinematic masterpiece. See you there! Check out the raffle and live music plus an awesome Barney Barron movie experience.

Show time: 7:15 PM, doors 6:15 PM
Tickets: $10
Advance tickets www.eventbrite.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Get ready for an unforgettable night of social stoke and adrenaline-pumping action as TGR brings its latest ski and snowboard film, "Beyond the Fantasy," to Santa Cruz! Don't miss your chance to be a part of this epic event - buy your tickets now and immerse yourself in the whimsical imagination of our athletes as they push the boundaries of what's possible on snow.

As TGR celebrates its 29th annual film, we invite you to join us for a night of awe-dropping cinematography, mind-blowing lines, and the infectious energy of the skiing and snowboarding community. Come early for our legendary prize giveaway, with prizes from partners like Atomic, Volkl, K2, YETI, GoPro, Nissan, and more. Plus, all attendees will have a shot at our tour grand prize, where our partners at Nissan could be flying you and your crew to Grand Targhee to film your very own segment with TGR. Additional grand prizes include a trip to our hometown, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and epic prize packs from our partners.

"Beyond the Fantasy" is more than just a film; it's a testament to the power of turning dreams into reality. Witness our athletes as they transform improbable mental images into breathtaking feats of athleticism and creativity. From the world's most stunning mountain landscapes to the joyous absurdities that make riding on snow a way of life, this film celebrates the unbreakable bond that unites our community.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $20 adult, $10 ages 16 and under (plus fees)
Advance tickets www.tetongravity.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $69.50 Gen, 89.50 Gold Circle
Advance tickets www.etix.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Destroyer’s latest album, LABYRINTHITIS, brims with mystic and intoxicating terrain, the threads of Dan Bejar’s notes woven through by a trove of allusions at once eerily familiar and intimately perplexing. The record circuitously draws ever inward, each turn offering giddy surprise, anxious esoterica, and thumping emotionality at equal odds. “Do you remember the mythic beast?” Bejar asks at the outset of “Tintoretto, It’s for You,” the album’s first single, casting torchlight over the labyrinth’s corridors. “Tintoretto, it’s for you/ The ceiling’s on fire and the contract is binding.” Delivered in a Marlene Dietrich smolder, Bejar’s lyrical menace seeps like smoke through the brazen march’s woozy synths and dizzied guitar. “There’s some character here that feels new to me, a low drawl, an evening gown draped over a piano,” Bejar says of the song. Throughout, LABYRINTHITIS insists that everything’s not all right, but that even isolation and dissolution can be a source of joy— stepping into the sunlight at the other end of the maze in your ear, Bejar strolling alongside like a wild-maned, leisuresuited minotaur.

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $31.50
Advance tickets www.eventbrite.com
Event website www.destroyer.bandcamp.com/

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

presented by Sempervirens Fund

Journey into the heart of America’s most iconic forests: GIANTS RISING reveals the secrets and the saga of the coast redwoods–the tallest and among the oldest living beings on Earth. Presented by Sempervirens Fund. Discussion to follow.

Learn more about GIANTS RISING: https://www.giantsrising.com/ Film runtime: 85 minutes; followed by on-stage discussion with the director, Lisa Landers.

This performance is appropriate for ages 12 and up due to scenes of wildfire.

Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $10
Advance tickets www.secure.sempervirens.org
Event website www.giantsrising.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Adventure Night

Brought to you by Bicycle Trip and Gazelle
Supporting Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship

After a two year hiatus the fall screening of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night is back with all new films!

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in over 600 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

From the over 400 entries submitted into the Festival each year, award-winners and audience favorites are among the films that are carefully selected to play in theatres around the world.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2023/2024 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

Fuego

(2023, France, 7 min)
Filmmakes: Pierre Henni, Kilian Bron Advisory: None

Kilian Bron rides from the foot of the Fuego volcano the day before its historic eruption, to the colourful facades of Barrio Chualluma in La Paz, through the geological forma- tions of the Valle de las Animas to an unforgettable meet- ing with the Cholitas Escaladoras.

The Best Skier You’ve Never Heard Of

(2023, Sweden, 8 min)
Filmmakers: Marcus Ahlström, Mattias Fredriksson, Stellar Equipment
Advisory: None

After a successful ski racing career, Adrien Grabinski ventured West from Alberta. He discovered his true calling at Shames Mountain, a remote little co-op non-profit ski area near Terrace, B.C. The mountains, the snow, and the big lines first captivated him, but the local ski community truly stole his heart.

One Degree° #Peru

(2023, France, 15 min)
Filmmaker: Alex Lopez, Riding to Explore Advisory: None

Armelle Courtois and Martin Thomas seek out the highest glacial lakes – over 5000m above sea level – to try and break the altitude record for kitesurfing. Their sporting challenge quickly takes on a new objective: to raise awareness about the consequences of melting glaciers and inspire change.

Subterranean (Tour Edit) Best Film: Adventure

(2023, Canada, 40 min)
Filmmakers: François-Xavier De Ruydts, Jenny Rustemeyer, Cold Fingers Films Advisory: Coarse language

Two gritty teams of hobbyist cavers are poised to break records for the longest and deepest caves in Canada. From abyssal, muddy crawls to heart-pounding, vertical pits, and underwater squeezes, these are places where no person has been before.

Mustafa Ceylan

(2022, Switzerland, 12 min)
Filmmakers: Jules Guarneri, Benoît Goncerut, Cause Advisory: Coarse language

This is the story of a young Turkish immigrant, destined to play football and take over his parents’ kebab restaurant. But one day, fate put a pair of skis in his way.

Driving Sweep

(2023, USA, 10 min)
Filmmakers: Greg Cairns, Cairns Film Advisory: Coarse language

Few river guides ever get the chance to drive Idaho’s Iconic sweep boat. Join Katie Veteto as she learns how to “drive sweep” down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. She’s learned the rapids and the river. Now she learns to drive 4,000lbs down steep rocky rapids.

Range Rider

(2023, USA, 30 min)
Filmmakers: Colin Arisman, Wild Confluence Media Advisory: Coarse language

As wolves repopulate Washington State, conflict is heating up with rural ranching communities. When wolves are suspected of killing livestock, the consequences for packs can be fatal. Range rider Daniel Curry’s job is to patrol wild areas on horseback, creating a buffer between wolves and the cattle herds.

Two Point Four

(2023, United Kingdom, 20 min) Filmmakers: Natasha Brooks, Leo Houlding Advisory: Coarse language

Not your typical family holiday... but this is not your typical family! Leo Houlding, his wife Jess, and their two children Freya (9 years) and Jackson (5 years) climb Norway’s national mountain via a 2,000 ft big wall.

Show time: 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM
Tickets: $23
Advance tickets www.eventbrite.com
Event website www.banffcentre.ca

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Whether you’ve lived your life with this music as the soundtrack or are a modern concert enthusiast, 'Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam' is bound to leave you much more fulfilled, delighted, and buoyant— and that much closer to the brilliance of the music of Dave Mason.

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $42 Gen, $65.00 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.pulseproductions.net
Artists Website: www.davemason.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Comedians from HBO, Netflix, Comedy Central and More!

The 11th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival is invading the Rio Theatre with three of the funniest comedians in America. Having appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, Conan, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing and much more, this show has something for everyone. Last year sold out, get your tix now. $30 Tickets are General Admission. $40 Gold Circle tickets are reserved and get early admission.

STARRING:
https://bethstelling.com Comedian Beth Stelling, whose Netflix special, If You Didn’t Want Me Then, was awarded one of the best comedy specials of 2023, by the New York Times. From Jimmy Fallon, to Comedy Central, to Conan, Stelling is one of the most sought after comics in America.

https://www.amymillercomedy.com Comedian Amy Miller was a breakout favorite in the final season of Last Comic Standing. Miller’s half hour comedy special on Epix's Unprotected Sets and her Comedy Central Presents set has been viewed over 3 million times. Miller turns her white trash upbringing into comedy gold.

https://www.sammillercomedy.com And introducing, Sam Miller. From Olympia, WA, same is six foot six, and 360 pounds. Miller is also, 15 years clean and sober. From chronic homelessness and addiction, Miller is a rising star. The Santa Cruz Comedy Festival believes Miller will soon be a household name.

https://www.instagram.com/votedna Hosted by the Czar of Underground Comedy in Santa Cruz -

DNA More information at https://santacruzcomedyfestival.com/ Doors open at 7pm, Show begins about 8pm

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $30 Gen, $40 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com and votedna@gmail.com
Artists Website: www.santacruzcomedyfestival.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Bio | Credit: Jason Woodbury
Allah-Las
Zuma 85
Are you tired of that same old song? Tune into any alt-rock robo-jock frequency on the FM dial and you’ll know what I mean. Somewhere along the way, nostalgia curdled, and it feels like we’re doomed to hear the same boring souls for eternity. But don’t ask California sons Allah-Las—they wouldn’t know a thing about it. “The Stuff,” which opens the band’s fifth LP, Zuma 85, lays it out: “I don’t listen to the radio/They keep playing that song again/And the deejay’s a computer.” As the glammy, electronic strut of the song indicates, Zuma 85 signals the start of a new era for Allah-Las, and finds the band reinventing itself in defiance of the algorithmic categorization and robotic sterility. Recorded in the midst of the shift from the Old World to whatever branch of reality we’re on now, it’s a return, too: The album will be released via their own label, Calico Discos, in partnership with Innovative Leisure, which released early defining statements like Allah-Las (2012) and Worship The Sun (2014). For the last 15 years, Allah-Las have alchemically melded surf rock washes with folk rock jangle and rock, building up their lauded music podcast, Reverberation Radio, and record label, Calico Discos, in the process. But a lot has changed since Matthew Correia (drums/vocals), Spencer Dunham (bass, guitar, vocals), Miles Michaud (guitar, organ, vocals), and Pedrum Siadatian (guitar, synth, vocals) first bonded over psych rock vinyl in the back room at Amoeba Records in the late aughts. Zuma 85 finds the quartet facing a new world with a wealth of new sounds, drawing from an eclectic mix of progressive rock, prog, kosmische, and Eno-esque art rock, scuzzy Royal Trux riffs, and detouring into tones and textures that call to mind ‘90s and 2000s pop.

The album was born, like so much else these days, out of the downtime of 2020-2022. For most of the band’s existence, Allah-Las adhered to a year to album year/tour year schedule, logging serious hours on the road. When the shutdown of 2020 put everything on hold, it opened up space for each member to focus on their own lives and interests, and time to re-envision what creative processes could look like.

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $37.80
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

"Hurray! We have adult beverages!

The Rio is proud to partner with our friends at Moe's Alley to provide a selection of great beers, Venus canned cocktails, hard cider and sparkling wine at this show. You must be 21 and present a valid ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. We prefer cash, but will accept cards as well!"

Azymuth and Brainstory

Marcos Valle is the Renaissance man of Brazilian pop, a singer/songwriter/producer who has straddled the music world from the early days of the bossa nova craze well into the fusion-soaked sound of '80s MPB and into the 21st century. His second album, 1965's O Compositor e o Cantor, is widely considered among the era's most important. Its hit single, "Samba de Verão," is one of the most covered songs in Brazilian music history.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1943, Valle studied classical music as a child but listened to many different types of music, especially jazz. He began writing songs with his brother Paulo Sérgio; Marcos was the tune writer, Paulo the lyricist. In the early '60s, and after Tamba Triohad a hit with his "Sonho de Maria," Valle was named Brazil's Leading Composer of the Year at the age of 19. A recording contract soon followed, and in 1964 he released his first album, Samba Demais, for EMI Brazil. A tour with Sergio Mendes & Brasil '65 the following year got him his first show business connections in America (via Merv Griffin), and in 1966, Walter Wanderley took Valle's song "So Nice (Summer Samba)" into the U.S. Top 40. Valle soon earned his own American contract, and in 1967, Warner Bros. released the instrumentals album Braziliance! One year later, his Verve debut, Samba '68, became a Brazilian classic thanks to simple, infectious pop songs like "Batucada," "Chup, Chup, I Got Away," and "Crickets Sing for Anamaria" (all of which featured spot-on harmony vocals by his wife Anamaria).

Despite the incredible promise revealed by Samba '68, it was his last American album to date. That same year, the Brazilian-only Viola Enluarada became a big hit in South America, thanks in part to the title track (with vocals by a young Milton Nascimento). The rock & roll era that had already influenced tropicalistas like Os Mutantes, Caetano Veloso, and Gilberto Gil soon began inspiring Valle as well. With albums like the irresistible 1971 classic Garra, he moved away from native Brazilian forms like the bossa nova and samba and into a rock-influenced sound that played up groove-heavy bass and smooth funk even while courting his amazing melodic sense.

During the late '80s, the rare-groove craze centered in London resurrected and relentlessly compiled dozens of crucial, overlooked tracks from the '60s and '70s, including Valle's "Crickets Sing for Anamaria." In 1995, the British Mr. Bongo label released a two-volume series (The Essential Marcos Valle) dedicated to his work. One year later, Valle appeared on the jam session compilation Friends from Rio, and in 1998 he returned with a new album, Nova Bossa Nova. In 2018 Far Outremastered and reissued Nova Bossa Nova in a 20th anniversary edition. In June of 2019 at age 76, Valle released Sempre for Far Out. Its sound was a retro mix of boogie, disco, cosmic samba, and smooth jazz-funk grafted onto socially conscious lyrics that recalled the lyric style of his progressive early-'70s recordings. Guests on the date included Azymuth's bassist Alex Malheiros, trumpeter Jesse Sadoc, and percussionist Armando Marcal.

Valle returned to the studio almost immediately and released Cinzento in March of 2020 for Deck in Brazil and Light in the Attic in the U.S. It featured collaborations with Moreno Veloso ("Redescobrir"), Bem Gil ("Protect Yourself"), Kassin ("Distant Places"), Zélia Duncan ("Rastros Raros"), Domênico Lancelotti ("Pelo Sim, Pelo Não"), and rapper Emicid on the title track. Also appearing that spring, this time from English label Far Out, was a 2020 reissue of Valle's 1972 soundtrack Fly Cruzeiro, for which he was backed by Brazilian jazz-funk fusion trio Azymuth (who took their name from one of his songs) in a set that mixed bossa, samba, synth-driven funk, and jazz fusion.

A year earlier, Valle and his wife, singer Patricia Alvi, traveled to Los Angeles to work with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad for their Jazz Is Dead label project. Though Valle had lived and worked there decades earlier, he had never recorded his own music. Using his catalog as a production guide, collaborators encouraged an album of new songs that crisscrossed his career-long obsessions with samba, bossa, MPB, and psychedelic funk. Valle arrived with a briefcase full of original material; he composed even more on the spot in the recording studio. Using vintage instruments and keyboards, the sessions plotted a 21st century overview of Valle's musical evolution. It included a duet with Alvi on the breezy "Viajando por Aí." In keeping with the Jazz Is Dead label's cataloging aesthetic, the set was titled Marcos Valle JID 003, and issued in August of 2020. A 2021 single saw Valle collaborating with Ivan Lins and Joyce on the gentle "Casa Que Era Minha." ~ John Bush

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: $43.05 Gen, $58.80 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com
Artists website: www.mrbongo.bandcamp.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

In her 50-plus years in music, Judy Collins has always exhibited impeccable taste in songcraft. On her landmark 1967album, Wildflowers, she curated a stunning collection featuring originals alongside songs by not-yet household names such as Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, and adventurous selections by Jacques Brel and Francesco Landini. Her discerning palette, and her literary gifts, have enabled her to evolve into a poetic, storyteller songwriter. Now, in her 6th decade as a singer and songwriter, Judy is experiencing a profound level of growth and prolific creativity.

The cultural treasure’s 55th release, Spellbound, which came out on February 25, 2022, finds Judy enjoying an artistic renaissance. The 13 song album is a special entry in her oeuvre. It marks the first time ever she wrote all the songs on one of her albums. It features 12 new recently-written modern folk songs, and a bonus track of her evergreen, “The Blizzard.” Spellbound is an introspective and impressionistic album. It unfolds as if Judy curated a museum exhibit of her life, and welcomed us into a retrospective of her most formative moments, some big and public, and some intensely personal and intimate.

Show time: 7:30 PM, doors 6:30 PM
Tickets: start at $39.50
Advance tickets: www.ticketmaster.com
Artists website: www.judycollins.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com

The Rio Theatre present protocol : masks are highly encouraged except when eating or drinking

Please read entire Rio Theatre Covid19 Protocols

Angel Olsen is a songwriter, musician, performer and director of music videos. She delivers vulnerable songs with a distinctive warble informed by vintage country. Her early, spare, acoustic songs grew increasingly lush and dramatic across her several albums. Olsen debuted with the reverb-heavy solo indie folk of 2010's Strange Cacti, expanding to an alt-country power trio for her third album, 2014's Burn Your Fire for No Witness, her Billboard 200 debut. Two years later, My Woman reached a career-high number 47 on the chart. While maintaining an intimate character and a haunting sound reinforced by stylized echo, Olsen recorded 2019's All Mirrors with a 14-piece orchestra. The follow-up, 2020's Whole New Mess, offered an overhauled solo version of All Mirrors that included a pair of original songs. Inspired by both love and loss tied up in coming out as queer, her sixth studio album, Big Time, followed in 2022.

She has performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Austin City Limits TV, and has been profiled in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork, to name a few. Her albums are regularly regarded as some of the highest lauded albums each year of their release. Olsen has collaborated with artists including Mark Ronson, Sharon Van Etten, Cass McCombs, Hamilton Leithauser, Marissa Nadler, Jim James, Madi Diaz, and more.  

On this tour, Angel will be performing solo, exploring songs from her entire catalog, digging into songs and eras she does not often get to when performing with her band. 

- excerpts taken from Fred Thomas, All Music

Show time: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM
Tickets: $47.25 Gen, $57.75 Gold Circle
Advance tickets: www.eventbrite.com