As the weather gets colder and outdoor activities become more limited, we start looking for things to do indoors. Concerts and live music shows are a great fall and winter activity as the gloomy weather kicks in. Seeing artists play at indoor theaters like the Arcata Theater Lounge, Cal Poly’s Van Duzer Theater, and the Arcata Playhouse can be a great way to support both venues and performers.
Whether it’s local artists or bigger out-of-town names, our small county is a hotspot for the arts. Our area’s biggest magnet for popular artists is Cal Poly Humboldt, which most recently hosted the Beach Boys. These types of events are a great way to increase community involvement and enjoy live music. In the upcoming months, many shows are set to happen here in Humboldt.
Coming to Cal Poly’s Van Duzer Theater on January 28th is Gregory Alan Isokav. Currently living in Boulder, Colorado, Isokav’s music is a combination of indie and folk with some of his top songs being Big Black Car, Amsterdam, and San Luis.
Senior Hiro Sugata, who has tickets to this upcoming show, voices her excitement about seeing Isokav live in her hometown. “He’s been one of my favorite artists for a really long time so I think it’s really cool that he’s going to come here.”
If you’re interested in country, folk, blues, or a combination of the three, on December 8th, Casper Allen and Matt Heckler will be playing at Synapsis Union in Eureka. Some of Allen’s most popular songs, Mosquito Ditch and Stars Like Solids capture his raw vocals paired with guitar. Matt Heckler will be accompanying Allen with his far more folksy style, specializing in fiddle, guitar, and banjo.
Astreya McKnight, an AHS alumni who went to his show last year expresses her enjoyment of seeing him live. “He’s an amazing performer and overall it was a great performance!” Another alumnus, Natalie Dreyer, agreed, “It was great, we got to meet him after and get a picture!”
While Humboldt is a hotspot for folksy music, we’ve also got a wide variety of rock and punk bands playing in the area. Black Flag, a punk-rock band from SoCal is coming to play at Arcata Theater Lounge on January 14th. They’ll be performing “The First for Years” for an audience of all ages.
If you’re on the hunt for live music that isn’t a five-hour drive away, make sure to check the local theater’s updated music calendars. You never know, maybe your favorite artist will decide to make a pit stop on the Northern California coast.
