A city historically known for its music and spicy food as it is for being the birthplace of the American Civil Rights Movement, Memphis delivers a dose of good ol’ Southern hospitality.

While the season of Lent is a time of fasting, it can also be a time of feasting.

The Black Market Trust is just one of those bands that hooks you. It’s a throwback to a bygone era, with modern tones and updated beats that transports you back in time. They are an American traditional pop/vocal jazz group from Los Angeles who combine the sounds of the legendary American cr…

Frankie Quiñones’ comedy show at the Fox Theater this Friday will be a bit different than recent ones.

It’s hard to believe that MTV had once claimed “Video Killed the Radio Star,” before reality TV came along to have their revenge on MTV with shows like “Jersey Shore,” “Teen Mom” and “Catfish.”

When internationally acclaimed organist James Welch performs in concert Friday, he hopes to convince you that organ music is not just for funerals or background music.

Jethro Tull might be better known for arguably making the flute a legitimate hard rock lead instrument and in stealing a Grammy win from Metallica. But when it comes down to it, the band has always been a bit belittled. They wore their eclectic, mysterious broadswords and minstrel image prou…

Calling all fans of rap music: Tech N9ne will perform at the Fox Theater in April, and tickets are on sale now.

After last bringing the funk to Bakersfield in 2013, Average White Band returns to Spectrum Amphitheatre for a show on April 18.

Toby Keith isn't shy about aligning himself with a certain sub-genre of country music. It's basically right there in the name of his tour.

Since leaving the cold climes of Alaska for the bluegrass hotbed of Washington, D.C., Frank Solivan has built a reputation as a monster mandolinist — and become a major festival attraction with his band, Dirty Kitchen. Their respect and deep understanding of the tradition collides, live on s…

It's a good month to be a bluegrass fan in Bakersfield. Thanks to Pat Evans at World Records, there are two shows on tap to get aficionados of American roots music out on the scene.

Eyehategod's fall from grace may have been all too predictable — frontman Mike IX Williams led a less-than-ideal life that included chronic drug abuse, incarceration and homelessness — but the band's resurrection was anything but.

Members of the Bakersfield Master Chorale are heading to Chicago to sing in the 12th annual Windy City Choral Festival. But before they go, they would love to perform their musical program for the folks here at home.

Steven Spielberg’s 1998 film “Saving Private Ryan” was a watershed moment in cinema. The intense opening sequence depicting American forces landing at Normandy Beach and the overwhelming strike that followed didn’t just raise the bar of combat realism in film, it vaporized it. The surround-s…

In an age where young artists are charmed by the allure of Insta fame and reality TV, Bakersfield singer Itze Garcia prefers a time-proven slow burn shot at the big time.

After bringing down the house at the Acoustic KRAB Christmas Show in December, Blue October has announced it will return for a show at the Fox Theater this summer. 

Students from the Panama-Buena Vista School District will demonstrate their musical abilities in the district’s 35th annual Music Makers concert this Thursday evening to celebrate an activity that extends well beyond making beautiful music.

Catching up with bands like Hate Drugs, which is releasing its new album “Tsunami Soul I” on Friday, reminds me why I enjoy the anticipation of the new release date reminder on my calendar, a feeling all music freaks will understand. However, these days it takes a special band to have that e…

When singer-guitarist Monty Byrom recently moved on from his post fronting the Buckaroos at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, the obvious question was raised: Who now?

One of Bakersfield's own is moving on up. This month Tino Ibach, aka The Hawaiian Wonder, has been performing in Melbourne, Australia, as part of celebrity tribute show giant Legends In Concert's engagement with The Crown Melbourne Hotel.

Maybe it has something to do with this plaintive time of the year, but there are a variety of low-key shows — acoustic and otherwise — happening soon. Even though these acts are a bit more sonically subdued than when flanked by louder instruments (I’m looking at you, drums) they'll still mel…

Buck Owens was Buck Owens and nobody else was ever going to be Buck Owens. But after the country music legend died in 2006, the people running his legacy club, the Crystal Palace, needed someone capable of owning that stage the way Owens did.

Almost exactly a year ago, the vocal ensemble known as Meridian Voices and chamber group known as Synergy Chamber Players made their debut with an acclaimed performance of music by Norwegian composers Edvard Grieg and Ola Gjeilo, including the spectacular “Sunrise Mass,” a modern work that i…

Ever since "Riverdance," "Stomp" and Taiko drum acts first took to the road, stage productions featuring exotic music, dance and costumery have been a staple on the touring concert circuit. African Children’s Choir concerts share those same creative components, but in a more intimate, authen…

As the new year is now upon us, it appears everything old is new again. Three upcoming tribute shows will give truth to that axiom, offering local music fans a chance to experience the music of acts that will never — well, maybe never — perform again.

The Great 48 Jam, Bakersfield’s annual bluegrass jam and live music festival put on by the California Bluegrass Association, will open its doors at the Marriott Hotel downtown Thursday through Sunday. It’ll be a weekend full of pickers, pluckers, fiddlers and strummers roaming the hotel hall…

When the current Styx album, “The Mission,” arrived last June, it ended a 14-year run without an album of new original material from the veteran band.

In music, as in love, one plus one can add up to … not two but a new and greater one.

Musicians can be found in the strangest of places so it's no surprise that country music guitar icon Eugene Moles checked in from a special destination on Wednesday.

Take note: The Randy Rogers Band is prepared for anything.

This year, our live music contingent worked its hardest competing against shortening attention spans and people's “fear of missing out.” It’s tough to get people out of their homes and into a venue to have them catch a live show, and it’s even tougher to keep that attention once they get the…

Fiercely independent artists continued making strides in 2018, with a series of digital and vinyl singles, EPs, music videos and live shows, each produced with complete creative control.

What's in a name? Would an acoustic rock band by any other name sound as folksy? That's the question for Glitterfox, the acoustic rock duo of multi-instrumentalists Andrea Walker, 36, and Bakersfield native Solange Igoa, 27, formerly known as Bearcoon.

With all of his international acclaim and success, singer Gregory Porter could rightfully say all the world is his stage. But with the his upcoming benefit performance on Dec. 16 at the Fox Theater, he’s made a point to give back to the community he considers home.

When some of the world’s best studio and touring musicians have a little time on their hands during Christmas break, interesting things are bound to happen. What better way to celebrate the 65th edition of Guitar Masters than to feature “Christmas with The Cranktones,” on Dec. 13, at Buck Ow…

Hip-hop music and art collide in the heart of downtown Saturday for a one-night only clash of creativity at “Queendom: An Event Dedicated to Women, Hip Hop, Soul & Funk” at Sandrini’s.

Promising a Feliz Navidad unlike any Bakersfield has ever experienced, acclaimed group Mariachi Sol de Mexico will bring its popular "A Merry-Achi Christmas" show to the Fox Theater on Dec. 6.

One of the perks of covering local events is the kick I get in finding the odd ones that merit attention; the ones that deserve to be noticed but may have slipped through the cracks. One such show is happening at Cal State Bakersfield's Doré Theatre on Dec. 8 featuring Steam Powered Giraffe.…

Come sail away to the Fox Theater when Styx comes to town in January. 

Looking for a Christmas gift for your favorite country music fan? Then act quick and snap up some of the remaining tickets to the Dwight Yoakam concert this Sunday at the Fox Theater.

Music is essential to the Advent and Christmas seasons, and it looks like as many Kern County performing organizations as possible are doing their best to give you every opportunity to enjoy some.

He was the first person to play the new World Records stage, and now Elvin Bishop and his Big Fun Trio return there Saturday in support of their latest album, “Something Smells Funky ‘Round Here.” For Bishop, Bakersfield, and the World Records venue itself, hold a special place for him.

Every semester Cal State Bakersfield puts on what amounts to a miniature music festival, presenting a lot of students performing the work they’ve been working on all term. It’s a great opportunity to see how talented local student musicians are.

It’s been a sweet decade of life, friendships and music for Dub Seeds.

Bakersfield Winds president Scott Smith said it’s good to be back home, and the all-wind music ensemble will celebrate that with the first concert of their 2018-19 season Monday at Valley Baptist Church's Olive Drive campus.

The Fox Theater is gearing up for some sweet Southern rock with the announcement that Needtobreathe will perform on April 10.

Otep Shamaya had never been shy about expressing her opinions in songs she wrote for Otep over the course of her band’s previous seven albums.