Volunteer Project Catalog

The Center for the Arts

This is a great volunteer job for a friendly, responsible person who's interested in volunteering during the day. You'll welcome visitors to the Center, answer questions about our Gallery art, inform guests about upcoming concerts, help direct students who are coming in for classes, and prepare postering packets. Ideally, we'd love to have a committment for one shift a week, however, signing up for a single shift is much appreciated.

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Genre: Blues, Rock Description Kenny Wayne Shepherd is a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated blues-rock guitarist who helped revive modern blues in the 1990s. Since his breakthrough debut album Ledbetter Heights, Shepherd has built a career defined by fiery guitar work, soulful vocals, and high-powered live performances. With multiple Billboard No. 1 blues albums and a catalog that bridges traditional blues with arena-ready rock, he remains one of the genre’s most electrifying performers.

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Genre: Bluegrass / Jam The Infamous Stringdusters are a Grammy-winning quintet—Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Travis Book (bass), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), Andy Hall (dobro), and Andy Falco (guitar)—who came up in Nashville in the mid-2000s and have since become one of the most beloved touring acts in modern bluegrass. Alongside peers like Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Railroad Earth, they've helped push the genre into bold new territory while honoring its roots, fearlessly blurring the lines between bluegrass, Americana, country, and indie-folk. Their renowned live shows—powered by unmatched instrumental chemistry and joyous, high-energy picking have earned them a devoted national following. The September 15 performance comes on the heels of their landmark album 20/20, twenty original songs marking twenty years together, which the band calls the fullest expression of two decades of collaborative exploration!

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Genre: Comedy Before Robin Williams was Robin Williams, he came in second place. The San Francisco Comedy Competition — the 50-year-old independent stand-up contest that helped launch Williams, Dana Carvey, and Marsha Warfield — comes to The Center for the Arts on Thursday, September 17. Here's what makes this different from any other comedy show: you're not just watching. The audience scores the comedians. Your reaction in the room determines who advances.

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Genre: Americana, Bluegrass, Roots Michael Cleveland, widely regarded as the defining bluegrass fiddler of his generation, began performing professionally after high school with Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent before forming his own band, Flamekeeper, in 2006—now a seven-time recipient of the IBMA’s Instrumental Group of the Year award. In 2026, he is featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents: State of the Music exhibit, recognizing his ongoing impact on the genre. A twelve-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year and 2018 National Fiddlers Hall of Fame inductee, Cleveland has toured and recorded with legendary artists including Béla Fleck, Tommy Emmanuel, Billy Strings, and Vince Gill. He is a four-time GRAMMY® nominee, including a nomination this year for Best Bluegrass Album with Jason Carter for their collaboration Carter & Cleveland, which also won IBMA’s Album of the Year and Song of the Year (“Outrun the Rain”) at this year’s awards. Cleveland previously won a GRAMMY® for Best Bluegrass Album in 2019 for Tall Fiddler, the same year his inspiring journey was chronicled in the documentary Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Story. A recipient of the NEA National Heritage Fellowship, he continues to expand his artistic reach—his masterful fiddle playing can even be heard in the newest season of King of the Hill.

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Genre: Jazz-Rock Fusion Al Di Meola will bring The Guitarchitect to the Center, pairing acoustic performance with multimedia visuals and personal narrative drawn from Di Meola's five-decade career. Di Meola first rose to prominence as a member of Return to Forever, the ensemble led by Chick Corea, in the mid-1970s. His solo catalog includes landmark recordings such as Elegant Gypsy, Casino, and Splendido Hotel. His acoustic collaboration with Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin produced Friday Night in San Francisco, one of the best-selling instrumental albums of all time. He is a GRAMMY Award winner, a seven-time recipient of Guitar Player Magazine's Best Guitarist award, and the recipient of both the Miles Davis Lifetime Achievement Award and the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Genre: Blues Samantha Fish has emerged as one of the most dynamic guitarists of her generation,celebrated for fearless songwriting, emotional firepower, and explosive live shows. Hersecond GRAMMY nomination recognized PaperDoll, an album of nine powerful, defiantsongs. On Paper Doll Live, Fish bottles the grit and intensity of the stage—the place whereher music hits hardest. Opening the night, Zach Schulze gang is a dynamic, UK-based blues rock trio that has rapidly become a major force in the European and international blues scenes. Their explosive stage presence is deeply reminiscent of legacy icons like Rory Gallagher, Dr. Feelgood, and Thin Lizzy.

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Genre: Americana, Folk, Jazz One of America's most celebrated guitarists and composers, Bill Frisell brings his newly assembled "Harmony Five" ensemble to the Center for the Arts in a concert celebrating his 75th birthday. Frisell's new album In My Dreams (Blue Note Records, 2026) captures the spirit of this rare gathering - a reunion of his closest long-time collaborators, including cellist Hank Roberts, with whom he shares nearly 50 years of musical history. Rounding out the ensemble are vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Petra Haden (daughter of jazz legend Charlie Haden), guitarist/bassist Luke Bergman, and drummer Timothy Angulo - together bringing a remarkable depth of jazz, Americana, and adventurous improvisation to the stage. "A family gathering. A reunion. That's what it feels like getting together with my closest friends. There's still much unfinished business. We're just getting started." - Bill Frisell

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Genre: Blues, Folk, Rock Jorma Kaukonen is one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and rock — a career spanning more than half a century. A founding member of Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, he was at the forefront of the San Francisco sound and a progenitor of Psychedelic Rock. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy recipient, Jorma's legacy was further honored in 2016 when he, Jack Casady, and the other members of Jefferson Airplane received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to American music. Across decades of recording and touring, Jorma Kaukonen has remained one of the finest singer-songwriters in his field — bringing his unique styling to old blues tunes while presenting new songs of weight and dimension. His music is spontaneous and unfiltered, driven by an individual expression of personality that has made him a legend in American music.

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Genre: Indie Rock Fruit Bats is an American indie rock band formed in 1997 in Chicago, Illinois, as the project of singer/songwriter Eric D. Johnson. Johnson is the band's sole permanent member, with various musicians joining the band in live and studio settings.

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Genre: Americana, Bluegrass, Country In a career spanning more than 50 years, five-time Grammy winner, Country Music Hall of Famer, and AMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Marty Stuart has gone from backing Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash to becoming, in NPR's words, "the very image of country music." With his longtime band The Fabulous Superlatives — widely regarded as country's preeminent live act — Stuart now blasts into new territory with Space Junk, his first all-instrumental album: a cosmic cowboy trip of sun-kissed surf guitar, breezy California rhythms, and soul-stirring steel. Expect rhinestones, virtuosity, and a masterclass in American music.

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Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter With Rett Madison Opening Paula Cole returns to the stage with THIS FIRE: 30—a special anniversary tour celebrating three decades of This Fire. A Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for her fearless writing and genre-blending sound, Cole broke boundaries with songs that were both deeply personal and universally resonant. On THIS FIRE: 30, Paula will perform This Fire in its entirety—revisiting the era-defining music that sparked a generation and bringing new life, nuance, and power to the songs fans have carried with them for decades. Expect an intimate, emotionally charged performance that honors the original spirit of the album while showcasing the artistry and perspective she’s continued to evolve. Spanning 50+ markets across the US, the UK, and Europe, THIS FIRE: 30 marks a major touring moment for Paula Cole—one of her most far-reaching runs in years—celebrating a classic album and the enduring connection it created with listeners around the world.

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Genre: Alternative/Indie Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and composer Kishi Bashi brings the Sonderlust 10th Anniversary Tour to The Center for the Arts on October 7. Celebrating a decade since the release of Sonderlust, this special performance revisits one of his most beloved albums while highlighting the artistry that has made Kishi Bashi one of the most distinctive voices in indie music. Combining looping violin, lush orchestration, and shimmering indie pop melodies, Kishi Bashi’s performances are equal parts concert and sonic journey. His music blends classical technique with modern indie songwriting, creating an immersive live experience filled with beauty, energy, and emotional depth. Fans of artists like Sufjan Stevens and Andrew Bird will find a captivating evening of inventive musicianship and cinematic sound. Geographer is the moniker for the now Los Angeles-based Mike Deni. Part social scientist, part troubadour, if Geographer is an expert at anything, it’s precisely chronicling life’s imperfections. He has headlined many national tours, played Outside Lands, Just Like Heaven, Firefly, Treefort, and other festivals, released four critically acclaimed albums, including 2023’s A Mirror Brightly, and has performed with such musical luminaries as The Flaming Lips, Young The Giant, Tycho, K.Flay, Ratatat, Betty Who, and Tokyo Police Club.

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Genre: Comedy Widely regarded as one of the most intelligent and thoughtful voices in stand-up comedy, Gulman is known for his masterful storytelling, sharp observational humor, and deeply personal material. With celebrated specials and numerous late-night appearances, Gulman has built a devoted following for his ability to blend humor with insight, delivering performances that are both hilarious and resonant.

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This event only requires Bar Cashiers- no theater volunteers.

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Genre: Youth, Family, Educational, Theater, Classical SPACETIME is a captivating live performance that brings the wonders of the universe to life through storytelling, music, science, and breathtaking imagery. Join acclaimed storyteller David González, astrophysicist Dr. Luke Keller, and guitarist-composer Álvaro Domene on an unforgettable journey from the birth of the cosmos to our shared human story. Blending discovery, imagination, and awe, SPACETIME invites audiences of all ages to look up, wonder, and reconnect with the extraordinary universe we call home. Perfect for curious minds, science enthusiasts, art lovers, and anyone who has ever gazed at the stars and asked, “How did we get here?” ✨🌎🌌

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Genre: Youth, Family, Educational, Theater, Classical SPACETIME is a captivating live performance that brings the wonders of the universe to life through storytelling, music, science, and breathtaking imagery. Join acclaimed storyteller David González, astrophysicist Dr. Luke Keller, and guitarist-composer Álvaro Domene on an unforgettable journey from the birth of the cosmos to our shared human story. Blending discovery, imagination, and awe, SPACETIME invites audiences of all ages to look up, wonder, and reconnect with the extraordinary universe we call home. Perfect for curious minds, science enthusiasts, art lovers, and anyone who has ever gazed at the stars and asked, “How did we get here?” ✨🌎🌌

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This event only requires Gallery Attendants - no theater volunteers.

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Genre: Folk, Rock Roger McGuinn, founder of the influential folk rock band The Byrds, brings his acclaimed “Songs and Stories” performance to The Center for the Arts on October 10, 2026. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, McGuinn is widely recognized for pioneering the jangly 12-string guitar sound that helped define the folk rock movement of the 1960s. In this intimate solo performance, McGuinn combines iconic songs with personal storytelling, offering audiences a rare, first-hand look at the music and moments that shaped a generation. From chart-defining hits to deep cuts and traditional folk influences, the evening highlights a career that continues to resonate across decades.

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This event only requires Gallery Attendants - no theater volunteers.

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Genre: Celtic, Vocal Five-time Billboard Top World Music Artist, Celtic Thunder is one of the most celebrated live acts in the world. Since their debut in Dublin in 2007, they have earned multiple Billboard honors including Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album, amassed over 350 million YouTube views, and built a following of more than one million fans on Facebook and Instagram alone. Emmet Cahill, Neil Byrne, Damian McGinty, and Ronan Scolard are four of the most gifted vocalists performing today. Together they deliver a powerful blend of traditional Irish and Scottish music, classic ballads, and contemporary hits — all set against breathtaking staging, dramatic lighting, and the unmistakable chemistry of world-class performers sharing a stage. Over 18 North American tours, four Australian tours, and more than 1,000 shows performed to millions of fans worldwide, Celtic Thunder has proven time and again that their live experience is something truly unforgettable. An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder brings these legendary voices together once more — and this is one night you won't want to miss.

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Legacy Giving Event - Bar Cashier Only Need The Center for the Arts is hosting a dialogue with Janice Dunn and Huck Ingram on Building Your Legacy in Nevada County. We've invited the Community Foundation of Nevada County and Nevada County Arts & Culture to partner with us to promote the event. The event will feature a panel discussion with the two and donors at varying life stages who have considered providing for arts organizations as part of their planned giving. A donor who has left valuable art to us in their will, a donor who moved their funds from a regional community foundation to our local Community Foundation, a younger donor who hasn't considered drafting their will at all. The goal of the event is to support increased legacy giving to the arts in our community by raising awareness for donors. Our partner organizations will work with the arts nonprofits in the area that they have in their constituent base to engage them in understanding how this free event, designed specifically for donors to the arts, is a key event to direct their donors to as it will support their consideration of longer-term support for their favorite arts organizations.

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Music in the Mountains Halloween Masquerade Ball "Heroes and Villians". Music in the Mountains (MIM) is a unique organization that marries world-class performances with a deep commitment to music education. Our location in the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills’ historic gold rush communities of Grass Valley and Nevada City leads a special ambience to everything. Woven throughout MIM is a deep commitment to music education. Balancing in-depth initiatives such as our nationally recognized Young Composers Project, and broad reach programs such as Carnegie Hall’s Link Up, MIM’s multi-faceted approach touches the lives of over 5,000 students each year. We work closely with school districts, music teachers and parents in advocating for the importance of music education. And where schools cannot provide due to lack of budget, MIM steps in to create solutions. Such programs include Take 5 for Music, Link Up, Peers for Peers and MusicLive, all of which bring classical music to school age children.

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Genre: Americana, Roots, Rock What do a professional boxer, a Pentecostal preacher's kid from Tupelo, and a ventriloquist dummy named Ricky have in common? They're all part of the origin story of one of America's most irresistible storyteller-songwriters. Paul Thorn grew up in the pews (his dad a minister, his earliest performances in church at age three) but somewhere between the boxing ring and a late-night hotel room ice cream session with John Prine, he became something harder to categorize. His music lands in the sweet spot where Southern soul, blues, and Americana collide: think smoky grooves, gospel-dipped harmonies, and lyrics that swing between belly laughs and gut punches, sometimes in the same verse. His new album Life Is Just a Vapor is built on that formula. Joe Bonamassa guests on a funky, slow-burn track about relationship insecurity. Luther Dickinson's guitar snakes through a story about a traveling evangelist who couldn't reach kids until she started working a hickory-headed dummy. Muscle Shoals session singers add honey to the title track, a phrase Thorn lifted from scripture and from a stolen moment with his late friend Prine, who ate ice cream he absolutely wasn't supposed to eat and inspired a song that'll make you laugh, then quietly wreck you. Thorn writes the way he used to fight: precise, economical, and with serious power behind every swing.

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Genre: Classical Amelia Zitoun is a highly accomplished 19-year-old cellist currently studying at the prestigious Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles under Clive Greensmith. Her notable accolades include winning 2nd Prize at the 2024 Klein International String Competition and being named the 2023 gold medalist at the Stulberg International String Competition.

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Genre - Visual Arts A first annual holiday small works group show showcasing over 20 local artists. Perfectly priced for gift giving. All works will be 12" x 12". Buy some local art, take it off the wall and share the love!

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Genre: Photography, Visual Arts Harrison Ford told him he had a "framing jones." He was at Woodstock. He danced with Joni Mitchell at a love-in while the Eagles — then completely unknown — played nearby. He didn't document rock history from the outside. He was inside it, with a camera, because these people were his friends. This isn't a photography lecture. It's a firsthand account of one of the most documented, least truly witnessed eras in American music, told by the man who was in the room.

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Genre: Celtic, Folk The Boston Globe called Solas "the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced." The Wall Street Journal called them "an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness." Thirty years on, the two musicians who earned those words are still the ones leading the band. Séamus Egan founded Solas and remains its architect. Playing flute, tenor banjo, nylon guitar, whistles, and mandolin, he was winning All-Ireland titles as a teenager, and he later wrote the melody that became Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You." Fiddler Winifred Horan has been beside him from the first note: New England Conservatory trained, an All-Ireland champion, and a champion Irish step dancer, she brought a conservatory precision to the band's arrangements that made their sound impossible to mistake for anyone else's. Across twelve albums and thirty years of touring, Solas drew as freely from bluegrass, folk, and Americana as from the tradition itself, and set the standard for what Irish music in America could be. This 30th anniversary tour brings Egan and Horan together with original accordionist John Williams and guitarist Alan Murray, and adds a genuine crossover voice in Moira Smiley on vocals, banjo, keyboard, and body percussion, known from Tune-Yards and her own group VOCO.

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Tribute, Rock Playing the hits and deep cuts spanning the career of Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame group Fleetwood Mac, Tusk has been crisscrossing the country since 2008 as The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Five pro musicians turned into masters of their trade through decad es of individual music study, live performance, creative risk and devotion to the art. TUSK features note - perfect renditions of both the solo and full band songs, with each member specializing in one of the core lineup of Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood). They possess an electric stage presence that can only come from well over a decade touring together. Truly the best at what they do, TUSK is unmatched in their tribute t

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Genre: Blues, R&B, Soul Acclaimed singer-songwriter Marc Broussard brings his signature blend of blues, R&B, and Southern soul to The Center for the Arts on November 11, 2026. Known for his powerful, emotive voice and genre-spanning sound, Broussard has built a loyal following through both his original music and his interpretations of classic soul and blues traditions. With a career that bridges contemporary songwriting and timeless influences, Broussard’s live performances are celebrated for their authenticity, energy, and emotional resonance. His appearance at The Center offers audiences an intimate opportunity to experience one of modern soul’s most compelling voices.

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Genre: Comedy, Satire Bestselling Author & Humorist David Sedaris is one of America's preeminent humor writers — a master of satire, a five-time Grammy nominee, and the author of nine New York Times bestsellers including Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, Calypso, and Happy-Go-Lucky. With over 16 million books in print in 32 languages, his sharp, confessional essays have made him one of the most recognized voices in American letters. A longtime contributor to The New Yorker and CBS Sunday Morning, Sedaris first captured the public imagination with his NPR debut and has never looked back — earning the Thurber Prize for American Humor, the Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize, and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters, among many other honors. His live shows are events unto themselves: new and unpublished work, candid audience Q&A, and book signings that fans talk about for years. "Sedaris ain't the preeminent humorist of his generation by accident." — Entertainment Weekly

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Genre: Genre: early jazz, ragtime, blues For over a decade Tuba Skinny has grown steadily in popularity, releasing twelve albums and touring all over the world. They’ve attracted a wide variety of fans, young and old, neophytes and niche-enthusiasts, with the strength of their musicianship and the scope of their jazz and American roots music catalog. The band is composed of Shaye Cohn (cornet), Barnabus Jones (trombone), Todd Burdick (tuba), Craig Flory(clarinet), Gregory Sherman (guitar and vocals), Max Bien-Kahn (banjo), Robin Rapuzzi (washboard), and Erika Lewis (vocals andbassdrum). While they’ve become known as world-class interpreters of traditional jazz, over the years they’ve branched out into jug band music, spirituals, country blues, string band music, ragtime, and New OrleansR&B. Their approach is a true reflection of Americana, encompassing the full genealogy of popular American music from an early 20th century perspective. No matter how well known they’ve become or how high profile their gigs have gotten, Tuba Skinny has always returned to the streets. “We continue to play in the street because it’s a public space,” says Shaye "We get to play for everyone: old, young, rich, poor, people from all walks of life. It keeps things interesting because it’s organic and unpredictable.”

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Genre: Blues, Rock Joanne Shaw Taylor - Blues-Rock Guitar Phenomenon Discovered at 16 by Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart — who saw her play and immediately invited her to join his supergroup — Joanne Shaw Taylor has spent the decades since becoming one of the most electrifying guitarists in blues-rock. Praised by everyone from Joe Bonamassa to Stevie Wonder, she is the rare artist who earns that kind of reverence and fully delivers on it live. With back-to-back No. 1 debuts on the Billboard Blues Chart and a UK Top 20 album to her name, Taylor's reputation is built as much on the stage as the studio. Her performances are raw, soulful, and technically stunning — the kind that make audiences wonder where she's been all their lives. Don't miss one of Britain's most important blues exports, live at the Center for the Arts. About Robert John & the Wreck: Southern California's Robert Jon & The Wreck have taken the Southern rock tradition and made it undeniably their own. Since 2011, the five-piece has built a global following through relentless touring and a string of acclaimed albums — most recently Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, produced by Grammy-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Along the way they've shared stages with Joe Bonamassa, The Black Crowes, and Peter Frampton, and earned a reputation for live shows that are, simply put, impossible to ignore.

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Genre: Folk, Experimental The three musicians who wrote and recorded Hug—Devendra Banhart, Gyan Riley and Noah Georgeson— are not related by blood, but they sure act like it. Friends for decades, it only takes a few minutes for their family/non-family dynamics to reveal themselves: “I don’t even like these people,” Devendra jokes during a recent video call. “I didn’t choose them; I love them. They’re my brothers, my family. It’s irrevocable.” Over the course of the conversation, the three tease each other as much as they sing each other’s praises. Noah and Devendra gently rib Gyan for being the prodigy of the group; all three are retiringly self-deprecating about their own role in the making of this largely instrumental new album. Whatever it is that connects these three, you can hear it in the banter as much as you can in the music. The record is almost like a bait and switch: You read the spine and—especially if you're familiar with the work of Devendra or Gyan or Noah—you think, this is a guitar trio. But Hug doesn’t particularly sound like any of these artists, and if it’s a guitar trio, then it’s one without too many guitars. Hug is more than the sum of its parts—because these artists know how to play with each other. For Gyan and Noah, the tether goes back to childhood itself. They both grew up in the same remote, hippie town in Northern California, Nevada City, which was once one of the epicenters of crystals and all things New Age culture. Gyan spent his youth surrounded by experimental and minimalist music (clock the last name), and as a boy gravitated toward the guitar. “Being thirteen and completely obsessed with classical guitar,” he remembers, “there were few people I could bond with over that... Basically just my teacher and Noah.” Noah remembers being amazed by Gyan’s skill, even as a kid. He was just as relieved as Gyan to have a friend with whom he could share his passion for classical guitar, a fringe obsession in their fringe hometown. Noah grew up in a cabin built by his family; there were regular bear and mountain lion sightings in the woods behind the house, but he never got so much as a bee sting. “My parents had a guru instead of going to church,” Noah remembers, “otherwise, it was all very normal.” After they left home, their lives moved on parallel tracks: Gyan continued on as an artist and touring musician, releasing several albums of his own, and collaborating with musicians as various as Arooj Aftab, John Zorn, Paul Simon, and his father, Terry. Noah, meanwhile, moved to San Francisco where he established his own experimental music bona fides, studying with Fred Frith, Pauline Oliveros, and Alvin Curran. From there, he helped create much of the music that defined the aughts, including several albums with Devendra, who first crossed his path when he was a teenage art school dropout. Devendra may have come into the picture later (not much later), but he fit in with ease. Much of Devendra’s own childhood rhymed with Noah's and Gyan's: he grew up in Venezuela and Southern California in a family that also had a guru; he took to guitar early, busking on the streets instead of going to class. It would be many years before Noah’s two friends—two influential poles of his musical life—would meet. But by the time they did, years later in Brooklyn, they were primed for it. “Everything was sparkling and I felt like a little kid,” Devendra remembers, “and so I knew—we must play.” Hug was written and recorded organically, without a grand plan, and is full of the childlike wonder that these three bring out in each other. At times ambient, at times enigmatic, each song flows into the other, moving across folk tradition and genre, as Devendra, Gyan, and Noah take turns leading. From the opening frogs on “Cow With Half Moon Parasol,” the natural world takes center stage. Discrete places on this planet—places, we can infer, hold some significance to these composers—color the soundscape: Sounds from one sacred hill in India, sounds from a river running through Venezuela and Colombia. Animated by the playfulness between these three brothers, the eternal place of childhood never feels far off. On first listen, the song “Sarva Mangalam” sounds like an ancient Hindu chant repurposed into an updated hymn with guitar, sonica, kalimba, and percussion. Yet if you listen closer, the lyrics comprise only two lines: “Sarva Mangalam,” a sacred Sanskrit greeting, and “leche condensada,” Spanish for condensed milk. “We wanted it to sound like a dusty cassette found in an ashram’s giftshop,” Noah said, a nod to the New Age influence of their collective youth. Though the album itself came together in three weeks, there are hints scattered across the tracks that they’ve been working towards this collective for much longer. The final song contains a loop that Noah and Devendra first created twenty years ago, back when they were living together in Venice Beach, a fragment of a song they never knew how to finish until now. And in the album’s final moments, voices can be heard, just barely, crying out, “Well I went down…!” They leave us with another unfinished fragment—perhaps a signal of future projects to come.

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Genre: Americana Amid the excitement and ambiguity of a new start, Paige Anderson of Two Runner poses poignant questions in her music, balancing tenderness with steady conviction. With a sound shaped by intimate storytelling and rich instrumentation, she pulls spare parts from bluegrass, old time, and folk to blend her own hard-driving, heartfelt songs. For Anderson, this show is a true homecoming. Raised in the Sierra foothills, she began touring at age nine with her family band, Anderson Family Bluegrass- a fixture of the Northern California roots scene — and co-wrote her first song at fifteen with Chuck Ragan, igniting a lifelong devotion to raw, honest songwriting. On the road for nearly a decade since, she has built Two Runner into one of the most compelling young acts in American roots music, warming up stages for Sierra Ferrell, Watchhouse, and Molly Tuttle along the way. Two Runner caught national attention with celebrated features on GemsOnVHS and Western AF - the YouTube channels credited with launching artists like Colter Wall and Sierra Ferrell, and their acclaimed debut, Modern Cowboy. Their new full-length arrives this summer on Gar Hole Records, the influential independent label co-founded by Nick Shoulders. Live, the band weaves clawhammer banjo, flatpicking guitar, old-time fiddle, and close harmonies into something at once rooted and entirely new.

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Genre: Indie, Rock Golden Shoulders is a long-running music/friendship project from Nevada City, California, built around the songwriting of Adam Kline and this idea: it's less a fixed band than an ever-changing musical community. Since forming in 2001, Golden Shoulders has operated with a rotating cast of musicians, with different combinations of friends and collaborators joining for recordings and live performances. The result is a band whose lineup is intentionally fluid, while the songwriting and band identity remain consistent, if baffling. Over more than two decades, Golden Shoulders has released four full-length albums: Let My Burden Be (2002), Friendship Is Deep (2004), Get Reasonable (2009), and Could This Be the End (2019), along with five EPs, assorted singles and other one-offs. The music draws from indie rock, folk, and British Invasion influences, with arrangements that can change considerably depending on who is involved. In spring of 2024, they were a five piece bar band, with three of those pieces being electric guitars turned all the way up, and the other two pieces being bass guitar and drums, played at similarly ear-splitting volumes. In the fall of 2025, they were an acoustic quartet with piano, violin, flute, and acoustic guitar. The variety is the point. The band has also maintained an active touring life. Since the early days, Golden Shoulders has toured the United States ten times, often performing "campfire style" in deliberately stripped-down, acoustic settings without microphones or amplifiers. Other incarnations have been full electric bands, particularly when playing in or around their celebrated hometown. The lineup for their November 28th performance at the Center for the Arts will see bandleader and mascot Adam Kline (vocals, guitar) joined by Brett Shady (vocals, percussion), Ehren Haas (lead guitar), Jonathan Hansard (trumpet, banjo, percussion, vocals), Ariella Daly (piano, vocals), Micayla Sortland (bass guitar, vocals), and Jon Sortland (drums, vocals). They respectfully require your attendance.