World Class International Acoustic Music 

in Downtown Santa Barbara


Winter 2026 Series



WOW, What an unbelievable Opening Show by the 

John Jorgenson Quintet with the

Amazing Rory Hoffman (and all the Band Members)!


Heads Up:

Negotiations are Underway to Bring Back the

John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band (J2B2)! 


Moving On to Our Next Shows:



Twanguero (Diego Garcia Solo)


February 15, 2026 - 7:30 @ USSB Parish Hall


While described by the press as a “fire breathing guitar hero” or nicknamed “Spain’s King of Twang” by Guitar Player, 2013 Latin Grammy winner Diego García goes for a more poetic phrasing to define himself: a 3-in-1 guitarist deeply in love with his instruments – which he secretly calls “his ladies”. Renowned for his fingerpicking technique, incredible versatility and distinctive ‘twang’ sound, his music is an unusual fusion of classical Spanish guitar, Latin rhythms, country, rockabilly, jazz…and even surf music.

His style and sounds keep surprising and delighting listeners with every new album. Anyone acquainted with Twanguero’s work knows how much of a gift his music is, for both the ears and the soul.

To the ones not initiated yet, we can only invite them to experience his twang and try to describe it with their own emotions and words.

Diego has played and recorded with great artists such as Andrés Calamaro, Mercedes Sosa, Juan Perro, Diego El Cigala, Fito Paez, Bunbury, Wycleaf Jean, Juanes, Jaime Urrutia, Ely Guerra, Raphael, Camilo Sesto, Ana Torroja, José María Cano, Yerbabuena, and Adriana Varela, among others. He has also participated in original soundtracks recordings for TV, Radio & Cinema both in his native Spain and in the Americas.



Mark Legget - Solo Fingerstyle (1st Half)


March 8, 2026 - 7:30 @ USSB Parish Hall


Composer/Guitarist Mark Legget’s diverse collaborations include Dolly Parton, Werner Herzog, Levon Helm, Richard Thompson, Emininem, Minogue and more.

Twice nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award, he has composed for hundreds of film and television projects. Mark mixes organic instruments, modern electronics and performances by world class musicians to create his scores. His acclaimed guitar work has been reviewed by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Fretboard Journal and Fingerstyle Journal.



Natalie Gelman - Singer/Songwriter (2nd Half)


March 8, 2026 - 8:15 @ USSB Parish Hall


Attraction is inexplicable. It’s pheromonal, quasi-spiritual, physiological and physical. For songwriter-pop artist Natalie Gelman, the pull to music has almost been innate. It has been there since she was an eight-year-old girl with an absent father and an overworked single mother. Back then, she freely roamed the wilds of New York City, stoking the fire of her artistry, spurred on by violin and piano lessons, and her innate singing and songwriting gifts. 

The Ojai, California-based artist has aptly titled her milestone release, Moth To The Flame, which was born out of struggle. Looking to take her career to new heights, Natalie set out to do something different than she had done before, and that meant building an album with precision and direction that would be uncompromising in its execution and creation. This proved to be an arduous task; to record with the team she hand selected meant bending her life to the schedules of many. Long, late hours in the studio; days, weeks, and even months between recording sessions can prove overwhelming to many artists, but Natalie so believed in her vision she refused to settle for anything less than perfection. 

The 13-song album represents a rare artistic feat. Moth To The Flame is a sublimely melodic and heartfelt blend of polished production, telepathic musicianship, and finely crafted pop with emotionally raw lyrics and storytelling. “I feel an everlasting draw to music, sometimes at the expense of the rest of my life. Like a moth to a flame, I continue to drive towards it, even when the price is frustration or pain. Sometimes we need to experience adversity to truly appreciate our purpose, and music is that purpose for me” Natalie says.  

Natalie’s songs are subtly lush, detailed with ethereal atmospherics, majestic cello flourishes, chiming electric guitars, stately piano, and layers of dreamy vocals. Throughout her catalog, Natalie exhibits a stunning range as a vocalist, spanning delicately emotive phrasing to powerhouse full-voice singing. Her lyrics are both profoundly spare and poetically incisive, and her autobiographical songwriting boasts a universal resonance.



Spring 2026 Series


@ USSB Parish Hall 


4/12/26 Poi Rogers, Western Swing Duo

The Elderberries


4/26/26 Komaga Trio 

w/ Motoshi Kosako, Jazz Harpist

Michael Manring, Fretless Bass

Chris Garcia, Percussion


6/28/26 Joe Robinson

One of the Best Solo Guitarists in the World



  Fall 2026 Series  


Transatlantic Guitar Trio

THE Finest Guitar Trio in the World

@ SOhO


September 7, 2026

The Transatlantic Guitar Trio is, quite simply, the finest guitar trio in the world. This extraordinary trio features three very different members with very different backgrounds.

Richard Smith is an International Fingerstyle Guitar champion from London England. He is the current day Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and Jerry Reed rolled into one. Richard is a soloist and bandleader, and master of just about any and all guitar styles from to Scott Joplin and more.

Joscho Stephan shapes modern gypsy swing with his playing like no other by combining Latin, classic and pop music into his interpretations of well-known classics and originals. With his authentic tone, harmonic refinement, rhythmic flair, and breathtaking solo technique, Joscho is known the world over for his sensational Django Reinhardt "Manouche Jazz" style; his guitar skills are so special you will be left breathless just watching him.

The brilliant Rory Hoffman is a master of many instruments from guitar to keyboards, accordion, harmonica and all reed instruments. Rory has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry many times as a soloist and sideman to Ricky Skaggs, Kathy Mattea, Kacey Musgraves and many more.

Since their very first live premier with us in 2019, they have pushed each other to new heights in which the sum is greater than the parts, and are guaranteed to be fabulous. These three diverse stylists have become so harmonious in the music they have created that audiences tend to cheer while watching "note play" bordering on the impossible! Combining jazz ballads, gypsy swing standards, a pinch of pop music and original compositions to create a broad repertoire, Transatlantic is stunningly authentic.


10/4/26 Sarah McQuaid

Wonderful Singer-Songwriter

USSB Parish Hall


11/15/26 Sonny Leland

Boogie Woogie Piano & Band

@ SOhO



Acoustic Music & the Guitar

"Acoustic music is the timeless sound of nature and resonating materials – wood, bone, gourd, gut and skin. It predates the spoken language of modern culture, crossing all borders and barriers. It speaks to great, universal truths of very personal, yet familiar stories. Those stories keep legacies alive, allow them to be shared, and create new ones going forward".


(Derek Johnson aka Musicalist)

Music is unparalleled in both its reflection of and impact on human culture, developing across time, place, religion and culture. It is the door to our souls, the balm for our spirit, an inspiration to feel deeply, our common language, and the heart of community.

Acoustic instruments were dictated by the flora and fauna of each area, evolving and cross fertilizing as people migrated across the world. The humble guitar is known for its enormous musical versatility across all cultures and genres. It is the voice of people to tell their stories, and attainable to everyone regardless of wealth or status.


"The guitar is a whole lot more than a guitar....
there's a whole attitude towards life wrapped up in it"  
(Charles Fox)

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So Much Great Music!

It's been an honor & privilege to host live music

by over 100 of of the world’s great string (and more) players since 2016.  

We are so fortunate to have such talent amongst us who have the

freedom of expression to do what they do.

Don't take it for granted ~ get out and enjoy it while you can;

the musicians and venues need you now more than ever.

Thanks for your support.

A Call 2 Peace

(with Federico Ramos

Eduardo Del Signore

Scarlet Rivera &

Ron Wagner)

Don Alder

Muriel Anderson

Paul Asbell

Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan

Adrian Bellue

PIerre Bensusan

Claude Bourbon

Trace Bundy

Clive Carroll

Michael Chapdelaine

Nick Charles

Chucumite

Craig D’Andrea

Kyran Daniel

Alex DeGrassi

Jerry Douglas

(with Maura O’Connell

& a huge band)

Antoine Dufour

The Elderberries

Ken Emerson (w/ Kimo West)

Tommy Emmanuel

(with Richard Smith

& Brooks Robertson)

Diego Garcia (Twanguero)

Vicki Genfan

Nina Gerber & Chris Webster

Teja Gerken & Doug Young

Goh

Trevor Gordon Hall

Mark Hanson

The Hot Club of Nashville

(with Richard Smith

Annie Sellick

Pat Bergeson

Aaron Till

Charlie Chadwick &

Josh Hunt)

The Idiomatiques

(with Craig Sharmat

George Quirin/

Ray Bergstrom

Kim Collins &

Frank Petrilli/

Brian Mann)

Claude LaFlamme

Christie Lenee

David Lindley

Michael Lorimer

John Lyle

Nick Johnson

J2B2

(with John Jorgenson

Herb Pederson

Patrick Sauber &

Mark Fain)

John Jorgenson Quintet

(with Jason Anick

Rory Hoffman

Max O'Rourke

Simon Planting &

Rick Reed)

Laurence Juber

Justin King

Kaki King

Tim Kliphuis & Jimmie Grant

Alberto Lombardi

Marley's Ghost

(with Jerry Fletcher

Ed Littlefield Jr.

Bob Nichols

Mike Phelan

Dan Wheetman &

Jon Wilcox)

Sean McGowan

Tony McManus

Maria Muldaur

(with John Jorgenson &

Simon Planting)

Kai Narezo

Kinloch Nelson

Nightbirds

George Quirin

Gareth Pearson

Abby Possner

Leokane Pryor

Donovan Raitt

Del Rey

Brooks Robertson

Joe Robinson

Jose Antonio Rodriguez

Sam ’n’ Ash

Richard Smith

Tim Sparks

Joscho Stephan Trio

(with Sven Jungbeck

& Volker Kamp)

Walter Strauss

Luca Stricagnoli

Kenny Sultan

Taimane

Sofia Talvik

The Transatlantic Trio

(with Richard Smith

Joscho Stephan & 

Rory Hoffman)

Hiroya Tsukamoto

Andres Vadin Project

(with Yosmel Montejo

Diego Alvarez Muñoz

Manuel Gutiérrez &

Jade Valdes)

Dani Vargas & Jenna Columbet

Carl Verheyen Acoustic Band

(with Dave Marotta

John Mader)

Willie Watson

Kimo West

Andrew York


"The guitar can truly change the world...we've seen that in ministry and education; 
it has affected international borders. It's a very dangerous tool." (Richard Hoover, with a smile)

Background image: Benedetto Guitars