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)
Join the Acoustic Club for $20pp
to receive invitations and reserve presale seats to these world class shows and many more.
Click the link below, or if you'd rather send a check, send me a note.
All donations go directly to supporting the series.
Get on the List!
Or you if just want to hear about great music before the general public knows,
sign up below to be added to the eblast list.
No spam; your email is never sold or shared.
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
