SANTA CRUZ

Rio to premiere film on late innovative surfer

Many surfers have left their marks on Santa Cruz’s beaches, but one who really shined was Shawn “Barney” Barron. The Santa Cruz High School graduate was an innovator in aerial surfing who created the Barney Roll — a 360-degree maneuver through barreling waves — and created artwork for the company Volcom. Sadly, Barron died in 2015, but his life has been documented by friend Josh Pomer in his film “Particle Fever,” which will premiere at the Rio Theatre Thursday.

The film focuses on Barron’s surf career, personality, art and love for life. The screening will also feature a raffle, music by Burleigh Skidmore and shirts featuring Barron’s artwork sold by his sister Amelia’s company 9 Barn.

The screening is 7:15-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rio, 1205 Soquel Ave. Tickets are $10. For more information, go to RioTheatre.com.

FELTON

Steely Dead brings two tributes in one

Grateful Dead tribute bands are quite abundant. So are Steely Dan tribute bands. However, the days of having to choose between one or the other are over, as Steely Dead had the idea to combine these two bands into one tribute, which they will be performing at Felton Music Hall Friday.

Consisting of Dave Abear of Melvin Seals and JGB, Bill McKay formerly of Derek Trucks Band and Leftover Salmon, Chris Sheldon of the DeadPhish Orchestra and Matt Abear and Dylan Teifer of Mr. Big Bear, Steely Dead are not a band who pay tribute to one artist. Instead, they offer a sonic infusion of the ‘60s jam band sounds of the Grateful Dead and the ‘70s jazz fusion sound of Steely Dan. This is evident in a version of the Grateful Dead’s legendary set closer “Deal,” which Steely Dead blends with Steely Dan’s 1972 megahit “Reelin’ in the Years” for a mashup called “Dealin’ in the Years.” Fans of both bands are sure to have the evening of their lives.

The concert is 8 p.m. Friday at Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $34.98 for advance general admission. This is a 21-and-older show. Go to Feltonmusichall.com for more information.

Be Natural this Halloween and support a music school

As Oct. 31 creeps closer, there will be no shortage of Halloween parties. For those looking to get into the spooky spirit by dressing up as a vampire, witch or topical news reference, why not do so while supporting a cause? Felton Music Hall will have exactly that Saturday with a concert and costume contest supporting Be Natural Music.

Directed by Matthew Pinck, Be Natural is a music school with studios in Santa Cruz and Cupertino that provides rock and jazz band lessons, private lessons on different instruments, workshops, camps, performances and more. The Halloween concert will kick off the school’s fundraising season and raise money for a scholarship program. The show will feature performances by student bands American Nightmare, Valentines, Drop Dead Fred, Whatever, Horizon, Bedlam, Ground Zero, Sandstorm, Lies & Lullabies, Le Son, District 841, Banana Man and Rhythm Avenue. There will also be a costume contest with an opportunity to win cash prizes. It will certainly be a ghoulishly good time.

The concert is 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Unlike other shows at the venue, this one is open to all ages. For more information, go to FeltonMusicHall.com.

Particle Kid returns to Moe’s Alley

2024 has been a busy year for Micah Nelson. In addition to touring with his father, Willie Nelson, producing his father’s upcoming album “Last Leaf on the Tree” — where the country legend takes on songs by the likes of Tom Waits, Beck and The Flaming Lips — and also touring with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse, Nelson has also toured extensively under the Particle Kid moniker where he played at Moe’s Alley in March. He will return to the venue Saturday with his blend of folk, psychedelia and who knows what else?

Having played music since he was 3 and also becoming a visual artist, Nelson decided to start making “music that sounds like the way my art looks,” as he told the Sentinel earlier this year. This artistic vision culminated in his first album under the name Particle Kid in 2017. His music ranges from stripped back acoustic numbers to more layered experimental tracks while collaborating with the likes of Sean Lennon, J. Mascis from Dinosaur Jr., Jim James from My Morning Jacket, alt-country couple Jeremy Ivey and Margo Price, and more. Opening will be Southern California psychedelic rock band the Stevenson Ranch Davidians.

The concert is 9 p.m. Saturday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. This is a 21-and-older concert. For more information, go to MoesAlley.com.

This week’s calendar was compiled by Nick Sestanovich.