SANTA CRUZ

Kuumbwa hosts Samba Ngo, Mandjou Koné concert

Kuumbwa Jazz will host an evening of music, cultural celebration and local artistry when Samba Ngo and Mandjou Koné perform at the venue for the “Legends Among Us” concert Saturday.

Ngo is a Congolese songwriter, vocalist and guitarist who blends traditional African folk music with contemporary influences. Koné is a griot and master vocalist from Mali and Burkina Faso who takes audiences on a journey through West African traditions. Both recently played KSQD’s Squid Fest West concert and will be joining forces again for a show that will also display work from local visual artists. It is sure to be a celebration of talents from Santa Cruz and beyond.

The concert is 7 p.m. Saturday at Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St. Doors open at 6:15. Tickets are $46.75 in advance. For more information, go to KuumbwaJazz.org.

Shakespeare goes symphonic at Civic

In addition to his impact on theater, literature and the English language, William Shakespeare has had a profound influence on symphonic music, where many of his plays have received adaptations. The Santa Cruz Symphony will be playing a few instances with its Symphonic Shakespeare concert at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium Saturday.

The evening will feature performances of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the overture from Felix Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Anna Clyne’s “Sound and Fury,” based on “Macbeth.” The worlds of Shakespeare and orchestral music will collide for a concert that will make audiences further appreciate high art from different mediums.

The concert is 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Civic, 307 Church St. An additional matinee concert will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, 250 E. Beach St., Watsonville. Tickets range from $45 to $130. Students are eligible for $15 tickets 90 minutes before each regular symphony concert as long as they present valid identification. This concert is open to ages 6 and older. For information, go to SantaCruzTickets.com.

Rick Estrin headlines concert at Moe’s Alley

His band may be called the Nightcats, but Rick Estrin will be performing early in the afternoon at Moe’s Alley Sunday so concertgoers can get a good night’s rest before the week begins.

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats are an offshoot of Little Charlie and the Nightcats, and the Sacramento band play the same style of blues rock as their predecessors. Consisting of Estrin on vocals and harmonica, Chris “Kid” Andersen on guitar, Lorenzo Farrell on upright bass and organ, and Derrick “D’Mar” Martin on drums, the Nightcats have played at blues festivals throughout the world and have won several Blues Music Awards. The band’s newest album is “The Hits Keep Coming,” featuring 10 originals as well as covers of songs by Muddy Waters and Leonard Cohen. It was recorded at Greaseland Studios in San Jose.The concert is 2 p.m. Sunday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 1. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the show. This is a 21-and-older concert. For more information, go to MoesAlley.com.

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s journey continues

At the age of 93, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is just as active as ever, and the legendary folk singer will be returning to Moe’s Alley for an evening concert Sunday.

Initially setting out to be a cowboy, Elliott was inspired by singing rodeo clown Brahmer Rogers and formed a friendship with Woody Guthrie, whose songs he recorded for his 1956 debut “Woody Guthrie’s Blues.” He wrote “A Cup of Coffee” for Johnny Cash, played in Bob Dylan’s “Rolling Thunder Revue” concert and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998. His most recent album, “A Stranger Here,” was released in 2009, but he did perform on Bob Weir’s 2016 solo album “Blue Mountain” and Loudon Wainwright III’s “Older Than My Old Man Now” and was featured in Martin Scorsese’s “Rolling Thunder Revue” documentary. He also has continued to tour and has played at Moe’s Alley and the Rio Theatre in the past. Opening will be Elliott Ok, a Portland songwriter who blends heartfelt lyricism with surreal musicality.

The concert is 8 p.m. Sunday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 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.