Hot Picks 06.11.26

 Thursday, June 11

Fade the Week Away

Friday night is universally recognized as a time to kick back and treat yourself after a long week. But the Fadeaway Sessions is pushing that time up to Thursday night, and we’re here for it. Every week, the live music series features a different musician at the intimate bar that is Bud’s at La Playa. This time, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Nick Waterhouse brings his guitar and smooth rhythms to local audiences looking for a low-key spot with a drink in hand. Waterhouse is also a Grammy award-winning producer, whose work is inspired by mid-century soul, jazz and pop music. [EC]

6pm Thursday, June 11. Bud’s at La Playa, Camino Real and 8th, Carmel. Free. (831) 293-6100, fadeawaysessions.com.

 Thursday, June 11 - Saturday, June 13

Wherefore Art Thou?

Everyone knows the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet: the starcrossed lovers destined for each other only to die. But what if those stars are crossing in 1968 in the U.S.? New Canon Theatre Co. is here to find out with their fifth season opener. True to New Canon form, director Noah Lucé has reimagined the Shakespearean love story, painting Capulets as staunch Vietnam war-effort supporters and Montagues as free-spirited protesters. Tensions and turbulence between the two sides run just as hot as some of the intimacy scenes in the play. But rather than asking what’s in a name, this play asks if that name is “empathy.” [SC]

7:30-10:30pm Thursdays through Saturdays and 4-7pm Sundays, June 11-28. Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel. $65; $55 seniors/teachers/military; $20/students. (831) 275-1441, newcanontheatre.org.

 Friday, June 12

Dancing in Soledad

After a successful debut last year, the Music in the Park summer series returns to Soledad. The city offers a line up of bands to keep the community dancing—or lounging in lawn chairs (bring one) with friends, exploring what the food vendors have to offer. The series opens with Sol Band, a group from Fresno and Coalinga, which blends funk, Latin soul and old-school vibes. This family-friendly event will take place on the second Friday of the summer months—mark your calendar for July 10 and August 14. [AP]

5:30-8pm Friday, June 12. Cesar Chavez Park, 555 Front St., Soledad. Free. (831) 223-5180, tinyurl.com/MusicSoledad.

Jazz Hour

Stonum and Drybread are the names of the two jazz musicians who will entertain the community during the Sunset Center’s Terrace Hour this Friday. Leah Stonum from Alabama is a pianist and vocalist; Mel Drybread from Kansas City is a bassist, saxophonist and an arranger. Stonum and Drybread play as a duo, and sometime as a six-piece band. They first joined forces on cruise boats on the Mississippi River. Their repertoire ranges from improvisational jazz standards to pop tunes, from Elvis to the Beatles to Motown. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Wine, beer and canned cocktails will be available for purchase. [AP]

6pm Friday, June 12. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. Free. (831) 620-2048. sunsetcenter.org.

Rhythm is a Dancer

DJs Miggss, Sweet, Big D and Kemisst are calling all Salinas reggaeton lovers to the Fox Theater for an event called Fantasia. Reggaeton is a musical genre combining reggae with hip-hop and rap; it originated in Panama in the 1980s and emerged in Puerto Rico in the late 1990s. While the musical backing in hip-hop and rap serves as a backdrop for the lyrics, in reggaeton, the music is just as important as the text. A characteristic element of reggaeton is a synthesized percussion rhythm known as “Dem Bow,” named after a song by Shabba Ranks. The songs are typically sung or rapped in Spanish. [AP]

9pm Friday, June 12. Fox Theater, 241 Main St., Salinas. $24. (831) 758-8459, foxtheatersalinas.com.

 Friday, June 12 - Saturday, June 13

Mad Music

From the group that brought us “Golden Hits of 1612” and “Renaissance Now!” comes “Musica Sacra E Profana: Sacred and Secular Music of the Renaissance.” Under the direction of Jefferson DeMarco, the group he helped found in 2003, Madregallia!! (yes, two exclamation points) and the choir’s accompanying musicians, The Pastyme Consort, will be performing music from some of the best composers of the Renaissance, from both the sacred and secular worlds of the day: Claudio Monteverdi, William Byrd, Thomas Weelkes, Tomas Morely and others. It’s early music to soothe modern souls. [PM]

7:30pm Friday, June 12 and 2:30pm Saturday, June 13. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Dolores and 9th, Carmel. $30. pastyme@gmail.com, pastymemusic.com.

 Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14

Green Team

Jade is pretty to look at, but it is much more than that. It draws creatives who carve it into statues or jewelry or other art forms, mystics who say it has powerful healing properties, and legions of fans. People like this green-hued mineral for all sorts of reasons—maybe you find the translucence of thin, polished pieces mesmerizing, or you’re wowed by the craftsmanship of making a stone into a rounded, organic work of art. The Monterey Bay Jade Festival is a chance to celebrate all that and the artists who work intimately with jade over three days. Carvers exhibit their best work and a variety of vendors sell their wares. Best of all, this nonprofit donates proceeds from the event to Big Sur schools, where the next generation of jade hunters and jade artists is getting inspired. [SR]

Noon-6pm Friday, June 12; 10am-6pm Saturday, June 13; 10am-4pm Sunday, June 14. Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Free admission. montereybayjadefestival.org.

Ink Masters

Tattoos were a taboo among much of Western culture once upon a time, reserved for sailors and military men, but now it’s estimated that 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 26 and 40 sport ink as an important form of personal expression. Over 100 of the world’s best tattoo artists are descending on Monterey for the three-day Ink at the Bay Tattoo Festival, billed as a family friendly event. The festival mixes art and culture, featuring tattoo contests, food vendors, craft and trading card vendors and a car show. Plus, live tattooing will be taking place all weekend. [PM]

3-10pm Friday, June 12, 11am-10pm Saturday, June 13, 11am-7pm Sunday, June 14. Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $29/Friday, $40/Saturday or Sunday, $157/three-day pass, free/kids 10 and under. (831) 676-6261, inkatthebaymonterey.com.

 Saturday, June 13

Joining Threads

Choosing the right fiber and needle size is crucial to ensure your piece has the right tension, texture and drape. Choosing a reason to find the tribe where you can share and explore your love for fibers with fellow crafters is also important. A great day to start this quest is joining Monterey Knitting Social Club’s latest event: Worldwide Knit in Public Day. While the event has knit in the title, it’s open to all crafters including knitters, crocheters, weavers and so on. Open to all ages. Bring a snack, friends and family and a work in progress and enjoy crafting in public while chatting with other crafters. [CJ]

Noon-4pm, Saturday, June 13. Colton Hall Lawn, 570 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 431-0207, bit.ly/KnitInPublic2026.

Jubilant Jubilee

Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the U.S., is commemorated every June 19. It marks the time Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger told still-enslaved people in Galveston, Texas about their emancipation. That’s worth celebrating, and you can start the party early in Seaside. The Monterey County Juneteenth Jubilee, presented by the Monterey County Black Caucus, features live music, food and more, shining a light on Black businesses and people who have contributed to the fabric of the community. [EC]

1pm Saturday, June 13. Laguna Grande Park, 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. Free. juneteenth.montereycounty@gmail.com, tinyurl.com/JuneteenthSeaside.

Singing History

When the women and girls of the Young Women’s Christian Association spent their summers at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, they used to fill the forest with song. The tunes they wrote are well preserved, and are the foundation of the upcoming singalong. Enjoy drinks and s’mores on the Social Hall patio while California Parks’ staff lead you on a musical journey through the 1910s-30s. Asilomar Conference Grounds was actually built for the YWCA. Established in 1913 as a leadership camp, the 107-acre oceanfront property is celebrated for its historic, wooden architecture designed by famed California architect Julia Morgan. The event is part of California State Parks Week. [AP]

3-4pm Saturday, June 13. Phoebe Apperson Hearts Social Hall at Asilomar Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 649-2836, tinyurl.com/SingalongAsilomar.

Artwalking

Support Carmel artists and explore local art with another Carmel Art Walk, a monthly event that takes place every second Saturday of the month. This is your opportunity to meet the artists, often the gallery owners, many carrying the ideal of the early Bohemian history of this place. Obtain the map of participating galleries at carmelcalifornia.com/carmel-art-walk. Among 18 participants are Gallery Sur, Carmel Modern, Robin Winfield Gallery and Carmel Art Association. [AP]

4-7pm Saturday, June 13. Various galleries, Carmel. Free. Facebook.com/CarmelArtWalk.

On the Ball

The Monterey Bay Sirens are hot—meaning that the team is unbeaten so far in its inaugural season. They are 4-0-1 on the year, conceding their only goal in the opener, a draw against Stockton. Since then they have blanked all opposition—big time. Eight different Sirens have scored, and Jessica Halladay is an emerging star with three goals and two assists. The Sirens have outscored opponents 15-1 on the season (there was one game played after press time, so the numbers could be bigger). The club, part of the USL W Nor Cal Division hosts San Juan SC. [DF]

7pm Saturday, June 13. Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. $17. (831) 324-2560, mbfcsirens.com.

Low Rock

The Suborbitals will bring their amalgamous sound of indie, surf, punk and jazz, born and raised in Monterey Bay, to the historic Henry Miller Memorial Library alongside Pacific Grove’s the Bloody Kerouacs. The low-rocking Suborbitals features writer and vocalist Ryan Masters on guitar, bassist Heath Proskin, Richard Batelaan playing keys and saxophone and Fendel Yonkers on drums and the chainsaw. No doubt they’ll have concertgoers grooving to their unique sound, legally, after the County of Monterey issued the event an official public dance permit, which is somehow still a thing in 2026. [AS]

7-9:30pm Saturday, June 13. Henry Miller Memorial Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. By donation. (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org.

Aloha Spirit

For Hawaiians, aloha is more than just a greeting or a way to say goodbye, it’s the exchange of positive energy from one to another, and an effective way to pass on the good vibes and aloha spirit is through music. Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, known as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele,” will bring the positive energy and magic of the four-stringed instrument to Monterey as part of his “Tradewinds and Rainbows” tour. The concert will also feature legendary award-winning Hawaiian musician Henry Kapono and the trio Pure Heart, whose sound is a unique blend of contemporary Hawaiian, pop, Latin and jazz. [AS]

7:30pm Saturday, June 13. Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $55-$79. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

MAKE SOME NOISE

To many known for his 1980s hits and as a touring member of the Grateful Dead in 1991 and 1992, pianist and singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby formed The Noisemakers in the late 1990s. Here Come the Noise Makers was Hornsby’s first album with the group, known for their eclectic blend of jazz, bluegrass and rock, and the touring lineups stuffed with virtuosos. A triple Grammy Award-winner, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers bring their Indigo Park Tour to Monterey. [AP]

8pm Saturday, June 13. Golden State Theatre, 714 Alvarado St., Monterey. $61-$96. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

 Sunday, June 14

Raising Ire(land)

OK, so we had to look up uilleann pipes. Apparently, they are like Scottish hbagpipes, but very different. No matter. Seán Gavin is one of the world’s best at elbowing the pipes. Indeed, he’s the only musician not born in Ireland to win the said-to-be-prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal. Yeah, looked that up, too. They are right. He is paired with Colm Gannon and his accordion, who also is not from Ireland and also was named All Ireland on the one with buttons. Together, the two non-natives play pure traditional Irish music. [DF]

3pm Sunday, June 14. St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. $31; $16/students, children. celticsociety.org.

 Monday, June 15

Gold Standard

Acoustic Alchemy is a Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz ensemble from the UK. They define contemporary jazz as just about any genre they can bend. The dual-guitar sound produces gold. Cella is a standout restaurant, located at the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe. Its grounds become both stage and dining room at the Cella Summer Supper Sessions, where guests sit on long, shared tables enjoying music and a meal. Note that for $101 you can listen without food service. But it’s Cella. Why would you? [DF]

5:30pm Monday, June 15. Cella Restaurant & Bar, 525 Polk St., Monterey. $195/all-inclusive; $101/music-only. eventbrite.com.

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HOT PICKS by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Sara Rubin and Aric Sleeper.