with The Santa Barbara Symphony, Nir Kabaretti, Music and Artistic Director
The Granada Theatre, an iconic Santa Barbara performing arts venue, teams up with Santa Barbara Records, a local label dedicated to uplifting Central Coast talent, to present Locals & Legends: Celebrating the Music of James Taylor.
Taking place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, this one-night event will showcase the region’s finest emerging and established musicians. They will be joined by The Santa Barbara Symphony under the direction of Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, honoring Taylor’s timeless songs while highlighting the creativity and spirit of Santa Barbara’s music community.
Santa Barbara Records artists Omar Velasco, Céleigh Chapman, Mendeleyev, Will Breman, and Jess Bush will perform James Taylor’s most beloved songs, including highlights like “Carolina in My Mind”, “Fire and Rain”, and “Country Road”. Each artist will also debut an original composition inspired by Taylor’s legacy, bridging his iconic songwriting with the contemporary voices shaping Santa Barbara’s music scene.
Joining this year’s lineup are four special guest artists who graced the stage at last year’s inaugural concert: James Raymond, a celebrated musician and producer, and son of the late David Crosby; Steve Postell, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and Crosby’s final musical director; Miriam Dance, a performer, educator, and beloved Santa Barbara staple; and Lois Mahalia, a vocalist of remarkable depth who has shared the stage with Joe Walsh, Kenny Loggins, and Joe Sample.
They are backed by an all-star house band featuring Randy Tico on bass, David Delhomme on keys, Jesse Siebenberg on pedal steel, lap steel, and dobro, and Austin Beede on drums, many of whom call Santa Barbara home. These artists’ credits include collaborations with artists such as Whitney Houston, Jeff Bridges, Kenny Loggins, and José Feliciano, as well as film projects including Top Gun: Maverick and A Star Is Born.
This event is a testament to Santa Barbara’s ongoing role as a hub for musical excellence. By pairing legendary songs with fresh interpretations from local artists, Locals & Legends creates a one-of-a-kind experience that honors the past and looks toward the future of our city’s vibrant arts community,” said Ashley Dawson, the Vice President of Marketing at The Granada Theatre.
Sponsored by The Hazen Foundation and The Fansler Family, this special event celebrates Santa Barbara’s roots, our community, and the music that brings us together.
For more information on the theater and its upcoming shows, please visit www.granadasb.org.
ABOUT THE GRANADA THEATRE
Built in 1924, and having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, The Granada Theatre has been integral to Santa Barbara’s arts and entertainment landscape for a century. This state-of-the-art venue with 1,500 seats boasts a legacy of hosting world-class performances and is home to eight resident companies: American Theatre Guild, CAMA, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara, State Street Ballet, The Santa Barbara Symphony, and UCSB Arts and Lectures. Notably, in the mid-20th century, The Granada Theatre served as a Warner Bros movie palace, hosting exclusive screenings of cinematic classics like “Gone with the Wind” and “Guys and Dolls.” Over the years, it has welcomed an illustrious array of 20th-century luminaries, including Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, Henry Fonda, Yo-Yo Ma, Steve Martin, and the London Symphony Orchestra, among others. The theater is a historical icon that speaks to the central role that live performing arts play in defining the communal life of Santa Barbara and the Central Coast region. For more information on The Granada Theatre, please visit www.granadasb.org.
ABOUT SANTA BARBARA RECORDS
Launched in 2021, Santa Barbara Records is a small, independent record label that was founded for the purpose of developing, curating and promoting regional singer/ songwriters. Santa Barbara Records’ strategy is threefold — exporting the Central Coast’s folk musicians to a global audience via recorded music; providing resources, strategic support and informational content to those regional artists; and promoting merchandise from local makers that support our mission. The label’s vision is to build a platform that helps deliver professional sustainability for artists, positively impacts the local creative economy and helps lead Santa Barbara’s recognition as a music destination. For more information on Santa Barbara Records, please visit www.santabarbararecords.com.
ABOUT THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY
Now in its 73rd year, The Santa Barbara Symphony delivers artistic excellence, outstanding music education stewardship and programming, and community collaboration — all through symphonic music. Under the artistic leadership of Maestro Nir Kabaretti as Music & Artistic Director since 2006, The Symphony is one of the region’s premier cultural institutions. Through his charismatic leadership, this globally admired conductor and Santa Barbara resident invigorates audiences and musicians alike through his passion, creativity, and vast experience. As the only music education program tied to a professional symphony orchestra in the region, The Symphony serves more than 2,000 students annually throughout Santa Barbara County. While The Symphony continues to evolve, bringing joy, engagement, and connection remain steadfast pillars of its mission and were evident in the organization’s ability to thrive during the pandemic including the historic announcement that Board Chair Janet Garufis and President & CEO Kathryn R Martin join Nir Kabaretti in making a five-year commitment to serve in their roles. For more information on The Santa Barbara Symphony, please visit www.thesymphony.org.