Canary Hotel Hosts KRUZ’s Acoustic Christmas

Whether it’s the orchestral sounds of “Jingle Bells” quietly shimmering over your midday shopping, or the ear-busting chords of some punk band’s take on “No»l” jamming on your radio, there’s no shortage of holiday tunes bouncing around the airwaves this month. This Wednesday, December 16, Santa Barbara’s own KRUZ 97.5 FM gets in on the seasonal action in no small way with its annual yuletide concert. In addition to some stellar music, the night also doubles as a generous charity event for area outfit the Unity Shoppe. The KRUZ Acoustic Christmas concert starts rockin’ at 6:30 p.m. at the Canary Hotel (31 W. Carrillo St.). Tickets are $15. Visit kruz.com or beachcitytickets.com for info.

1) Something for Everyone: Like their eclectic programming schedule, the folks at KRUZ have lined up a trio of musical acts that truly spans the pop genre. Representing for the 805, Carpinteria’s resident reggae star Dominic Balli will open the show with his uplifting, roots-inspired music. And following that, San Diego singer/songwriter Josh Damigo brings his take on the pop-rock scene (think Daughtry meets Jason Mraz) to the Canary ballroom.

2) A River Runs Through It: Headlining the KRUZ festivities are up-and-coming Texas five-piece Green River Ordinance, who many have speculated just might be the next big thing. Melding pop melodies, rockin’ power chords, and a slightly Southern intonation, these five have been playing together since their high school days (they’re all between 23 at 25 now) and are churning out some of the most polished rock on modern radio. “We always wanted to make music that people could sing and dance to that was fun,” recalled guitarist Jamey Ice about the band’s early years. “We grew up listening to Tom Petty and Texas country and stuff like that, and I think there’s a little bit of that Southern sing-along feeling in our music now. We’ve also always vowed to just not take ourselves too seriously. We’re the least likely rock stars there are. For us, the music is important, but so are the relationships we make with our fans.”

3) The Gift of Giving: What’s most remarkable about KRUZ’s Wednesday night concert are the folks benefiting from the action. In the spirit of the season, 100 percent of the proceeds from the Acoustic Christmas show will be donated to S.B.’s own Unity Shoppe. The 26-year-old nonprofit has been providing education and basic necessities to families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities in need long before it was formally founded in 1983. And your ticket goes a long way in helping ensure those less fortunate get to enjoy the holidays to their fullest.