In life, as in food, sometimes it’s all about the pairing. When The S.B. Independent launched our annual Santa Barbara Band Guide back in 2007, we were looking for a way to say thanks — and give props — to the many (many, many) music makers living in and around S.B. And when New Noise Santa Barbara sprung up a few years later, we knew we had found the PB to our J.
In just three years, the little festival that could has grown into one of Santa Barbara’s hippest events, ushering in everyone from top live music acts to some of the tech world’s best and brightest innovators, all the while working hard to give back to the music-making (and music-loving) community. Even the proceeds from this year’s fest are going to reopening an all-ages, drug- and alcohol-free venue in town.
In the following pages, you’ll find some of our favorite up-and-coming S.B. artists, including this year’s S.B. Independent- and New Noise-sponsored Downtown Sound Battle of the Bands winners, Saint Anne’s Place. You’ll also find our handy guide to this weekend’s sprawling New Noise Santa Barbara Music Conference and Festival, which takes over downtown today, Thursday, November 3, through Sunday, November 6.
Sit back, relax, and dig in. This is what we call a hearty helping of rock.