www.stephaniebettman.com

To the high-class culture hounds of OC, the Soka Performing Arts center is typically synonymous with suit-wearing symphonies, renowned jazz giants and cultural dance troupes. But duo Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin don't fall under any of those categories. In fact, their folk/Americana sound and spirit already make them an anomaly of the venue's concert schedule when they hit the stage on on April 11. But trust us when we tell you that their show will allow even the stuffiest classical buffs to walk away accepting the fiddle and mandolin as instruments of fine art.

Known by their fans as simply Bettman and Halpin, the two had a  vision to utilize their long list of musical talents to create a solid, historical sound throughout the years. On paper, Battman and Halpin are the quintessential opposites: Stephanie is classically trained in opera, violin and voice, and studied at the Oberlin Conservatory. She's also a former aerialist. Luke is self-taught - at the age of 8, his dad handed him a mandolin and a Mel Bay book and said "learn how to play, you're in my band." Despite their differences, once they met they became inseparable.

More »

Shannon Nehls / OC Weekly

Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano at Sutra

See Also:
Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano @ Sutra

Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano have carried on the Dutch legacy as house music's elite producers and DJs, with gigs all over the world, after practically being discovered by Swedish House Mafia's Steve Angello in 2011. The duo stormed through Orange County this weekend for a highly anticipated return to Sutra in Newport Beach. Thanks to the guys at the Social, Creative Source and Till Dawn Group, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano managed to transform Sutra's usual Top 40 Friday night spot into an EDM heaven (let's cross our fingers this is a trend we will see more of). We spoke to the fast rising stars who emerged on the EDM scene in 2009 after their Feb. 8 show to find out what it's like to party with the Swedes, why Chuckie is one of their biggest influence, and more about their track being released this week.

More »

More »

With the amount of new music we're preparing to digest, critique and swoon over in 2013, it's only natural that Local Natives--still one of our favorite LA-by-way-of-OC acts--should be in the conversation somewhere. After all, while watching the amazingly long ride they've taken on 2009's Gorilla Manor was exciting to watch, the South County-bred band must be dying to move on to the next chapter by now. So it was perfect that just over a month before the release of their sophomore effort Hummingbird (out Jan. 29), the band capped a short stint of intimate, secret shows with a private, live session at Apogee's Berkeley St. Studios in Santa Monica, courtesy of KCRW last Friday. Having heard a number of these shows over the airwaves before (the last month's show with Gary Clark Jr. was insane!) we were more than happy do drop by and show our support for one of the biggest recent OC bands to leave the nest. More »