16-year-old singer Tess Dunn asks Santa Cruz to make her dream come true
Santa Cruz is on a roll these days—first, James Durbin ranked fourth on “American Idol,” then Chris Rene began his meteoric rise on “The X Factor,” and now, 16-year-old Tess Dunn is one week and a day away from having her music video “Shame to See” played during 99.7’s Triple Ho Show 2.0 on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at HP Pavilion.

 Chris Rene channels Michael Jackson on ‘X Factor’ tribute night

Wednesday was a memorable night on Fox’s “The X Factor,” as the remaining seven contestants paid tribute to the late, great Michael Jackson. For Santa Cruz singer/songwriter Chris Rene, the episode was particularly meaningful as his grandfather wrote “Rockin’ Robin” and parts of “Ben,” both of which were later sung by Jackson.

Brokedown in Bakersfield gets up close and personal with classic country fans

We’ve been taught to save the best for last—and in the case of Brokedown in Bakersfield, the old adage could not be more true. The band finished its set to a standing room only crowd at Moe’s Alley on Nov. 17 with “Luxury Liner,” a fast-tempo country shuffle popularized by Emmylou Harris in 1977. Then, as lead guitarist Scott Law’s Telecaster began to cool and the band stepped offstage, the audience boomed like the recoil of a shotgun.

“The audience is what makes it happen,” says vocalist Nicki Bluhm. “If they’re not here, the magic doesn’t happen.”

With the encore, the six-piece took the stage once again—but this time, the band members hefted their instruments, then proceeded to walk through the audience, and into a side room. The crowd followed, unsure of what was happening. Sans stage, the band delivered a stirring and sad rendition of Gram Parsons’ “In My Hour of Darkness.”

GT’s Ultimate Thanksgiving Playlist: 15 songs to put you in the giving mood this holiday

The Thanksgiving Song – Adam Sandler

Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly and the Family Stone

Kind and Generous – Natalie Merchant

What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

Thank you – Dido

Danke Schoen – Wayne Newton

Be Thankful – Natalie Cole

Tired of spending Thanksgiving hunched over a steaming hot stove? Skip the cooking this year and let someone else do all the hard work. Plenty of Santa Cruz restaurants will be open on the holiday, and more than a few are offering up specialty Thanksgiving menus. Forget about brining and basting; all you have to do is pick up the phone and make your reservation.

Local students compete to raise money for their school’s music program

It’s not every day that a 13-year-old Santa Cruzan earns $35,000 for his school’s music department. But that’s exactly what Jose Picazo did two years ago, and what he hopes to accomplish again in this year’s SchoolJam USA battle of the bands contest.

The Santa Cruz Pop Warner Stingrays are in the running to become the, Best of the West but not without support from their community.

The Stingrays have earned a spot in the Best of the West Championship Bowl Game in Temecula, Calif. But despite their impressive performance, the Stingrays must still raise $18,000 if they want to travel to the championship. The game takes place on Saturday, Dec. 3, and the team must raise the funds by Dec. 2. They are actively seeking donations from local residents and businesses to make the trip and compete against teams from four different states.

Santa Cruz local selected as YouTube Next Trainer

Before this year, Susan Becraft was just your average corporate professional. But her rock-hard abs and perfectly defined biceps were proof that outside of work, she had a passion not shared by most of her colleagues. The 46-year-old Santa Cruz resident recently made the switch and became a personal trainer, a decision that has already earned her international recognition. Becraft began working toward her goal earlier this year, and in July she landed a job at as a personal trainer at Rocky’s Gym in Santa Cruz.

A peek into life aboard the Pirates of the Caribbean ship

To hop aboard the Lady Washington is to take a step back in time. The 112-foot ship offers a glimpse into the life of sailors in the 1800s, with walk-on tours, sailing excursions and staff dressed in period clothing. The vessel, which is the official state ship of Washington, was docked in Moss Landing through today, Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Santa Cruz’s own ‘X Factor’ contender returns to rap roots, makes it to top 10

A sterling rendition of Coolio’s 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” on Wednesday’s episode of “The X Factor,” scored Santa Cruz singer/songwriter Chris Rene a coveted spot in the top 10.

The Grammy-winning song—off the Dangerous Minds soundtrack—was a welcome return to the musical genre most familiar to Rene, whose silky smooth vocals and quick-spitting rhymes have won over the show’s judges (Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, and L.A. Reid) since day one.

During the performance, the 28-year-old displayed a new level of confidence as he moved effortlessly across the stage in a black fedora and leather jacket. Surrounded by billowing smoke, he and a troupe of background dancers got the crowd grooving to the beat while green and purple lights flashed onstage.