Mississippi-born Marty Stuart, 67, is a country and bluegrass music legend who learned guitar and mandolin as a child and joined his first band, The Sullivans, at age 12. By 14, he was a member of Lester Flatt’s band, and by 22 he was in Johnny Cash’s band.
If you’re near a screen, pause reading and look up Stuart’s “Country Star” video on YouTube. He and his band are so badass. This song—off his 2023 album Altitude—mixes country, surf rock, and psychedelia into a bopping surrealist opus: “I was raised by alligators in the pearl river swamp/ Started dancing on a boogie woogie stump/ Stump fell in, went to the bottom/ Fish said, ‘Boys, smoke em’ if you got em’.”
Good Vibez presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives at the Fremont Theater on Thursday, Oct. 1 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $59.20 to $82.88 at prekindle.com), and this promises to be an amazing show.
His most recent album, 2025’s Space Junk, is an all-original 20-track instrumental double LP.
“We thought the world needed a fresh instrumental album by a pretty good band,” Stuart joked in press materials, “so we composed 20 instrumentals and took them to the microphones. Instrumentals have always been a part of the Fabulous Superlatives repertoire, but this is the first completely instrumental album we’ve done, largely inspired by two of my favorite bands from ’60s, The Ventures and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. They did some dangerously cool instrumental records. We’ve done bluegrass, gospel, and country records. Our hearts just led us to this one. Space Junk turned us back into kids with our first guitars.”
‘Our hearts just led us to this one. Space Junk turned us back into kids with our first guitars.’
—Marty Stuart
Expect a set list that includes classics from his massive catalog, some select roots covers, some off Space Junk, and some surprises.
Also this week from Good Vibez at the Fremont, see Dave Blunts Presents: Still Standing Tour on Saturday, Sept. 26 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $29.84 or $96.79 VIP meet-and-greet at prekindle.com). The plus-size rapper, born Davion Blessing, started in 2018 but really gained attention when a recording of him performing with an oxygen tank went viral.
See Get the Led Out: A Celebration of the Mighty Zep on Sunday, Sept. 27 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $36.02 to $60.74 at prekindle.com). No wigs, no fake British accents, just a group of Led Zeppelin lovers playing the classics and some deep cuts with rock ’n’ roll precision.
Catch The Growlers on Wednesday, Sept. 30 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $66.40 at prekindle.com). After six years away from the road, this surf, psych, and garage rock powerhouse fronted by Brooks Nielsen is returning with new tour dates and two new singles, “Crisis” and “Feel My Funk.”
Life after Zep
Speaking of Led Zeppelin, it was a pretty cool band to start one’s career in, and Robert Plant was there from the band’s 1968 beginning right through the band’s 1980 demise. Plant has continued to thrive artistically away from the rock genre he helped define by collaborating with artists like Alison Krauss and more recently Suzi Dian, with whom he sings beautifully.
This week, Nederlander Concerts presents Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Vina Robles Amphitheatre (doors at 6, show at 7:30 p.m.; all ages; $69.03 to $200.05 plus some stupidly priced verified resale tickets at ticketmaster.com. $6,041.88? Really?).
This is part of the third tour leg celebrating the critically acclaimed 2025 album Saving Grace, a record six years in the making. Featuring Plant, Dian, drummer Oli Jefferson, guitarist Tony Kelsey, banjo and string player Matt Worley, and cellist Barney Morse-Brown, the group members “were drawn together by a shared love of roots music—blues, folk, gospel, country, and the sounds that lay in between,” press materials explain.
Hell of an album! Trailblazing guitarist and singer-songwriter Rosie Flores opens.
“Opening for Robert Plant with my rockabilly trio was one of the greatest honors of my life,” Flores said. “We’re thrilled to have been invited back for the fall tour. And I’m excited to once again get to see Robert with singer Suzi Dian and their killer band performing songs from their latest release, Saving Grace.”
Three shows, four bands
Good Medicine and Numbskull have noteworthy shows at three different venues coming up. They present Tyler Halverson on his In Defense of Drinking Tour at Club Car Bar on Friday, Sept. 25 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $24.93 at goodmedicinepresents.com). The genre-stretching country artist calls his music “Western Amerijuana Music.” On “More Hearts Than Horses,” the heartbreaker warns, “If you come walking my way/I’ll send you running someday.”
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOD MEDICINE PRESENTS
The Lone Bellow on their What a Time to Be Alive Tour plays at Castoro Cellars on Saturday, Sept. 26 (6 p.m.; all ages; $47.07 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Their sixth album, What A Time to Be Alive, marks the first time the founding members—Zach Williams, Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Pipkin—have written collaboratively with their full touring band, which includes drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Geertsma.
And finally, Americana, roots rock, blues, folk, and alt-country singer-songwriter Jackie Greene and quintessential breezy California alt-rock band The Mother Hips play BarrelHouse Brewing Amphitheatre on Friday, Oct. 2 (6 p.m.; all ages; $47.07 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Both terrific acts, but incredible when Greene joins The Hips on some tunes. Fingers crossed.
Six acts, three days
The Siren’s got a nice lineup of talent this week starting with J. Roddy Walson on Friday, Sept. 25 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $23.77 at tixr.com). The Southern and classic rock pianist throws in a little honky-tonk with some roadside tent revival vibes. Look up his video for 2023’s “Heavy Bells” and reap the whirlwind. Blues, psychedelic, and traditional rock act Strange Vine opens.
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE STAPLES
Start your Saturday, Sept. 26, with a free afternoon matinee show when Swing Shift Band plays classic rock, R&B, funk, oldies, blues, Latin, and country and western covers (2 to 5 p.m.; 21-and-older; $20.59 at tixr.com). Later that night, see The Staples: A Tribute to Chris Stapleton (8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $20.59 at tixr.com). These are talented players making music live onstage—no backing tracks, just soul, grit, and Tennessee spirit.
Cactus Lee plays on Tuesday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $18.47 at tixr.com). Led by Kevin Dehan, this is pure Austin nightclub music that draws inspiration from a wide range of Texas country artists, including outlaws and outsiders. Old-school outlaw country act Archer Mozé & the Shitkickers opens.
Community effort
The Rock (formerly SLO Brew Rock, Rod & Hammer Rock, or as I like to call it, The Venue That Can’t Decide on its Branding) has a bunch of great shows this week, but perhaps the timeliest is For Goodness Sake: A Benefit for Chandler that’s raising funds for local musician Chandler Haynes.
“Help support Chandler in his recent diagnosis of end stage renal failure,” organizers announced. “The goal is to help ease some of his financial burdens while he waits for a kidney match. Let’s do what this community does best and rally. All ticket sales go to supporting Chandler during this hard time.”
Talk about a lineup! Some of these acts are coming off hiatus to lend their support to Haynes. Bands include The Ragged Jubilee, Watashi Wa, Brierton, Good Brother, King Walrus, Pancho and The Wizards doing an acoustic set, Chris Beland, Ryan Delmore, and the Shawn Clark Family Band on Saturday, Sept. 26 (doors at 5, show at 5:30 p.m.; all ages; $19.46 at my805tix.com).
SLO Brew Live and Numbskull present garage and surf punk quartet The Frights on their You Are Going to Hate This 10th Anniversary tour on Friday, Sept. 25 (doors at doors at 8 p.m.; all ages; $36.98 at ticketweb.com). Archer Oh opens.
Reggae rock heroes Fortunate Youth play on Sunday, Sept. 27 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $39.05 at ticketweb.com). Their mission is to spread peace, love, and unity with music.
Canadian singer-songwriter Bella White plays on Tuesday, Sept. 29 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $27.21 at ticketweb.com). In June, she released her third studio album, A Sign in the Weather, “a body of work steeped in the life-altering magic of its origins,” press materials explained. “The Calgary-born singer-songwriter left her home on Vancouver Island and moved to New Orleans, where she soon became happily enmeshed in the city’s vibrant indie-rock scene.”
SLO Brew Live and (((folkYEAH!))) present Groundation on Wednesday, Sept. 30 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $34.42 at ticketweb.com). This jazz-inflected reggae act has been a festival attraction for more than two decades.
SLO Brew Live and Numbskull present melodic death metal act Nekrogoblikon headlines on Thursday, Oct. 1 (doors at 6 p.m.; all ages; $32.86 at ticketweb.com). Technical and prog death metal act Rivers of Nihil and prog metalcore Cyborg Octopus open.
More music …
PUSH plays Paso’s Pour House on Friday, Sept. 25 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older). The party band features Las Vegas headliner Jessica Mangione on vocals; guitarist Chris Tso, an inductee into the Central New York Music Hall of Fame; and Jim Moran and Paul Choboter from the popular ’80s band Club DV8. Expect high energy dance rock that’ll get you on the dance floor.
The Basin Street Regulars Hot Jazz Club presents St. John’s Riverboat Jazz Band at the Pismo Beach Veterans Memorial Hall on Sunday, Sept. 27 (11 a.m. jam session followed by the show at 12:30 p.m.; all ages; $15 nonmembers, $10 for members, and $5 for jammers at my805tix.com or at the door). The band formed in 1996 by then college students who decided to keep playing together after graduation. The Riverboat Rustlers open. They’re a group of young musicians hailing from the Fresno area and Clovis North High School.
The Famous Jazz Artist Series continues at Cambria’s Woodlands Concert Hall with LA saxophonist Bruce Escovitz playing on Sunday, Sept. 27 (5 to 7 p.m.; $35 reservations by calling (805) 935-9007 or emailing charlie@talsanmusic.com). Eskovitz’s style draws comparisons to Sonny Rollins. He’ll be joined by Matthew Evans (bass), Darrell Voss (drums), and series producers Charlie (vibes) and Sandi Shoemake (voice).
For underage live music lovers in the Atascadero area, you’ve got a new venue just for you: Alas, No Quarter opened its doors at 8305 El Camino Real and has been hosting DIY shows. Next up is Hard Kandi on Friday, Sept. 25. Sulfuric Cautery, Group Think, Sores for Days, and Casket Mush play on Sunday, Sept. 27. See Rat Utopia Experiment and We Might Die on Thursday, Oct. 1. Keep up with the venue’s schedule at alasnoquarter.com. ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Autumn Arts Annual 2026.
