Discover music and wine in the Santa Ynez Valley

We Can’t Stop Thinking About Tony Evans Jr.

And You Won’t Be Able To Either Tony Evans Jr. is one of those rare artists with a velvet voice and a storyteller’s soul. Hailing from Stockbridge, Georgia, and now making waves in Nashville, this rising country crooner is redefining what country music looks and sounds like. His tunes — equal parts heartache and hope — bridge worlds that aren’t supposed to meet; the old-school country of George Strait and Keith Whitley, and that smooth, emotional pulse of R&B. It’s clear that Mr. Evans isn’t chasing any trend; he’s building his own dang lane, one verse at a time.

With viral success lighting up his social media feeds and his music crossing genre lines with ease, Evans is redefining authenticity. We sat down with him for a heartfelt conversation about love, legacy, and the beauty of staying true to yourself in a world that often tries to define you.

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Eat, Drink & Be Scary

10 Local Halloween Happenings You Can’t Miss! Hold onto your broomsticks, Santa Ynez Valley—Halloween has officially haunted its way into the valley, and we’ve rounded up every thrilling, spine-chilling, tastebud-tingling, pumpkin-scented happening you won’t want to miss. From eerie eats to ghoulish gatherings, the Santa Ynez Valley is brewing up a cauldron of fun this spooky season.

Ramen Kotori’s Spooky Spicy Shoyu Ramen 
When the moon rises, so does the heat! Cozy up to a bowl of Ramen Kotori’s limited-edition Spooky Spicy Shoyu Ramen — a fiery, flavorful potion that’ll warm your bones and awaken your inner ghoul. Perfect for a chilly October night with extra haunt in every slurp.

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The Maybirds.

The Maybirds Take Flight

Why You Can’t Miss Their Upcoming ShowYou can tell when a band really means it. There’s a pulse, a hum, a sense that something true is happening in real time—and that’s the Los Angeles based Maybirds. When we first listened to their album, Here It Comes Again, life seemed to just spill out—every note contained memory, hope, and a touch of mischief.

Frontman George Adrian sings like a man with one foot in the clouds and the other planted firmly in the dirt. Audrey Wiechman’s bass lines roll through like a heartbeat—steady, grounding, quietly defiant—while Alex LoCascio’s drums chase the horizon, never quite settling, always searching. Together, they sound like a California road trip you hope never ends, part rock, part Americana, all vibe.

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Finding the Lost Chord

Chris Pelonis on Music, Guitars, and CommunityThere’s a certain alchemy that happens when an artist steps into the producer’s chair—seeing the song from both inside and outside, chasing the moment it clicks into something real. For Chris Pelonis, the dance between musician and producer isn’t a split identity; it’s the essence of his creative life. From the warm hush of a guitar that feels like it’s playing itself to the squeak of an office chair turned percussion track, Chris brings curiosity, humility, and a craftsman’s ear to every note. We caught up with him ahead of his show at Lost Chord Guitars to talk about what it means to capture and captivate, why he’s banned tambourines, and the guitar that got away.

Roots & RhythmSYV Buzz: You’ve worked on both sides of the glass—as a musician and as a producer. Which hat feels more like home, and how do they feed each other creatively?

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How Randy Hansen Turns a Vineyard Into a “Safe Kind of High”

Sometimes you go to a show, and halfway through, you realize you’re grinning without even knowing it. That’s what happens when you see Randy Hansen live.

This Saturday, July 12, he’s bringing his Strat and that wild, joyful Hendrix vibe to Brander Winery & Vineyard, turning a mellow wine country evening into something electric. If you’ve never seen Randy, you should know: he doesn’t just play Hendrix songs; he feels them, and your ears feel them too. This will be Fred Brander’s biggest concert ever to celebrate the legendary winery’s 50th anniversary.

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Richiman & Groove Nice.

Breaking Blues Boundaries: Richiman & Groove Nice’s Global Takeover

Blues might have been born in America, but it’s got soul that stretches across the world. Just ask Richiman & Groove Nice—the South Korean trio bringing their own flair to the genre. Before they hit the stage, we caught up with vocalist and guitarist Richiman (Isaac Cha), bassist Jinhee Baek (aka Bass Back), and drummer I.O. Lee to talk about what it means to groove on both sides of the world.

SYV Buzz: Playing in the heart of California’s wine country is a far cry from Seoul South Korea—what’s it like bringing your music to an audience halfway around the world? Have you had any unexpected connections or moments that surprised you?

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Will Worden.

Will Worden: The Troubador Bringing Country Music's Golden Age Back to Life

When I think of Texas, I think of big boots, bigger skies, and that big ol’ American experience that cuts straight to my bones. Will Worden embodies all of that and more. A Texas native who's taken the West Coast country scene by storm, he's got a voice that Rolling Stone calls a blend of Elvis Presley and Gordon Lightfoot — a comparison that to me, feels both bold and spot on. But Worden isn’t one to ride on comparisons. With a sound rooted in classic country storytelling with honest vulnerability, he’s crafting his own legacy. Fresh off the launch of his debut LP The Only One & All The Others , Worden sat down with SYV Buzz to talk Texas roots, West Coast crowds, and why the '60s and '70s country sound still feels like home.

SYV Buzz: Texas roots run deep—how do you think growing up there shaped your vibe and storytelling style?

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Brian Sieve and Ryan Hannaford of Racines.

From Burgundy to the Santa Rita Hills: Chasing the Perfect Pour

Great wine starts with great land — and sometimes, finding it takes a good old fashioned road trip. When legendary Burgundian winemaker Etienne de Montille decided to make wine on the West Coast, he wasn’t about to settle for anything less than magic. He hit the road with winemaker Brian Sieve, searching for the kind of cool-climate vineyards that could rival Burgundy’s famed terroir.

Their journey stretched from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, down the Sonoma Coast, through Santa Cruz, and finally ended up in Santa Barbara. And it was here — in the Santa Rita Hills — that they found what they were searching for: a pocket of land kissed by ocean breezes, grounded in limestone-rich soils, and bursting with potential. That’s how Racines was born — the name is French for "roots," honoring both their Burgundian heritage and their new California home.

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Ellis Bryant.

From Tennessee Trails to Malibu Waves

Ellis Bryant Rides His Own Country Music Journey Ellis Bryant isn’t your typical country artist. He’s a Tennessee-born, horse-savvy songwriter who traded the Smoky Mountains for the Pacific breeze — and brought his Southern soul along for the ride. Now calling California home, he carries a bit of both worlds in his music: the raw, storyteller grit of his Tennessee roots blended with the laid-back, sun-soaked spirit of Malibu. Whether he’s writing songs from the porch of his ranch or strumming alongside his horses in the turnout, Bryant’s music is as authentic as the man himself — rugged, heartfelt, and unapologetically real. We caught up with him to chat about everything from campfire heroes and cowboy road stories to the surprising life lessons learned from living on a sailboat.

SYV Buzz: How has growing up in Tennessee and now living in California shaped your sound? Do you find one place sneaks into your songwriting more than the other?

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Benji Hughes abides.

Benji Hughes and Jon Lindsay Live at Lost Chord

Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang is gearing up for an extreme evening of live music with Benji Hughes and Jon Lindsay tonight. The concert, which will feature a pre-show interview conducted by actor Jeff Bridges, is already sold out. If you've got your tickets, you're in for a good one.

Of Benji Hughes, Lost Chord owner Chris Pelonis says "I’m so excited to have Benji at Lost Chord Guitars! I first met him years ago when we were playing his music with Jeff Bridges & the Abiders. It's a small world, and here's a fun fact: Jackson Browne—who actually came up with the name Lost Chord Guitars—introduced Benji to Jeff. What really moves me in an artist is that rare combination of being instantly recognizable and completely original. Just as important is being fearless and exposed, raw and honest. That’s Benji to a T!"

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