July shows

July 1

The Plateau Jazz Band plays 20s -40s swing dance jazz at Woodhouse Brewing from 5:30-8:30 on Wednesday July 1^st. Listen, lesson, dance, dine and drink. Bob Folker teaches a half hour introductory/intermediate swing dance lesson from 5:30-6, the band plays for the dancers till 7, then Bob teaches a second half hour lesson and the band plays another hour long set of music. Things wrap up around 8:30 or so. Listening is free. Lessons and dance $10

The Plateau Jazz Band is a six-piece traditional jazz band from Santa Cruz, California. They play New Orleans influenced, Preservation Hall inspired, prohibition era swinging dance jazz. Their repertoire includes hot jazz songs like Dr. Jazz & That's a Plenty, blues tunes like St. Louis Blues & St. James Infirmary Blues, and swing dance standards like Blue Skies, Dinah, & I’m Going to Sit Right Down (and write myself a letter).

July 19

The Plateau Jazz Band plays swing dance music on Sunday July 19 from 6-8 pm at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz. Free. No cover charge to dance or listen. The Plateau Jazz Band is a six-piece traditional jazz band from Santa Cruz, California. They play New Orleans influenced, Preservation Hall inspired, prohibition era swinging dance jazz. 

May-June

Wednesday May 6, 6-9pm the Plateau Jazz Band will be playing for a Swing Dance at Woodhouse Brewing. Lesson 6-7 with Bob Folker. Free to listen, Dance is $10

Sunday May 17, 6-8pm The Plateau Jazz Band will play swing dance music at Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC. Pono has a small dance floor and you are invited to dance or just listen. Free

Friday May 29, 7-9pm The Plateau Jazz Band will be playing at the Mid County Senior Center for a swing dance. $10 Lesson by Rebecca Tivang and Lane Cunningham from Santa Cruz Swing from 6-7pm

Wednesday June 3, 6-9pm the Plateau Jazz Band will be playing for a Swing Dance at Woodhouse Brewing. Dance lesson with Bob Folker 6-7. Dance 7-9. Cover is $10. Free to listen.

Sunday June 21, 6-8pm The Plateau Jazz Band will play swing dance music at Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC. Pono has a small dance floor and you are invited to dance or just listen. Free. 

There may be a lesson before the show. Look to Facebook for more info.

The Plateau Jazz Band will play as the final event of the Santa Cruz Swing Festival on April 19th from 6-8 at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz

 Santa Cruz Swing Festival, April 17 - 19: This festival is a celebration of the joy of Lindy Hop. Over the past five years, Santa Cruz’s swing scene has been steadily growing, bringing connection and fun to the local dance community. What started small has grown into a scene full of playfulness, music, and dance. This event is our way of sharing that excitement beyond Santa Cruz — welcoming dancers from all over to join us for great music, inspiring dances, and a weekend that shares the spirit and life of Lindy Hop. The final event of the festival will be the Plateau Jazz Band’s regular third Sunday show at Pono Hawaiian Grill DTSC on Union Street in downtown Santa Cruz: April 17, from 6-8 pm

Plateau Jazz Band, Santa Cruz: March April shows

Note about a rescheduled show:

Our regular Sunday March 18, 2026 show at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz has been rescheduled to Sunday March 29 to accommodate a visiting Hawaiian musicians schedule.

And the upcoming shows:

Sunday March 29, 6-8pm we will play at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz. There will be a free introductory Swing Dance lesson beforehand taught by Rebecca Tivang of Santa Cruz Swing. This event is free, but plan to patronize the restaurant, as that is why they host music. 

Wednesday April 1, 2026, 7-9pm, we play for a swing dance at Woodhouse Brewing. There is a lesson from 6-7pm with Thorin Brentmar. $10 cover includes show and dance lesson.

Sunday April 19, 6-8pm we will play at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz. We will announce on FB/Insta and the email blast we send, if there will be a lesson beforehand. This event is free, but plan to patronize the restaurant, as that is why they host music. 

We send out email reminders, and if you would like to be on that list then send us an email to plateaujazzband@gmail.com.

January - February 2026 shows

Sunday January 18, 2026 6-8pm we will play at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz. We will announce on FB/Insta if there will be a lesson beforehand. This event is free, but plan to patronize the restaurant, as that is why they host music. 

Friday January 30, 2026 we will play from 7-9pm for the Friday night dance series at the Mid County Senior Center. This dance is for all ages, and the center boasts the largest wooden dance floor in the county. $10 cover charge.

Wednesday February 4, 2026. we play for a Swing Dance at Woodhouse Brewing. Lesson with Thorin Brentmar. $10 cover.

Sunday February 15, 6-8pm we will play at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz. We will announce on FB/Insta if there will be a lesson beforehand. This event is free, but plan to patronize the restaurant, as that is why they host music. 

We send out email reminders, and if you would like to be on that list then send us an email to plateaujazzband@gmail.com.

We always have great fun playing for dancers. This clip was taken at Pono in November.

Catching up....November and December 2025

Whoops. We have been posting on Facebook and Instagram, and that has kept me busy and I forgot the blog.

Plateau continues to play third Sunday of the month from about 6-8 at Pono Hawaiian Grill in Downtown Santa Cruz. The next show there will be on November 16. Here is a picture from last night.

We will also be playing at Woodhouse Brewing on Wednesday Dec 10 for their Speakeasy Wednesday dance. If you come dress like it is 1929!

If you want the latest word then get on our email list: Just write plateaujazzband@gmail.com