This weekend, much of Humboldt received their glossy guides to the upcoming parade of famous people who will sneak past the Redwood Curtain over the next year. Yes, CenterArts has released its 2015-16 season lineup, and it looks pretty good and star-studded!

Some highlights that caught LoCO’s eye: You’ve got musical excellence in the form of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Esperanza Spalding and the trio of Ry Cooder, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White. Serious star power (for us ‘90s kids, especially) with Bill Nye, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Melissa Etheridge. Can we call Eddie Izzard one of the most influential stand ups ever? That’s OK, right? Nice to see Lake Street Dive continuing to find a larger audience (they were killing it at HumBrews just two years ago).

Also, note Aug. 17. Sean and Sara Watkins are best known as founding members of Nickel Creek and will release a new album in July somewhat based off the regular podcasted shows they perform at Largo in Los Angeles. The Watkins Family Hours shows are frequented by special guests including none other than Fiona Apple who is just gonna go ahead and hit the road with them in, it seems, a vocalist capacity. (Also in the lineup is longtime Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, who we’ve always believed to have the coolest name in music, but we digress).

Full season lineup below. More details at CenterArts’ website:

  • 8/11/2015: Esperanza Spalding
  • 8/17/2015: Watkins Family Hour
  • 8/23/2015: The Waifs
  • 9/1/2015: “Weird Al” Yankovic
  • 9/10/2015: Eddie Izzard
  • 9/12/2015: Angelique Kidjo
  • 9/16/2014 National Circus of China
  • 9/25/2015: Parsons Dance Company
  • 9/28/2015: Dark Star Orchestra
  • 10/5/2015: Ry Cooder, Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White
  • 10/14/2015: St. Olaf Orchestra
  • 10/17/2015: Bin Huang
  • 10/20/2015: Joan Armatrading
  • 10/27/2014 Jake Shimabukuro
  • 10/29/2015: Lake Street Dive
  • 10/30/2015: Danish String Quartet
  • 11/2/2015: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  • 11/4/2015: Matisyahu
  • 11/7/2015: StarTalk Live! Featuring Bill Nye
  • 11/17/2015: Akram Kahn Dance Company
  • 11/19/2015: Melissa Etheridge
  • 12/3/2015: Milk Carton Kids
  • 12/11/2015: Pink Martini
  • 12/14/2015: John Prine
  • 1/26/2016: Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour
  • 1/28/2016: Cirque Alfonse Timber!
  • 2/9/2016: Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton
  • 2/11/2016: Cameron Carpenter
  • 2/17/2016: Garrison Keillor
  • 2/28/2016: The Chieftains
  • 3/5/2016: Delfeayo, Ellis & Jayson Marsalis
  • 3/9/2016: Jose Gonzalez with yMusic
  • 3/18/2016: Flying Karamazov Brothers
  • 3/29/2016: Acoustic Africa
  • 4/11/2016: Blue Man Group
  • 4/12/2016: Blue Man Group
  • 4/23/2016: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
  • 4/26/2016: Aimee Mann with Billy Collins
  • 4/30/2016: Masters of the Steel Drum
  • 5/17/2016: Cassandra Wilson