The Catalyst

Born in 1966 as a coffeehouse in Santa Cruz's old St. George Hotel and relocated to 1011 Pacific Avenue in 1976, the Catalyst is Santa Cruz's defining live music venue with an 800-capacity main hall and a 350-capacity Atrium. Its stage has hosted Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Phish, Iggy Pop, Tom Petty, No Doubt, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with decades of regional artists building devoted local followings. Under Randall Kane's ownership from 1969 to 2003, the Catalyst became inseparable from Santa Cruz's identity as a music town. The venue continues to book an eclectic mix of national touring acts and local favorites across rock, hip-hop, reggae, electronic, and Americana.