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Moe's Alley and KPIG Present: Ana Popovic at The Rio Theatre w/ Anthony Arya
Wed, 3 Dec, 7:00 PM PST
Doors open
6:00 PM PST
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
TICKET SALES TERMINATED
Tickets are currently unavailable on TicketWeb
Description
Moe's Alley and KPIG present legendary blues artist Ana Popovic at The Rio Theatre with special guest Anthony Arya!
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Doors: 6pm / Show: 7pm
$35 in advance / $40 day of the show
All Ages
*All sales are final
***This show is at The Rio Theatre - 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz - not at Moe's Alley***
ANA POPOVIC
“In the 25 years since the release of her debut record, Hometown, tail-gunning blues virtuoso Ana Popovic has proved herself a force of nature with a vintage Stratin hand.” – Guitar World
“Ana Popovic Melds Rock, Blues, and Jazz for Fiery Power” – No Depression “A badass with a silver Strat, she performs the heck out of this song [“Worked Up”], owning it with swagger and grace. … “Worked Up” captures her love of funky grooves plus the edginess of rocking guitar power. – Rock & Blues Muse
Los Angeles-based and critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Ana Popovic is set to release her highly anticipated album Dance To The Rhythm (Electric Heel Records) on September 26, 2025. Produced by Popovic and Buthel, the album showcases a groundbreaking fusion of groove, blues, funk, and soul.
Building on the success of her previous work, Dance To The Rhythm pushes boundaries, seamlessly blending infectious dance grooves (“Dance To The Rhythm” / “Sho Nuff”) with raw blues guitar and powerful lyrics. From the soulful "Soul’ution" to the funky "Hottest Ticket In Town" and the bluesy “Dwell On The Feeling”, "California Chase," the album weaves a rich tapestry of musical styles, reflecting Popovic's masterful versatility. The track “Sisters and Brothers” channels a Steely Dan-like arrangement, while “Hurt So Good” brings a contemporary mainstream flair. The ultimate jam comes in the form of a clever reimagining of Paul Simon’s "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."
ANTHONY ARYA
Anthony Arya is an Americana performing & recording artist from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. He gained popularity at 16 after his appearance on NBC’s The Voice. Coach Adam Levine said: It blows my mind … I’m telling you right now, your whole situation, the way you engage with an audience, the way you sing — you are so special, dude. People are gonna fall madly in love with how you do it.
Since then, he has released 4 full length albums winning national awards for his songwriting. From his soulful lyrics to gritty guitar riffs, some say Anthony Arya is at the forefront of the next generation of singer / songwriter / guitar-players once defined by musical icons like Neil Young and Tom Petty.
Event Information
Age Limit
All Ages

Blues-Rock
Ana Popovic
Ana Popovic
Blues-Rock
“In the 25 years since the release of her debut record, Hometown, tail-gunning blues virtuoso Ana Popovic has proved herself a force of nature with a vintage Stratin hand.” – Guitar World
“Ana Popovic Melds Rock, Blues, and Jazz for Fiery Power” – No Depression “A badass with a silver Strat, she performs the heck out of this song [“Worked Up”], owning it with swagger and grace. … “Worked Up” captures her love of funky grooves plus the edginess of rocking guitar power. – Rock & Blues Muse
Los Angeles-based and critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Ana Popovic is set to release her highly anticipated album Dance To The Rhythm (Electric Heel Records) on September 26, 2025. Produced by Popovic and Buthel, the album showcases a groundbreaking fusion of groove, blues, funk, and soul.
Building on the success of her previous work, Dance To The Rhythm pushes boundaries, seamlessly blending infectious dance grooves (“Dance To The Rhythm” / “Sho Nuff”) with raw blues guitar and powerful lyrics. From the soulful "Soul’ution" to the funky "Hottest Ticket In Town" and the bluesy “Dwell On The Feeling”, "California Chase," the album weaves a rich tapestry of musical styles, reflecting Popovic's masterful versatility. The track “Sisters and Brothers” channels a Steely Dan-like arrangement, while “Hurt So Good” brings a contemporary mainstream flair. The ultimate jam comes in the form of a clever reimagining of Paul Simon’s "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."
Ana says: “One of my biggest strengths on stage is my ability to make people dance. Music should take you to a place where you can let go, feel the groove, and move. You want music to grab you, to have a pocket that you can’t resist. —everything else revolves around it. Blues guitar has never really been part of dance music before, and in that way, it’s revolutionary. Guitar plays a central role in these tracks, breaking down the boundaries created by time, culture, and musical traditions. With this album, I’m pushing those boundaries.” For Ana, blues guitar is the foundation of everything in her music. Yet, she masterfully blends genres, effortlessly shifting from blues to dance, jam band, funk, pop, and even gospel—it's all part of her evolving sound.
A true pioneer, Ana combines her blues guitar roots with bold experimentation, redefining the intersection of blues and dance music. Her live performances, whether with her six-piece or eleven-piece funk band FUNTASTAFUNK, are electrifying, blending fierce guitar work with irresistible rhythms that compel audiences to move.
A multi-award-winning artist, Popovic has earned recognition from major outlets and industry figures, including Bruce Springsteen, who called her "one helluva guitar player." She’s been nominated for seven Blues Music Awards, and her latest album POWER hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Ana has shared stages with legends such as B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Robert Plant, and Gary Clark Jr., and is an endorsee of Fender, D'Angelico, Jim Dunlop, and DR Strings.
Popovic's commitment to her craft and fearless boundary-pushing ensures she remains one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary blues and beyond.

Americana
Anthony Arya
Anthony Arya
Americana
Anthony Arya is an Americana performing & recording artist from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. He gained popularity at 16 after his appearance on NBC’s The Voice. Coach Adam Levine said: It blows my mind … I’m telling you right now, your whole situation, the way you engage with an audience, the way you sing — you are so special, dude. People are gonna fall madly in love with how you do it.
Since then, he has released 4 full length albums winning national awards for his songwriting. From his soulful lyrics to gritty guitar riffs, some say Anthony Arya is at the forefront of the next generation of singer / songwriter / guitar-players once defined by musical icons like Neil Young and Tom Petty.
A veteran of hundreds of live shows before turning 21, The Anthony Arya Band with their signature Americana Rock sound, have quickly become popular across the Bay Area from Monterey to Sonoma performing at music hotspots and iconic festivals such as North Beach Festival and San Jose Fountain Blues.