Wax
Evans & Raney
The Croome Brothers
Fred Benedetti
Fridays, April 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026
7:30 PM
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is pleased to present the 2026 spring season of the Acoustic Evenings concert series, beginning April 3. The Acoustic Evenings series at the Athenaeum showcases some of the finest acoustic musicians in San Diego. Multiple acts fill each program, and attentive audiences delight in the intimacy of the unplugged storytelling format. San Diego Music Hall of Fame founder Jefferson Jay organizes and hosts the series. The project advances the Athenaeum’s commitment to support diverse San Diego talent. Acoustic Evenings is an unforgettable and personal experience for San Diego music lovers. The series, continuing through April 24, is set in the Athenaeum’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room.
Friday, April 3, 7: 30 PM
This series begins on Friday, April 3, with Wax, Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar, and Jimmy and Enrique. Wax is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and comedian with a gold record and millions of YouTube views. Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar are a San Diego–based duo known for their soulful country–bluesy Americana sound. Guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas bring world rhythms, including flamenco, salsa, and Brazilian, into their virtuosic performances.
Wax
Wax is primarily known as a rapper but is also a producer, songwriter, singer, comedian, and all-around creative force. He has been making music for many years and performs a wide range of styles that cater to many different types of audiences. Some songs are advanced technical displays of rap wordplay, some are heartfelt tales of struggle, and some are inspirational numbers containing optimistic advice and/or guidance. His new album, Lifetime Achievement Award, is a groovy, introspective, and eclectic masterpiece guaranteed to knock your socks off.
Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar
Singer-songwriter Lisa Sanders’ genres include folk, pop, gospel, rock, and jazz. She has garnered an extensive list of accolades, including twice receiving the San Diego Music Awards’ Best Acoustic Artist, being named Best Acoustic Artist in the San Diego Readers’ Poll, being inducted in the San Diego Music Hall of Fame, and much more. These achievements have given her the opportunity to open and work with music legends, including the Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, and BB King. Sanders and Brown Sugar are a dynamic, soulful, heartful singing duo with a gift for crafting wonderful songs and masterful storytelling. They have been together touring and recording as for two decades, with Sanders singing lead and playing guitar, and Karen “Brown Sugar” Hayes lending her gift of sweet harmonies to every song.
Jimmy and Enrique
Guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas combined their many talents to form this award-winning duo. Their music has an international flair as they incorporate flamenco, Middle Eastern, salsa, calypso, Brazilian, and other world rhythms into their compositions and arrangements. Their musical collaboration—consisting of virtuosic guitar passages accompanied by exotic percussive rhythms—presents a unique, fiery world-music style that captivates audiences from all over.
Friday, April 10, 7: 30 PM
The series continues Friday, April 10, with Evans & Raney, Joel Rafael, and Gayle Skidmore. Evans & Raney make their Acoustic Evenings debut with powerful guitar and harmonica performances; Joel Rafael draws on more than 50 years of folk songwriting experience; and Gayle Skidmore brings multi-instrumental mastery and award-winning songwriting to the stage.
Evans & Raney (Evans Kontopuls & Jerry Raney)
The Beat Farmers became a national phenomenon in the 1980s and continue to deliver powerhouse performances in San Diego and beyond. We are lucky to have the Beat Farmers’ legendary guitarist and San Diego Music Hall of Famer, Jerry Raney, perform alongside his dear friend and longtime collaborator Evans Kontopuls at the Athenaeum. The duo has frequented the scene for many years, with Evans contributing harmonica, 12-string guitar, and resplendent harmonies to Raney’s virtuosic guitar work.
Joel Rafael
Singer‑songwriter and folk musician Joel Rafael draws deeply from life experiences and the American folk tradition. He began performing in showcases and small clubs around Southern California in the early 1970s and released his debut album, Dharma Bums, in 1981. A devoted interpreter of Woody Guthrie’s legacy, Rafael has been a featured performer at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival for decades and has co‑written original songs based on Guthrie’s lyrics. His music blends passion, compassion, and a warm, resonant voice that connects with listeners across generations.
Gayle Skidmore
Classically trained on the piano, Gayle Skidmore plays over 20 instruments, including the mountain dulcimer, banjo, folk harp, and balalaika. A born songwriter, she has written over 2,500 songs. As a child, her natural musical ability and passion made her career inevitable, and a tumultuous life gives her plenty of inspiration. Translating her experiences into song has been more than personally fulfilling. She has won several accolades from the San Diego Music Awards, including Best Pop in 2015, Best Pop Album for Sleeping Bear in 2014, and Best Singer-Songwriter in 2013.
Friday, April 17, 7: 30 PM
The series continues April 17 with The Croome Brothers, Jefferson Jay with Monette Marino, and Les Afriks. An acoustic trio, The Croome Brothers blend roots sounds with rich harmonies. Jefferson Jay, founder of Acoustic Evenings, performs with world-class percussionist Monette Marino. Les Afriks deliver African and reggae-influenced music celebrating cultural heritage and community.
The Croome Brothers
The Croome Brothers are an acoustic musical trio that began in Calgary and moved south to San Diego. Brothers Patrick Croome and Liam Croome and percussionist Brayden Tario perform a mellow, harmony-focused side project of their main Americana band, Daring Greatly, for this concert. Known for rich vocal harmonies, soulful acoustic guitar, piano, and cajon, they blend classic roots sounds with fresh vibes.
Jefferson Jay with Monette Marino
Jefferson Jay launched Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum in 2008 and has organized and hosted the series for 18 years. He also founded the San Diego Music Hall of Fame in 2018 and has released 15 albums and written over 2,000 songs. His inclusive holiday series, The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit, is now available as a children’s book, and he has hosted Open Mics around San Diego for over 20 years. Inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame in 2023, percussionist Monette Marino has performed internationally and studied extensively with master drummer Mamady Keïta of Guinea. Her work spans West African percussion and a wide range of global and contemporary styles, bringing depth, rhythm, and dynamic energy to every performance.
Les Afriks
The group Les Afriks formed in 2015, performing on San Diego street corners, at farmer’s markets, and eventually in local bars and at festivals. Originally from Africa, they state, “We are very proud of Mother African for nurturing us to reach this stage of our lives. To honor and celebrate her, we formed this group to carry the authentic African and Reggae sound traditions forward like some of the greats who came before us have done and so this how it began.” Their music aims to transcend race, culture, and backgrounds, bringing people together through rhythm and celebration.
Friday, April 24, 7: 30 PM
The series concludes on Friday, April 24, with Fred Benedetti, Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie, and Tim Flannery. Fred Benedetti is a classical and jazz guitarist who has performed internationally but is also a favorite local musician. Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie deliver boogie-woogie piano and powerhouse vocals. Tim Flannery blends storytelling, bluegrass, country, and rock into heartfelt performances.
Fred Benedetti
Fred Benedetti was born in Sasebo, Japan, and began playing guitar early and was selected to perform in Andres Segovia’s master class at USC. Other performances include those with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, Starlight Opera, American Ballet Company, Old Globe Theatre, Luciano Pavarotti, and Dave Brubeck. A full-time professor of music at Grossmont College, he has received numerous awards for his teaching and musical contributions.
Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie
Known worldwide as the Queen of Boogie Woogie, Sultana of Swing, and the Lady Who Skates on the 88s, Sue Palmer has been a presence on the live music scene in San Diego and the world for over 30 years. She has won numerous San Diego Music Awards for her bands and albums and even had a day named after her by the city in 2008. Liz Ajuzie is a captivating, powerhouse vocalist who has blended masterfully with Sue Palmer in their collaborations in recent years.
Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery, known as a baseball player turned musician and philanthropist, is a singer-songwriter and storyteller. He has released 14 albums, blending bluegrass, country, and rock into heartfelt songs drawn from real-life experiences. His 2019 release, The Light, and 2017’s The Last of the Old Dogs showcase his ability to translate life’s challenges into music filled with hope, humor, and wisdom. With a smooth, soulful voice and a gift for connecting with audiences, Flannery has performed alongside artists including Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, and Bob Weir.
The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
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