The Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara (FOSB) opens its 2026-27 season with “The Sixties,” 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 at the Presidio Chapel.

This marks the group’s 10th year of merging traditional folk instruments with orchestral strings for a combination that is unique in the United States.
 
“The Sixties” will be reprised at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at St. Mark’s in-the-Valley in Los Olivos, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at Trinity Church in Santa Barbara.

Tickets are available at folkorchestrasb.com.
 
“We’re excited to be back on stage this fall, continuing to share music with our community,” said Adam Phillips, FOSB founder/musical director.

“Along with future shows highlighting Scottish, Irish and Nordic music, this Sixties concert is always a big crowd favorite,” he said.

Among the “The Sixties” tunes sure to be familiar to audiences are “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones, “Both Sides Now,” Joni Mitchell; “Riders on the Storm,” The Doors;” and “Green Onions,” Booker T and the MGs.

Phillips said he and his 30 local musicians also have surprise in store, along with an appearance by the local electric guitarist Bear Erickson.

“We don’t have any electric instruments in our concerts, but Bear is so good, we love to include him for ‘The Sixties,’ ” said Phillips, who also sings and plays more than a dozen instruments throughout the concert series.

Coming up in the season are programs of Scottish/Celtic tunes, Nov. 6-8; Nordic, Jan. 29-31; and Irish, March 12-14.

For more, visit folkorchestrasb.com or email adam@folkorchestraSB.com.