Funk Night Santa Cruz… A Tradition.

The Evolution of Funk Night: 7 Come 11's Journey Through Santa Cruz

In Santa Cruz, the nights desire to pulse with rhythm. 7 Come 11, led by Gianni Staiano, sought out a constant groove amidst their weekend tours and found it on Tuesdays, carving a space in the local scene.

He first brought that constant, energetic, and funky pulse to The Crepe Place, where each week the Hammond organ's growl mingled with the scent of crepes in the air. The crowd swayed, lost in the music. These sessions became a haven for those seeking the raw energy of live grooves.

As time flowed, Funk Night found a new home here at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing. The venue had changed, but the soul remained. Here, the band continued to lay down grooves that echoed through the night, drawing both old fans and new faces. Beyond Santa Cruz, 7 Come 11's funk has continued to resonate, sharing stages with legends, opening for The Funky Meters at the Crystal Bay Club and their sound traveled, leaving imprints at festivals and venues across the nation.

When the complaints came in from people hoping to extinguish live entertainment in this industrial zone forever, music here at Woodhouse was shut down and held down by our neighbors, Lighthouse Windows, a company that closes at 4pm, and other people who believe that Commercial/Industrial Zones, and Downtown Santa Cruz in general, should be silent and dead from action and life. Thus, Funk Night had to take a long hiatus.

But after Santa Cruz stood up strong for its night life, we finally got approval for live entertainment both inside and outside!

Now, Funk Night rises again. The drums will pulse. The organ will wail. The air will grow thick with heat and motion. Tuesday nights belong to the groove once more.

So come. Let the music pull you in. Feel the weight of the bass, the snap of the snare, the rush of bodies moving as one. The funk is back. It never really left.