Celebrated guitarist and composer Kaki King brings her innovative style and heartfelt performance to Southern California.
When you think of a guitar concert, you might picture a spotlight, a stool, and a single musician pouring out songs one chord at a time. But when Kaki King takes the stage, that image explodes into a kaleidoscope of sound, rhythm, and visual artistry. This October, King joins forces with the acclaimed guitar ensemble The String Revolution for an electrifying night at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido — and she promises an experience as dynamic as it is unforgettable.
“I’m excited to play with a group that expresses the same kind of dynamism that I try to bring to the stage,” King says of her upcoming collaboration. “I’m expecting lots of energy and several broken strings.” Her trademark humor and fearlessness hint at a concert that will be anything but ordinary, a thrilling exchange of creativity where every note feels alive.
For King, who has performed everywhere from tiny clubs to world-famous venues, the magic isn’t in the size of the stage but in the connection with the audience. “Over the years, the difference between a world-famous venue and a dive bar becomes less discernible. You bring the same show no matter where you are,” she explains. Still, she admits Southern California holds a special place in her heart. “It’s a place where my career grew when I was young, and I’m always excited to play a SoCal show.”
Kaki King has long been celebrated for her ability to push the guitar beyond its expected limits, turning it into a percussive, melodic, and even visual instrument. The future of guitar music, she believes, is brighter than ever. “If you’re watching the ‘guitar scene’ unfolding in real time on social media, it’s never been so exciting,” she says.
“What pleases me the most is to see so many young people, kids and teenagers, taking up this instrument and breaking new ground and expressing new worlds; proof that the guitar, as I’ve always known, is infinite in expression.” For King, the joy is in both playing and being a fan, constantly inspired by the next wave of artists.
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And what’s inspiring her right now? Her playlist might surprise you. Nestled alongside her own creations are classical works like Suite for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach — transcribed for guitar — and contemporary gems like Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club. It’s a mix that reflects King’s fearless curiosity and her refusal to be pinned down by genre.
Offstage, King’s life is as full of motion as her music. When she isn’t touring, she loves playing soccer with her kids or taking hikes on days off. Finding solace and inspiration in the simplicity of nature. It’s that balance of intensity and stillness that seems to inform her art: frenetic energy tempered by moments of deep calm.
So what does she hope the audience will feel when they leave the California Center for the Arts? “Instrumental music is unique in that it’s so utterly open to interpretation,” King reflects. “Being able to turn off the phone, sit in an audience of other like-minded people and focus on music is healing. And I hope people take away exactly what it is they need.”
That’s the magic of a Kaki King performance. Not just a concert, but a space where sound becomes a mirror, reflecting back whatever the listener most needs to hear. On this night, with The String Revolution by her side, that magic promises to be multiplied.
Kaki King with The String Revolution
Thursday, October 9
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
artcenter.org/event/kakiking