Santa Cruz musician Marty O’Reilly made a national splash tonight on NBC’s The Voice, earning the rare distinction of turning all four judges’ chairs during his blind audition.
For longtime fans, the moment was no surprise. O’Reilly has been a central figure in the Santa Cruz music scene for more than a decade. With his old band, Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra, and solo he’s toured extensively across the U.S. and Europe, known for blending American roots music with blues, folk, and gospel influences. He has played festivals such as High Sierra Music Festival and shared stages with artists including Shakey Graves, Hozier, and Greensky Bluegrass.
Set your DVR’s to record the whole season, I have a feeling we will see more of him on the show!
Closer to home, O’Reilly has always been deeply connected to Santa Cruz. In 2016, his band was recognized at the Event Santa Cruz NEXTies as Band of the Year, highlighting their impact on the local arts community.
From one of our events 10 years ago:
