Music and Performing Arts

Southside's Music and Performing Arts studio offers a variety of music and recording options. Learn more about each studio below or visit the studio website for more information about taking classes or using the equipment:

CLARA studio website

Contact us - 916-542-4076

Southcast Internet Radio

Southcast Internet Radio is our participant-run online radio show, featuring interviews, reviews, stories, poetry, and other informative and people-centered segments. Podcast episodes are recorded and produced at our CLARA Studio location in Midtown, and released on our website and Soundcloud page each month.

You can listen to episodes of the show here:

Open Music Studio

Open music studio offers the opportunity for individuals to learn the fundamentals of voice or various instruments. They may also make musical connections with other participants through drum circles, open jams, and other group activities. Southside currently offers instrumental instruction in guitar, piano, flute, recorder, voice (pop, folk, and classical styles), ukulele, and percussion. We have an array of instruments available for in-studio use including a full drum kit, assorted percussion, acoustic and electric guitars, autoharps, keyboards, an electric bass, and an upright piano. Open music Studio also offers participants an opportunity to learn about historical and contemporary music and music genres from around the world!

Harmony and Beats Choir

Harmony and Beats formed in 2022 from a group of people who love to sing. They bring a variety of showtunes, classic rock and pop favorites to encourage joy and calmness, connection to music and good harmony to the people who listen to them perform. They hope their musical performances will bring awareness to the disabled community to showcase independence and respect. So please dance, sing along and cheer together with us!

Follow Harmony and Beats Choir on Social!

The Early Birds Band

The Early Birds, our performing rock band, was originally formed in 1986 under the name The Southside Ensemble as a percussion ensemble. At this time, the band was lead by a music therapist to teach rhythm fundamentals and encourage cohesion among participants. Later the group would evolve into accepting various instruments into the fold as more musical talent came to Southside, eventually including a rap element, and later singing. In 2008 the studio was dedicated to former band member Michael LoBuglio. By this time the band had become a full-fledged rock ensemble and was writing their own original material, recording albums, and traveling to perform on a regular basis.

The band continues to grow along with the artists as they influence its direction. Along with their own original songs, they've performed hundreds of covers, showtunes, classic rock, and re-imagined versions of popular music. In October 2017, when Southside Art Center transitioned to Southside Unlimited, the Southside Ensemble rebranded themselves as The Early Birds. The Early Birds represents the very best of what we accomplish at Southside Unlimited, with high standards of excellence in professionalism and musical quality.