Iya Terra plays postponed show at The Observatory, Santa Ana

Iya Terra closed out their nationwide tour, commemorating the release of their 2021 Ease & Grace album. Santa Ana warmly welcomed the hometown band back to The Observatory on July 16th. Fans were left eagerly awaiting the celebration last April, when Iya Terra was forced to postpone five of their southern California shows due to health reasons.

It was well worth the wait.

Cydeways, an alternative band with a unique reggae rock-pop punk sound, kicked off the night. Formed in Boston although currently residing in Santa Barbara, Cydeways’ is quickly becoming a prominent name. Their high-energy performance pulled concert-goers right in and kept them dancing along. Starting the set with a fan-favorite, attendees answered the title track question “Are You Down?” with room shaking enthusiasm. 

Following Cydeways was another southern California band, known for their multifaceted blend of reggae and Americana sounds. The Simpkin Project bridged the good vibes between opener and headliner BIG TIME. As longtime friends, members of The Simpkin Project and Iya Terra have come up together, performing local gigs together over the years and now being featured on Ease & Grace’s “Life Goes On”.

And, of course, Iya Terra delivered a performance with the “Ease & Grace” they promised. Smiles plastered on their faces, as they rocked everyone else’s off! What a way to end a national tour, especially after this show’s initial postponement.

Photography by Jenna Shaw

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