In Tune — Humboldt County has a thriving music scene or, more accurately, scenes. After all, we’ve got a creative populous — scratch a shop owner or a banker and you might find a musician under there — and an audience pool bolstered by college students. For a remote area, we also get a number of big-name acts coming through on the road to San Francisco and Portland.

In this issue, we’ll take you on a tour of iconic venues in Arcata — bars, clubs and theaters — where you can hear everything from reggae to punk to bluegrass on any given night. In Perfect Trips, you’ll find luthiers making guitars and banjos that are works of art, grab a bite at Taj Mahal’s favorite local Creole spot and the best places to catch buskers during monthly arts nights. And while we can’t promise you any whale songs, there are a few scenic spots to look for migrating grays, humpbacks and orcas.

We’ll take you inside the Marimba One factory, where craftspeople are building world-class instruments, and let you know when and where you can catch a concert. We’ve also got an interview with The Monster Women, a Eureka trio with a kitsch-punk sound that’s been going strong for more than a decade. Don’t be scared, they’re delightful.

Searching for something to eat? Take a trip to Redwood Acres Fairgrounds where a New York bagel joint and a charcuterie place are each amassing loyal followings. For lunch or dinner, we’ve got reservations at Tuyas, with fresh, creative Mexican dishes on Ferndale’s Main Street. Cocktail enthusiasts might enjoy a trip north to the Jewell Distillery for the fragrant gin that’s even winning over the gin-phobic.

Check out our Browsing section to cure what ails you at Humboldt Herbals, then peruse the musically gifted mementos from shops around the county.

Even if you haven’t got a plan, you’ll find a good time here in Humboldt. Just follow the music.

— Jennifer Fumiko Cahill