Going North

* World Music. Santa Barbara Museum of Art will host a performance by world fusion group Ancient Future tonight at 7:30. The widely touring band blends contemporary sounds of jazz and rock with the rhythms of African, Balinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and South American music. The concert will be held in the Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St. $8. (805) 963-4364.

* Blues. Studebaker John & the Hawks--billed as “Chicago’s best-kept blues secret”--will perform Saturday at Victoria Hall, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The Blind Pigs Records artist, a.k.a. John Grimaldi, has earned kudos for his powerhouse slide guitar and harmonica work. Doors open at 7:30, followed by the show at 8 p.m. $20. (805) 641-1372.

* Ballet. A new two-act ballet based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” will open State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara’s performance season Saturday at the Granada Theatre. This premiere version of the classic work is set to Prokofiev’s score and is choreographed by State Street Ballet artistic director Rodney Gustafson. Performances: 2 and 8 p.m. $15-$35. The venue is at 1216 State St. (805) 966-2324.

* Classical. Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra will concertize at the Lobero Theatre with pianist David Golub and the Golub-Kaplan-Carr Trio performing as special guests. Performances will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Tuesday. Program: Stravinsky’s Concerto in D; Dvorak’s Serenade for Winds in D minor; and the trio will present Beethoven’s “Triple” (Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major). $30, $35. The trio will also perform at the Lobero at 8 p.m. Nov. 11 and will present works by Schumann and Brahms. Call for ticket availability. (805) 963-0761.

* Green. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden will host its 11th annual Sustainability Symposium beginning Friday. The three-day event--”Sustainable Landscapes: Bridging the Chasm Between Aesthetics and Ecology”--features a series of talks, tours, panel discussions and workshops that will aid participants to create more sustainable gardens. Keynote speaker Dr. Ian McHarg, author of the landmark book “Designing with Nature,” will appear at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Santa Barbara City College Garvin Theatre. His topic will be “Designing Landscapes for the Next Millennium.” Tickets are $25. Saturday lectures are $145, and Sunday tours are $129. For more information or to register, call (805) 682-4726, Ext. 102.