Santa Cruz, 16 August 2022

Santa Cruz is a Finnish glam metal band formed in 2007 in Helsinki by Archie Kuosmanen and Johnny Parkkonen. The following year, bass player Middy Toivonen joined in. The band released two demos in 2008-2009. After changing a number of temporary drummers, they settled for a full-time drummer, Taz Fagerström in 2009 becoming a 4-member band. After a self-released EP of 6 songs titled Anthems for the Young 'n' Restless, they signed with Finnish Spinefarm Records in 2012 and released their first studio album Screaming for Adrenaline in April 2013. Their eponymous 2nd album Santa Cruz was released in March 2015. The album featured a heavier sound than the previous and the band has described its sound as "glamcore". Their debut album reached no. 27 on Finnish album chart and their second album debuted as no. 3. In June 2016, Santa Cruz released the Single "Sky Diving Without A Parachute" then soon after, a rendition of 1 Direction's title "Drag Me Down". The band in the meanwhile, are currently working on their 3rd album (TBA) with Finnvox Studios in Helsinki Finland. Santa Cruz plans to release the full album in late 2017. The songs of the band have appeared in a TV commercial of Mercedes-Benz and in sports compilation clips of U.S. ESPN television network. The band had live shows in England, Belgium and Germany in 2013. In 2015, the band made a European tour of 27 gigs. In 2016, the band toured with Sebastian Bach in the U.S.
The vocalist of the band Archie Kuosmanen has appeared in "Local band" lineup with Alexi Laiho (of Children of Bodom), Olli Herman (of Reckless Love) and Jussi 69 (of the 69 Eyes).