From an exhibit of Native American art to free festivals and concerts through the Bay Area and Sarah McLachlan paying homage to “Fumbling Toward Ecstasy,” there are a lot of great shows, concerts and exhibits in the Bay Area to catch this weekend and beyond.
Here is a partial rundown.
Uplifting Native American voices
For too long, stories about Native Americans have been told by non-Native people, whether in movies, TV shows, books or the visual arts.
That’s not the case with “Re-Discovering Native America: Stories in Motion with The Red Road Project,” a stunning exhibition of photos at Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery through June 23, or with a panel discussion this Saturday featuring leading Native American artists, including Oakland novelist Tommy Orange.
The exhibition showcases some 100 photos, personal stories and other artworks, collected by Red Road Project founders, Danielle SeeWalker and Carlotta Cardana. The photos document the lives of contemporary Native Americans, from the sweeping landscapes of remote reservations to their living rooms in towns and cities, as they celebrate their communities, traditional practices and achievements, or give voice to the ongoing challenges of historic displacement and oppression.
SeeWalker also joins “There There” author Orange in the panel discussion as they talk about their inspiration and creative process. Rounding out the panel are: Tazbah Chavez, co-creator of the FX series “Reservation Dogs”; and moderator Jackie Keliiaa, a comedian, writer and actor known for Amazon Prime’s “First Nations Comedy Experience.”
Details: Through June 23; Bedford Gallery at Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; panel discussion at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Margaret Lesher Theatre ($35-$40); overall admission is pay what you can; www.bedfordgallery.org.
— Martha Ross, Staff
Classical picks: Nakamatsu; SF Girls Chorus; ‘Aurora’ premiere
From newly created choral works to iconic symphonies, this week’s classical music scene has events for every listener. Here are three programs you won’t want to miss.
Girls Rock: Featuring music they’ve mastered throughout the 2023-24 season, the San Francisco Girls Chorus presents its “Chorus School Spring Concert,” which includes the world premiere of a commissioned work composed for the ensemble by Sahba Aminikia, this season’s composer in residence.
Details: 7 p.m. May 30, Scottish Rite Center, Oakland; $15-$25; sfgirlschorus.org.
Nakamatsu plays Mozart: Symphony San Jose’s weekend program welcomes Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Jon Nakamatsu as soloist in Mozart’s gorgeous Piano Concerto No. 21. François López-Ferrer conducts the program, which also includes Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” and “Danzon No. 2” by Arturo Márquez.
Details: 7:30 p.m. June 1, 2:30 p.m. June 2; California Theatre, San Jose; $55-$115; symphonysanjose.org.
“Pictures” at Berkeley Symphony: Under Music Director Joseph Young, the Berkeley Symphony returns with a program featuring violinist Leticia Moreno as soloist in the West Coast premiere of “Aurora” by composer Jimmy López Bellido. Also on the program: Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” and Duke Ellington’s “Solitude.” Come for the pre-concert talk at 3 p.m.
Details: 4 p.m. June 2; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $25-$80; berkeleysymphony.org.
— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
Napa’s inaugural Festival La Onda
Thousands of Latin music lovers will head to Napa this weekend for the inaugural La Onda Festival.
The event, set for Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, at the Napa Valley Expo downtown, features such popular acts as Grammy-winning pop-rock group Mana, corridos tumbados specialist Junior H, multimillion-selling vocalist Alejandro Fernandez and chart-topping San Bernardino band Fuerza Regida.
The party is being thrown by the same people behind the massively popular BottleRock Napa Valley, which finished up its 2024 run over Memorial Weekend with Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Megan Thee Stallion and many others, including Mana — the Day 2 headliner at La Onda.
Other acts worth catching at this first-ever Festival La Onda include Mexico City’s Los Ángeles Azules, Guadalajara’s Ximena Sariñana, Stanislaus County act Eslabon Armado and Dallas DJ/music producer RayBurger.
In all, more than two dozen Latin music acts will perform across multiple stages during the two days. And, of course, there will be plenty to eat and drink over the weekend as well. We are, after all, talking about Napa.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. both days; Napa Valley Expo; tickets start at $179 per day and $309 for weekend passes; laondafest.com.
— Jim Harrington, Staff
A forest of photographs
Trees produce nearly a third of the world’s oxygen, are sacrificially harvested to build our homes and provide goods ranging from rubber to coconuts. But are they art? A new exhibit of massive-scaled photos at Berkeley’s David Brower Center argues that forests belong on museum walls, too.
For years, East Bay photographer Stefan Thuilot has pursued what he calls the California Forest Project, capturing tens of thousands of images from all 25 forest ecosystems in the state. Yes, there are that many, ranging from the mystical redwoods of the north to the rugged conifers of the high country to the gnarled oak groves of our own Henry Coe State Park.
The technology needed to print Thuilot’s high-resolution images, composited from hundreds of photos, at full size doesn’t exist yet – he hopes it will in the future. But the photographs on display are still jaw-droppingly massive, measuring tree-like up to 13 feet high. In these photos, he tells stories about not just the world’s tallest living organisms, but looming dangers such as inadequate forest management and ever-more-devastating wildfires.
“I believe that photography stands as a potent tool,” he says, “to portray the changing landscapes that threaten its legacy.”
Details: May 30-Aug. 22; David Brower Center’s Hazel Wolf Gallery, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley; hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays; browercenter.org.
— John Metcalfe, Staff
Three cool concerts
Here are three upcoming shows that should definitely be on your radar:
Sarah McLachlan
The Canadian singer-songwriter-pianist is out on the road celebrating the 30th anniversary of her international breakthrough effort, 1993’s “Fumbling Toward Ecstasy.” That recording went multiplatinum in several countries on the strength of such sensational songs as “Possession,” “Wait,” “Hold On” and “Ice Cream.” It should be a great night for earnest, hushed singalongs when McLachlan performs tonight at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre. Make sure to get there on time since the mighty Feist opens the gig. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $49.50-$149.50, apeconcerts.com.
Zach Bryan
The country music superstar is bringing his Quittin’ Time Tour ’24 to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Friday. Bryan — an entertainer who has sold more than 30 million albums since releasing his full-length major label debut, “DeAnn,” in 2019– will likely be performing such fan favorites as “Something in the Orange” and “I Remember Everything.” Mt. Joy and Levi Turner are also on the bill. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. and tickets start at $55, axs.com.
Super Diamond
Feel like singing along to “Sweet Caroline” with all your might? You’ll surely have the chance to partake in that singalong — as well as many others — when this fun Neil Diamond tribute act performs at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park on Friday. Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are $39, guildtheatre.com.
— Jim Harrington, Staff
Festival season is here
You know what we all need more of in our lives? Pizza-tossing, that’s what. And accordion symphonies. Fortunately, we can address both of these needs in one place this weekend at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club’s Festa Italiana, an old-fashion Italian street fair in the heart of San Francisco’s beloved North Beach district. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday along the 1600 block of Stockton Street, between Union and Filbert streets (abutting the famed Washington Square and Saints Peter and Paul Church). Since it’s an Italian fare, you can bet there will be lots of terrific things to eat and drink on hand. But there is plenty more, including a full docket of entertainment, including tarantella dancing and live music from such artists as classic Italian pop singer Vanessa Racci, accordionist Cory Pesaturo, and Bay Area bands Nina Lane, Sonamo and Il Sole. And Sunday marks the return of the traditional “symphony of accordions” featuring Bella Ciao and other talented musicians. There’s also a Kid’s Corner with face-painting, a puppet show and other fun stuff; a wide variety of street vendors offering a wide variety of Italian arts, craft and goods; and the 103rd running of the Statuto Race at 9 a.m. Sunday, an event that celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the first Italian constitution (race sign-ups have closed, but you can still watch the event). As for the pizza-tossing, this is some serious pizza-tossing we’re talking about, featuring all-world tosser and pizza celebrity Tony Gemignani, whose famed Tony’s Pizza Napoletana restaurant is based nearby in North Beach. Admission is free, and more information is at sfiacfoundation.org. Other free-admission festivals going on this weekend include the Union Street festival in San Francisco (11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 Sunday; unionstreetsf.com/festivals) and the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival (11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 Sunday; www.walnut-creek.com/art-wine-festival-2024).
— Bay City News Foundation
Free concerts in San Jose
The drive to bring a Levitt Pavilion to San Jose’s St. James Park has reportedly gotten no closer to securing a permanent pavilion but it continues to draw worthy free music to the area. The Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose Spring Concert Series is offering free Sunday concerts at the park through June 16. Performing this weekend is San Jose soul singer Noah Kibreab and his band The Arkiteks, with openers The Pearl Alley Band. On June 9, Tokyo-born, Northern California-based hip-hop star Lyrics Born brings his insane MC skills to the Park. Another talented rapper, Dox Black, will open the show with his band The Aquanauts. The series wraps June 16 with the Newark, N.J.-born duo The Jack Moves performing their soul/R&B-meets-punk sound (dubbed “punk-funk”). No opener has been named yet. The music runs 3:30 to 7 p.m. Sundays at the park, located at North 2nd Street and East Saint James Street in San Jose. Picnics and blankets are welcome, and a variety of food trucks and drinks concessions will be on hand. The purpose of the concert series is to demonstrate how live music on a permanent stage could enliven the park and surrounding neighborhood.
Details: All shows free; more information on the concert series and Levitt Pavillion drive are at levittsanjose.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Remembering Gail Dobson
The Bay Area lost a talented and beloved jazz singer and teacher with the recent passing of Gail Dobson, whose five-decade career made her an indelible fixture on the Bay Area music scene. She started erforming in San Francisco nightclubs before she was 20 years old, often in tandem with her first husband, George Muribus. She also gained a big following in the South Bay, performing with her second husband, Smith Dobson IV, in such clubs as Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz and The Garden City in San Jose. As a solo artist, she released several albums and collaborated with a wide array of artists, including the late great bassist John Shifflett, Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Masaru Koga and guitarist and producer Tim Volpicella. She is also remembered as a longtime vocal teacher and mentor to countless artists.
Revered for her talent and passion, and for embracing a wide range of music and musicians, Gail Dobson will be feted at a pair of concerts Sunday at the San Francisco nightclub Keys Jazz Bistro. The show is being organized by Gail Dobson’s daughter, Sasha, a New York-based jazz singer, and her son, a Bay Area saxophonist. The pair will perform and share memories of their mother, with help from a variety of Bay Area jazz luminaries.
Details; 5 and 7 p.m. June 2; Keys Jazz Bistro, 498 Broadway, San Francisco; $15; keysjazzbistro.com.
