Best Bay Area Events 4/30-5/20
Daniel Sloss at PoFA Sunday, May 12th (3pm Show Added!)
Tickets are still available for @DanielSlossComedian: Can’t, his LIVE comedy show that is coming to Palace of Fine Arts on Sunday, May 12th! The 7pm show is sold out, but tickets are still available for the Scottish comedian’s 3pm show. Grab them fast while they last! Find out more here.
Proud Sister
by Vanessa Gil, Arts & Events Editor
My brother was in town for work the other day. He was filling in on keys for Fortunate Youth, opening for Slightly Stoopid at Thunder Valley Casino. I got to watch Brother do his thing from side stage with the biggest, proudest sister smile on my face. His own band, Eureka Sound, is currently filming a little something down in Florida. The kid is doing phenomenal things and I just wanted to share. You know what else I’ll share?… what I’m excited for the week of 4/30 and beyond…
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Our Partner’s Events
Downtown First Thursdays, a New FREE Monthly Street Party, Kicks Off May 2!
DFT is giving Downtown SF a whole new makeover–think bigger, bolder, and oh-so-S.F. The fun takes place on 2nd Street (between Market and Howard Streets) and along neighboring alleyways on Jessie, Minna, and Natoma Streets. Free kids activities, disco in the streets, two outdoor bars, live music, dancing, drag, food trucks and vendors, pop-up retail shopping, and many more surprises every first Thursday of the month! May 2 Special Guest Performance by ALUNA from 7-9pm on 2nd and Howard Street. Find out more here.
SF is Getting an Absurd Willy W*nka Immersive Experience
5/3 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 8 p.m. | $48
Take a whimsical, immersive journey INTO THE WONKYVERSE—inspired by the World of Willy W*nka & the epic failure in Glasgow. 
Broke-Ass Stuart is Throwing a Kegger & You Should Come!
It’s a great excuse to hang out and meet some cool new people, including some BAS writers and photographers! Find out more right here.
Listen to this week’s playlist so you can sample upcoming bands and comedians listed in this newsletter.
This Week’s Events 4/30-5/6
Tuesday, 4/30
A Strange Loop
Now-5/12 | A.C.T.’s Geary Theater | 415 Geary St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $29-$85
Meet Usher: a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer. This blisteringly funny work of art exposes the heart and soul of a young artist grappling with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes. Bold and heartfelt in its truth-telling, A Strange Loop is the big, Black, and queer-ass Great American Musical for all!
Bombay Bicycle Club
4/30 | The Fillmore | 1805 Geary Blvd, SF | 8 p.m. | $50.75
Bombay Bicycle Club are an English indie rock band from Crouch End, London. They are guitar-fronted and have experimented with different genres, including folk, electronica, world music and indie rock.
Sevendust & Static-X
4/30 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 7 p.m. | $39.50-$129.50
In 1999, metal legends Sevendust, Static-X, & DOPE were each exploding onto the scene, while pairing up to create one of the most memorable tours of the year. Fast forward to 2024 and this incredible tour package is primed to deliver a super-charged evening of unforgettable music for newfound and lifelong fans of this resurging genre.
Wednesday, 5/1
The Wizard Of Oz—Film w/ Live Orchestra
5/1 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $69-$199
The SF Symphony delivers a sweeping orchestral backing to the beloved story of young farm girl Dorothy as she follows the Yellow Brick Road to Oz and faces the Wicked Witch of the West.
San Francisco International Arts Festival
5/1 | Various SF Venues | 8 p.m. | Free-$100
The Festival will take place in at least a dozen Mission based venues in 2024. The Festival’s theme continues to be IN DIASPORA: I.D. for the New Majority. I.D. asks artists to contemplate the changing demographics of the United States of America and / or apply the ideas of social justice to reflect on the conditions of minority, migrant, disenfranchised and/or displaced peoples in other countries and continents.
An Evening With Violent Femmes
5/1 | The Warfield | 982 Market St, SF | 8:30 p.m. | $49.95-$ 135.65
Few (if any) have made an album as prescient, potent, and powerful from top-to-bottom as Violent Femmes. The master recordings may have been lost for over three decades, but the band will play it once again in its entirety on tour in 2023. If you haven’t seen them since high school or college, bring your kids and their friends, because Violent Femmes are just as daring, dangerous, and dynamic as ever.
Thursday, 5/2
DocLands Documentary Film Festival
5/2-5/5 | Smith Rafael Film Center | 1118 4th St, San Rafael | 6:30 p.m. | $20-$45
Delve into 30 captivating titles, including 25 feature-length and 5 short films. Meet 43 filmmakers and subjects at this five-day, in-person event. DocLands isn’t just a festival; it’s a vibrant celebration of nonfiction storytelling, fostering dialogue, connections, and an inclusive community. Explore diverse perspectives, ignite passions, and celebrate the power of documentary cinema.
POC Food & Wine Festival
5/2-5/5 | SF and Berkeley Area | 6 p.m. | $75-$245
POC Food & Wine is a festival celebrating the global majority in food, wine, music, and culture. More than just a food & wine festival, it is an event meant to build community, discover diverse talent, and enjoy a multi-sensory experience designed with exquisite detail and hospitality.
RAWdance 20th Anniversary Benefit & Celebration
5/2 | The Green Room | 401 Van Ness Ave, SF | 6 p.m. | $150
This year, RAWdance celebrates 20 years of dancing, performances, and pushing boundaries! We’ll be celebrating 20’s style, with a 1920s speakeasy theme (and a 2020s edge). Glam it up for a night two decades in the making, featuring live performance by the company, flowing drinks and hors d’oeuvres, prizes, a dance party, and new surprises.
Friday, 5/3
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off The Grid
5/3 | Oakand Museum of California | 1000 Oak St, Oakland | 5 p.m. | Free, All ages
Bring your own or grab dinner from any one of the 8 Off the Grid food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine, mixed and non-alcoholic drinks are available for sale. After grabbing a meal from a wide and weekly changing menu of culinary creations, head to the OMCA Garden where you’ll find picnic tables and blankets to enjoy your local eats. Play lawn and table games, enjoy weekly rotating Museum programming, and create new memories at one of the Town’s most treasured spaces right in the heart of Oakland.
Visionquest
5/3 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 9 p.m. | $25-$75
Visionquest are… Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson, Shaun Reeves and Lee Curtiss, the most innovative and exciting new breed of DJ/producers to come out of the city of Detroit in a generation.
San Pacho
5/3 | 1015 Folsom| 1015 Folsom St, SF | 10 p.m. | $20-$25, 21+
Born and raised in Croatia, San Pacho is a young, hungry house artist who keeps making the right moves at the right time. Though rare, his remixes are always eye and ear catching and they commonly reach hundreds of thousands, if not millions of plays around the globe.
Saturday, 5/4
Entwined: Elder Mother Closing Party
5/4 | Golden Gate park – Peacock Meadow | 235 JFK Dr, SF | 6 p.m. | Free, All ages
This Saturday May 4th is the last weekend the art installation will be open this season, so we’re having a closing party to celebrate one more year of art, magic and fun! Catch some live music with Mission Delirium. You’re welcome to bring a picnic and share this delightful night with family and friends.
Art of Noise
5/4-8/18 | SFMOMA | 151 3rd St, SF | 10 a.m. | $30
Pour over 400+ San Francisco psychedelic rock posters, featuring legendary bands like the Grateful Dead. See icons of graphic design by Milton Glaser and others. Mid century modern album covers, as well as hip-hop, punk, and rave flyers complete this expansive display of incredible color and creativity.
Prateek Kuhad
5/4 | The Masonic | 1111 California St, SF | 8 p.m. | $53-$146.30
Prateek Kuhad’s cold/mess EP has garnered a slew of international accolades and inspired a growing global fan base.
Sunday, 5/5
Yellow Days
5/5 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 8 p.m. | $30
Noted for throaty, yearning vocals that accompany his swimmy indie soul-pop, Yellow Days is the performance alias of British musician George van den Broek.
Summertime Radness: Cinco de Mayo w/ J. Espinosa, OtebNSolrac, DJ Persia
5/5 | Phoenix Hotel | 601 Eddy St, SF | 1 p.m. | $10-$30, 21+
It’s a poolside party with J. Espinosa, OtebNSolrac, and DJ Persia!
Cinco de Mayo: Razza en la Terraza
5/5 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 4 p.m. | $12
Razza en la Terreza Cinco De Mayo @ The Midway’s Outdoor Terrace + Roofdeck21+ DJ performances by: N808Soul7Jai Bay BaeRayreck. Featuring:Tequila Rooftop Bar Curated Latin Food Menu Mariachi Band Piñatas & more!
Monday, 5/6
Madeline Minx Superstar Debuts One Woman Show “You’ve Been Served”
5/6 & 5/20 | The Marsh SF | 1062 Valencia St, SF | 7 p.m. | $13-$103
After getting served divorce papers on the top of a garbage bin outside her apartment in the Mission, Noemi sets out to redefine herself in midlife.
Justin Timberlake
5/6-5/7 | SAP Center | 525 West Santa Clara St, SJ | 7:30 p.m. | $55-$300
The Forget Tomorrow World Tour is the upcoming seventh headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. His first tour in five years, it is in support of his sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was.
Craig David
5/6 | The Masonic | 1111 California St, SF | 8 p.m. | $7-$195.90
Craig David is a British singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ and record producer who rose to fame in 1999.
The Week of 5/7-5/13
Tuesday 5/7
Maureen Langan
5/7 | Punch Line SF | 444 Battery St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $20.25-$28.25
Maureen is bringing her Don’t Make Me Hate You Comedy Tour to clubs and theaters across the country. It’s a smart, laugh-out-loud look at life’s absurdities and the people in it. Langan lambasts politicians, reality stars, hipsters, cougars, the easily triggered and more. TRIGGER WARNING: If you need a trigger warning Maureen already hates you.
An Evening with David Sedaris
5/7 | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts | 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa | 7:30 p.m. | $39-$75
David Sedaris is one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers.
Wednesday 5/8
X Ambassadors
5/5 | August Hall | 420 Mason St, SF | 8 p.m. | $26-$149
X Ambassadors are a multi-platinum trio formed by brothers Sam Nelson Harris (vocals, guitar, saxophone, bass) and Casey Harris (piano, keys) while the pair were in high school in Ithaca, New York. Later joined by Adam Levin (drums) upon moving to Brooklyn, the trio have gone on to dominate the alternative charts over the last decade.
Thursday 5/9
21 Savage w/ J.I.D
5/9 | Toyota Pavilion at Concord | 2000 Kirker Pass Rd, Concord | 7 p.m. | $29.50-$129.50
Grammy Award Winning multi-platinum artist 21 Savage is an American rapper from the United Kingdom.
Phil Lesh & Friends
5/9 | The Warfield | 982 Market St, SF | 8 p.m. | $59.95-$149.95, All ages
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.
Craig Ferguson
5/9-5/11 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $35.25-$50.25
Craig Ferguson is a multiple Grammy nominated, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian with a diverse career that encompasses film, television and the stage.
Friday 5/10
Tom Segura: Come Together
5/10 | SAP Center | 525 W Santa Clara St, SJ | 8 p.m. | $28.50-$95.50
Actor/Comedian/Writer Tom Segura is one of the biggest names in comedy. Your Mom’s House Studios is home to his hit podcasts Your Mom’s House which he co-hosts with his wife, comedian Christina Pazsitzky, 2 Bears 1 Cave which he co-hosts with Bert Kreischer, and many more podcasts that reach over 22 million people.
Sam Jay
5/10 | The New Parish | 1743 San Pablo Ave, Oakland | 7 p.m. | $29.50-$35
Originally from Boston, stand-up comic Sam Jay is an Emmy Nominated Writer most known for her writing and sketches on “Saturday Night Live.”
Saturday 5/11
San Francisco Beer Festival 2024
5/11 | Fort Mason Center | 2 Marina Blvd, SF | 12 p.m. | $45 – $65
Dive into beer culture with specially curated exhibitors, all of whom love bear as much as you do. Sample seltzers and beer from the San Francisco Bay Area’s top breweries, enjoy tasty food, and appreciate the party atmosphere with live musical entertainment.
Carlos Reyes
5/11 | Yoshi’s Oakland | 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland | 7 p.m. Doors | $30-$59
World renowned for his mastery of the Paraguayan harp and violin, Carlos musical talents have touched the hearts and spirits of people around the world.
Mill Valley Music Festival
5/11-5/12 | Friends Field | 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley | 10 a.m. | $99-$479
Mill Valley Music Festival will return to Friends Field to transform the Mill Valley Community Center into a sprawling outdoor festival grove.
Sunday 5/12
Summertime Radness: Ben Hemsley
5/12 | Phoenix Hotel | 601 Eddy St, SF | 1 p.m. | $20-$30, 21+
15Utah x DJ Dials x Soundproof present Summertime Radness w/ Ben Hemsley.
Monday 5/13
Jesse McCartney
5/13 | The Regency Ballroom | 1300 VanNess Ave, SF | 8 p.m. | $35-$49.50
The pop star’s pursuit of radical defiance refuses to stick to anyone’s expectations. His followup to 2021’s New Stage, All’s Well (due March TK, 2024) is a fun, supple, and fascinating step on the multi-talented multi-hyphenate’s journey of expressing a true self beyond the expectations and demands—equal parts vintage Hall and Oates, postmodern swag, and honeymoon sincerity packaged in that undeniable McCartney charm.
Week of 5/14-5/20
Tuesday 5/14
Phoenix w/ Super Hit
5/14 | The Warfield | 982 Market St, SF | 8 p.m. |
$59.95-$129.95
Phoenix is a French indie rock band from Versailles, formed in 1995. Their line-up, which has remained unchanged since their formation, comprises Thomas Mars, Deck d’Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.
Wednesday 5/15
FRENSHIP w/ The Ivy
5/15 | Cornerstone | 2367 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $23-$26
Friendship is an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consists of Dan Wriggins, Mike Cormier, Peter Gill, and Jon Samuels.
Thursday 5/16
Belle & Sebastian
5/16 | Fox Theater | 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 7 p.m. Doors | $55-$75
With a legacy spanning three decades, Belle and Sebastian have truly earned their place in music history. The unique, unpredictable, and fiercely loved band have a plethora of accolades and plaudits to their name.
Lizzy McAlpine
5/16 | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | 99 Grove St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $50.50
Lizzy McAlpine gained recognition when she began to share original songs and covers on Soundcloud and YouTube. In 2020, Lizzy released her debut album, Give Me A Minute, solidifying herself as a rising force and amassing thousands of devoted fans.
Celeste Barber
5/16 | The Masonic | 1111 California St, SF | 8 p.m. | $53-$223.60
Actor, writer, comedian, and internet sensation — Celeste Barber checks all the boxes. With a slew of television, theatre, and stand up shows on her résumé, Barber has been actively working in the entertainment industry for over a decade. Celeste is real, she is funny and the world can’t get enough.
Afroman
5/16 | Great Amerian Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $25-$69
Afroman, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, political candidate, and comedian. He is best known for his 2000 single “Because I Got High”, and its follow-up, the 2001 single “Crazy Rap”. Both songs were featured on his album The Good Times.
Friday 5/17
Dark Side of the Circus
5/17 | CounterPULSE | 80 Turk St, SF | 8 p.m. | $45-$300
Bow & Arrow Circus Theatre Collective presents “Dark Side of the Circus”, an intricately choreographed ensemble piece performed to Pink Floyd’s classic album by the best of the Bay Area’s circus talent. Loosely following the narrative of the album’s classic companion piece, “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is transported to a magical circus world of both playful and terrifying experiences.
Rakim
5/17 | Yoshi’s Oakland | 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland | 7:30 p.m. Doors | $65-$110
In the history of the Hip-Hop, few artists have had as great an impact on the development and progression of the art forms lyrical style as Rakim Allah. No serious discussion of the musics greatest performers is held without a deferential accounting of his achievements, and no serious rap artist grips a microphone without channeling some of his legend.
Trevor Wallace
5/17-5/19 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $40.25-$55.25, 18+
Trevor Wallace is a 28 year old stand up comedian, writer & actor. Wallace can be seen just about everywhere on the internet and has collectively built a digital thumbprint of over 1 Billion views across his social media channels.
Mr. Big
5/17 | The Fillmore | 1805 Geary Blvd, SF | 8 p.m. | $37.50
Mr. Big will be playing the “Lean Into It” album in its entirety!
Saturday 5/18
Waxahatchee, Good Morning
5/18 | Fox Theater | 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 7 p.m. Doors | $39.95-$55
One of the hardest working singer-songwriters in the game is named Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee. She was born in Alabama, grew up near Waxahatchee Creek. Skipped town and struck out on her own as Waxahatchee. While her sound has evolved from lo-fi folk to lush alt-tinged country, her voice has always remained the same. Honest and close, poetic with Southern lilting.
Ozomatli
5/18 | The Guild Theatre | 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park | 8 p.m. | $49-$93
Ozomatli is known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others.
Bruce McCulloch
5/18 | The Great Star Theater | 636 Jackson St, SF | 3 p.m. | $35
Bruce McCulloch’s Tales of Bravery and Stupidity is a one-man show that moves brilliantly between funny, relatable and surprisingly touching. Using music, stand-up, and storytelling, Bruce McCulloch (KIDS IN THE HALL) takes us on a poetic flyover of his life “pursuing stories” and makes an unspoken agreement with the audience to contemplate the world together.
Sunday 5/19
Bay To Breakers
5/19 | The Embarcadero, SF | 8 a.m
This historic 12k through the streets of San Francisco is over 100 years in the making. It’s a race made for everyone, so dress up, bring your friends and be cheered on every step of the way by the city’s finest crowds. Pushing boundaries and breaking records since 1912 — it’s your turn to join the party.
Monday 5/20
Charlotte Day Wilson
5/10 | The Regency Ballroom | 1300 Van Ness Ave, SF | 8 p.m. | $30-$49.50
Charlotte Day Wilson can make a single moment stretch into a lifetime of feeling. It’s not just that her warm voice recalls the jazz phrasings of classic torch singers, or that her smoldering anthems are methodically paced, allowing her emotions to linger long after the song finishes. But throughout her self-made career, the Toronto-born-and-raised singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist has developed a masterful ability to unpack modern lamentations with a sense of timelessness, captivating listeners across generations.
Don’t forget to check out our Big Bad List of Rad Ongoing Events right here!
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