Best Bay Area Events 5/14-6/3
Summer Time in the MTZ
by Vanessa Gil, Arts & Events Editor
If you’ve never spent time in Downtown Martinez on a summer weekend, you’re missing out. Market & Main’s outdoor container bar is open right next door to Five Suns’ patio. Main Street is closed off and there’s live music inside and out of various venues. Cute little boutique shops are open, great little restaurants and an amazing small town vibe. You should really check it out sometime. Outside of Martinez, here’s what I’m most excited for the week of 5/14 and beyond.
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Our Partner’s Events
Hubba Hubba Revue: Post-Apocalypse
5/19 | DNA Lounge | 375 11th St, SF | 7 p.m. | $15-$35, 18+
Heads up, Wastelanders! Join San Francisco’s world-famous burlesque & variety show for the happiest end of the world ever! –with atomic tease, mutant mayhem, racy raiders, zombie hordes, and more!
Listen to this Week’s Spotify Playlist!
This Week’s Events 5/14-5/20
Tuesday 5/14
SF Game Development Meetup
5/14 | DNA Loung | 375 11th St, SF | 5:30 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP, 18+
In this session, The J.P Morgan Payments developer relations team will showcase how the Online Payments API allows you to seamlessly accept, process and settle payments from the large suite of supported payment methods. We’ll explore the extended capabilities like tools for fraud prevention, recurring payments and demonstrate how these features can help you improve authorization rates, secure transactions, and gain valuable insights into your payment flow.
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
Western Neighborhood Project’s 25th Birthday Bash w/ Peaches Christ
5/15 | 4 Star Theater | 2200 Clement St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $75-$125
Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) is celebrating its 25th birthday with a prom-themed event, featuring a must-see live recording of the “Outside Lands San Francisco” podcast with drag legend Peaches Christ and award-winning SFGATE reporter Amanda Bartlett!
Amaro: Uncover The Bitter Sweetness
5/15 | Bourbon & Branch | 501 Jones St, SF | 7 p.m. | $100, 21+
Get ready to dive into the world of Amaro, the bittersweet liqueur that’ll tantalize your taste buds. Discover the secrets behind this beloved Italian spirit as our expert mixologists guide you through a tasting journey like no other. From its rich history to the unique flavors and aromas, you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for Amaro.
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
ArtSpan’s Golden Benefit Auction
5/16-5/17 | Heron Arts | 7 Heron St, SF | 6:30 p.m. | $50-$1500
Join us for two in-person nights, paddle-raises, online bidding & more! ArtSpan’s SF Open Studios turns 50 this year! We invite you to join us for an exhilarating Auction that will kick-off our historic milestone year. Our 2024 Auction is a dynamic event honoring ArtSpan’s five decades of championing San Francisco Bay Area art and artists!
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
Sundown Cinema: Selena (Sing-Along)
5/17 | Dolores Park | Dolores St &, 19th St, SF | 6 p.m. | Free, All Ages
Bring your blankets picnic and sing-along to the true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts.
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
Baby Weight, Haute Mess, ShOOey, 8Ball, Brad Robinson, Deckard
5/18 | Monarch | 101 6th St, SF | 9 p.m. | $20
Baby Weight is a DJ, producer, and label boss from Washington, D.C. who has gained notoriety for her “chunky” style of dance music. Her genre bending sound, dynamic DJ sets, and advocacy for more inclusivity in dance music has earned the respect of peers like Walker & Royce, The Blessed Madonna, Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, DJ Sliink, LP Giobbi, VNSSA, Kevin Knapp, and Idris Elba among others.
Kickball(s) for Abortion Access
5/18 | Rossi Field | Arguello Blvd & Edward St, SF | 1 p.m. | $30-$100
The Democratic Socialists of America San Francisco chapter is hosting its first fundraiser for reproductive justice! Come out to Rossi Field in the Inner Richmond for a friendly kickball tournament, raffle, and bake sale all in support of expanding abortion access— players and non-players welcome! 100% of proceeds will be donated to Texas grassroots abortion access orgs Buckle Bunnies and the Frontera Fund.
San Francisco Housing Expo 2024
5/18 | Leola M. Havard Early Education School | 1520 Oakdale Ave, SF | 10 a.m. | Free
Homeownership SF’s Housing Expo is the largest annual affordable housing resource fair in San Francisco. This year’s event will include a series of live, online classes offered the evenings of May 14, 15, and 16 as well as a Resource Fair and Help Center held Saturday May 18.
Oaklash Block Party
5/18 | Old Oakland | 485 9th St, Oakland | 1 p.m. | $20-$50
Our 2024 festival features a full weekend of nonstop DRAG including live performance, DJs, vendors, and more! Kings, queens, and queers from all over the Bay Area and beyond will join together for this annual celebration of queer culture and art.
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
Islands By The Bay Festival
5/19 | Yerba Buena Gardens | 750 Howard St, SF | 12 p.m. | Free, All ages
The festival is a diverse culture-driven event that promotes collaboration and builds cultural bridges by presenting an array of Bay Area AAPI dance companies, musicians, speakers, comics, poets, public personalities and local politicians. With some 30 Bay Area vendors all showcasing AAPI culture and crafts, Islands by the Bay brings a joyous array of sights, sounds and tastes to the Gardens while offering scholarships in sports, music and dance.
Summertime Radness: Bay to Breakers Afterparty w/ Sunday Scaries
5/19 | Phoenix Hotel | 601 Eddy St, SF | 1 p.m. | $15-$25, 21+
Will Ezell and Alex Hein met online when Ezell was a student at the University of Mississippi and Hein was at the University of Southern California. They two became friends, bonded over music, and started collaborating remotely. Eventually Ezell moved to Los Angeles so they could pursue Sunday Scaries, their EDM dance band, together in-person.
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.
We Three: The Love Me Tour
5/19 | Cornerstone | 2367 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $26-$111
We Three the Oregon alt-pop trio – siblings Manny, Bethany and Joshua Humlie – have already built a passionate global fanbase with their anthemic, emotive and life-affirming songs.We Three has built a reputation for singing sensitively and insightfully about difficult topics including mental health issues.
Monday 5/20
Jurassic Drag
5/20-5/21 | Brava Theater | 2781 24th St, SF | 10 p.m. | $39
Jurassic Drag is part musical spectacular, part old-fashioned variety show with one awe-inspiring surprise for audiences: dinosaurs still roam the earth, and they’re talented to boot. Starring Sherry Vine, Jackie Beat, Coco Peru, Varla Jean Merman, and hosted by a to-be-announced superstar, our Jurassic specimens will impress with stunning feats of song, dance, and comedy.
Offsite: R.O. Kwon with Ingrid Rojas Contreras Exhibit Launch Party
5/20 | Verdi Club | 2424 Mariposa St, SF | 6 p.m. | $30.42-$50
Join us for the launch party celebrating R.O. Kwon’s highly-anticipated second novel, EXHIBIT! This is a special, pre-publication launch of Exhibit featuring a reading by R.O. Kwon, a conversation between Kwon and Ingrid Rojas Contreras, and a signing line to follow.
Charlotte Day Wilson
5/20 | 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.
The Week of 5/21-5/27
Tuesday, 5/21
Kathleen Hanna & Brontez Purnell
5/21 | Sydney Goldstein Theater | 275 Hayes St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $49
Rock trailblazer Kathleen Hanna, front-woman of the bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, takes the stage alongside prolific Oakland-based literary bad-boy and performer Brontez Purnell for an electric night of conversation about their unapologetic new memoirs, their influential stripes of rebellious artistry, and the essence of punk.
Wednesday, 5/22
San Francisco Ballet School’s Spring Festival
5/22-5/24 | Blue Shield Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts | 700 Howard St, SF | 6 p.m. | $29-$68 Performance only
Join San Francisco Ballet School as we welcome and celebrate School Director Grace Holmes, an alumna of SF Ballet School and company, at the SF Ballet School 2024 Spring Festival. Held at the Blue Shield Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts this year’s event will include three evenings of SF Ballet School ON STAGE performances, and a fundraising dinner on Wednesday.
Gladiator Live—Film w/ Live Orchestra
5/22-5/23 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $69-$199
Relive this five-time Academy Award-winning epic on the big screen while the Symphony and Chorus performs Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s iconic score.
Thursday, 5/23
Jacob Collier, w/ special guest Kimbra
5/23 | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | 99 Grove St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $49.50
Recognized by audiences, critics and fellow musicians alike as one of the most gifted young artists of modern times, 29-year-old Jacob Collier already boasts a seemingly endless list of achievements including five Grammy wins. His roster of collaborators is astoundingly varied and vibrant, recording and performing with UK music icons.
Friday, 5/24
Jay Pharoah
5/24-5/26 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $32.25-$47.25
Actor and comedian Jay Pharoah is one of the industry’s most highly-anticipated leading men. Best known for his his spot-on impressions, Pharoah spent six seasons as a cast member on NBC’s SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
BottleRock Napa Valley 2024
5/24-5/26 | Napa Valley Expo | 575 3rd St, Napa | 12 p.m. | $233-$243
This year’s music festival includes Meg Thee Stallion, Stevie Nicks, Pear Jam, and so many more!
Saturday, 5/25
Steve Aoki
5/25 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 2 p.m. | $45-$199, 21+
Catch Steve Aoki and Lil Jon live in the Heavenly Hell Tour!
Sunday, 5/26
25th Anniversary Stone Soul Concert
5/26 | Toyota Pavilion at Concord | 2000 Kirker Pass Rd, Concord | 12 p.m. | $59.75-$199.75
A night of all the soul from Charlie Wilson to Keith Sweat, El DeBarge to Montell Jordan, and don’t forget Big Daddy Kane!
Monday, 5/27
Shit Kickin’ Memorial Day
5/27 | El Rio | 3158 Mission St, SF | 2 p.m. | $15-$25
Headlining the event is the incomparable Mitch Polzak & The Royal Deuces, bringing their high-octane brand of Country Roots and unparalleled showmanship to the El Rio stage. Joined by special guest Margaret Belton!
Memorial Day @ The USS Hornet
5/27 | USS Hornet | 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda | 11 a.m. | Free for Veterans, $20
Commemorate Memorial Day on the USS Hornet.
Week of 5/28-6/3
Tuesday 5/28
Avril Lavigne
5/28 | Shoreline Ampitheatre | 2940 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View | 7 p.m. | $39.50-$149.50
Hey! Hey! You! You! Avril’s coming to town to play her greatest hits.
Music & Dance Climate VoteFest
5/28 | Freight & Salvage | 2020 Addison St, Berkeley | 7 p.m. | $20/advance, $25/door
Local artists and East Bay activists are coming together to host a Music & Dance Climate VoteFest. We will use the emotion and power of performance to get more people engaged. Local organizations will be sharing ways to get involved to make a difference for environmental justice and getting out the vote for the upcoming 2024 election!
Miranda July
5/28 | Sydney Goldstein Theater | 275 Hayes St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $49
Author and creator Miranda July isn’t bound by medium nor by expectations. From films like Me and You and Everyone We Know and Kajillionaire, to books like No One Belongs Here More Than You and The First Bad Man, to an iPhone app that reroutes text messages to strangers, July’s powers of creativity and observation are wise, surprising, and always delightful.
Wednesday 5/29
Maren Morris: RSVP Redux Tour
5/29 | The Masonic | 1111 California St, SF | 8 p.m. | $36.50-$96.50
Rooted in the country genre, Maren Morris’ music blends elements of pop, R&B, and hip hop.
The Cancelled Podcast Tour w/ Tana Mongeau & Brooke Schofield
5/29 | San Jose Improv | 62 S Second St, SJ | 8 p.m. | $40-$150, 21+
Acting as a natural evolution of her acclaimed “storytime” videos, The Cancelled Podcast Tour with Tana Mongeau and Brooke Schofield offers an intimate look at Mongeau, her meteoric rise to superstardom, and the unavoidable moments of vulnerability that make this cyber-personality all the more human.
Thursday 5/30
Tyler Henry—The Hollywood Medium
5/30 | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts | 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa | 7:30 p.m. | $149
Entertainment’s mega hit television show Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry, continues his sold-out national tour, An Evening of Hope and Healing,” in which Tyler explains how he communicates with the other side, gives live audience readings, and answers audience questions. Tyler’s accurate personal readings of audience members often bring others to tears, giving them proof, hope and understanding that “our loved ones never really leave us.”
Maria Bamford
5/30 | San Jose Improv | 62 S Second St, SJ | 8 p.m. | $25-$85, 21+
Maria Bamford’s stand-up work often uses self-deprecating and dark topics, including her dysfunctional family, depression, anxiety, suicide, and mental illness.
Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture Art Walk Spring 2024
5/30 | Fort Mason Center | 2 Marina Blvd, SF | 5 p.m. | Free
The Art Walk features pop-up artist and curator talks across campus; a new exhibition, an opening reception, a live performance, and an art workshop in Landmark Building C; an outdoor painting commission in the public art corridor between Landmark Buildings B and C; and a public art commission at Landmark Building B, the Gateway Pavilion at Pier 2, and the Festival Pavilion at Pier 3.
Friday 5/31
Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy
5/31-6/1 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $87-$186
The SF Symphony and Chorus perform the music of FINAL FANTASY led by Grammy Award-winner Arnie Roth. HD video projected onto giant screens combined with the unforgettable scores from FINAL FANTASY XIV, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, and all 35+ years of games make this concert a multimedia event not to be missed.
Carnival Takeover & Alameda County Community Food Bank Spring Event
5/31 | Oakland Museum of California | 1000 Oak St, Oakland | 5 p.m. | Free
In celebration of the vibrant cultures of the Bay Area, the night starts at the Garden Stage with a Soca Meets Samba Dance Workshop, a fun, all-levels, all-ages dance class highlighting some of the most popular moves from each genre.
Towards Opulence, the Opera
5/31-6/2 | Dance Mission Theater | 3316 24th St, SF | 8 p.m. | $20-$100
Towards Opulence, the Opera is part of an ongoing act of creative resistance and imaginative reclamation. Skywatchers believe that Tenderloin residents — and other marginalized people — are the truth tellers of our society, akin to the mythical Cassandras. By breathing life into often overlooked or discredited truths, we remember our interdependence and expose the roots of power and oppression. Towards Opulence invites us to conjure and claim our most audacious and glorious selves and step into a future where we truly belong to each other.
Saturday 6/1
La Onda Festival
6/1-6/2 | Napa Valley Expo | 575 3rd St, Napa | 12 p.m. | $209+
La Onda by BottleRock lands in the heart of Napa Valley for its inaugural year on June 1-2, 2024. Don’t miss out on the largest Latin festival in Northern California featuring incredible performances by Maná, Fuerza Regida, Alejandro Fernández, Junior H + more!
Heels for Hope: A Variety Show Fundraiser for Maitri
6/1 | Marines’ Memorial Theatre | 609 Sutter St, SF | 5 p.m. | $50-$100
Kick off Pride Month with Maitri for a Variety Show to raise funds for compassionate care for people living with HIV/AIDS and those recovering from gender-affirming surgeries! Hosted by former Miss Gay SF and the 30th elected Empress of SF, SF living legend Donna Sachet, this will be a night of amazing talent featuring Allison Hooker, Caleb Sasser, and Fou Fou Ha!
Taking Back Sunday w/ Citizen
6/1 | The Warfield | 982 Market St, SF | 8 p.m. | $49.95-$89.95
They’ve been making music together as a band for more than 20 years, have sold millions of albums—and along the way, amassed a devoted, international fan base. This unrelenting pursuit of greatness lies at the heart of 152, Taking Back Sunday’s long awaited, thrilling eighth studio album. Written and refined over the course of several years, it’s a passionate, melody-infused confessional from a band forever known for its honesty and vulnerability.
Pride Pour 2024
6/1 | Terra Gallery | 511 Harrison St, SF | 4 p.m. | $175-$50,000, 21+
Join LYRIC for an intentional celebration of queer joy, resilience, and the power of community all while enjoying delicious wines from some of the top wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Attendees can look forward to wine tastings, including non-alcoholic options, from a cornucopia of wineries and enjoy delectable heavy hors d’oeuvres all while raising money to invest in LGTBQQ+ youth in the Bay Area.
46th Union Street Festival, Kicking-off Summer in the City
6/1-6/2 | Union Street | Union Street from Gough to Steiner, SF | 11 a.m. | Free, All ages
Get ready to kick-start your summer in the heart of the city with two days of feel-good vibes and unforgettable attractions. Discover handcrafted arts and crafts from West Coast’s top designers, indulge on the Bay Area’s best food trucks and vendors, and sip while you stroll enjoying handcrafted cocktails and top shelf beer, wine, spiked seltzer and non-alcholic drinks including Watermelon Mint Cooler.
Sunday 6/2
Lynne Kaufman’s Extreme Acts
6/2 | The Marsh – San Francisco | 1062 Valencia St, SF | 5 p.m. | $28-$103
EXTREME ACTS is comprised of 2 one-act plays. I AM HERE dramatizes the path of a performance artist as she challenges the limits of endurance in life and love. I WITNESS examines the aftermath of an assault that forever alters the lives of both the accuser and the accused. Both plays explore encounters with the unknown.
Monday 6/3
Kings Kaleidoscope
6/3 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $35-$45
Kings Kaleidoscope’s music features an eclectic range of electronic, woodwind, string and brass instruments, with a musical style described as indie rock meets hip hop production with a sprinkle of Disney.
Don’t forget to check out our Big Bad List of Rad Ongoing Events right here!
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