Best Bay Area Events 7/23-8/12
Don’t Miss Lady Starbeast!
by Vanessa Gil, Arts & Events Editor
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… you should see Lady Starbeast live. You have a chance this Thursday at the Ivy Room as the duo, of Ilana and Marc Martell, become a trio with the addition of MJ (Tektonic, Midcourse Correction) on drums. Tektonic and Agness Twins round out the lineup for the evening. Come by, say hi! Here’s what else I’m excited for the week of 7/23 and beyond.
Our Partners Events
Gorgon City Block Party
7/27 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 3 p.m. | $50-$149.95, 21+
Gorgon City Block Party at The Midway with special guest Bob Moses (Club Set) + Ross From Friends, Shermanology, Azzecca, Riordan, Jackie Hollander, + more. Find out more here.
SF Literary Magazine Release Party
7/28 | Jack Kerouac Alley | 257 Columbus Ave, S | 2 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP
In case you haven’t heard, we just put out an incredible literary magazine called The Dreams I Dreamt: Letters to San Francisco. We’re giving out FREE copies plus, we’re buying beer for the first 200 people. Find out more and RSVP right here.
Listen to This Week’s Spotify Playlist
Listen to this week’s playlist so you can sample upcoming bands and comedians listed in this newsletter.
This Week’s Events 7/23-7/29
Tuesday, 7/23
Joe Pera: The PERAs Tour
7/23 | Palace of Fine Arts | 3301 Lyon St, SF | 8 p.m. | $35-$45
Joseph Pera is an American comedian, writer and actor. He is best known as the creator and star of Adult Swim’s Joe Pera Talks with You, which entered development following the success of the 2016 specials Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep, and ran for three seasons.
John Legend: A Night Of Songs & Stories w/ The SF Symphony
7/23 & 7/24 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $199-$599
This special performance will feature songs and stories with 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend, alongside the San Francisco Symphony. Experience intimate reimaginings of his greatest hits, unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career, and selections from his most recent release LEGEND.
Wednesday, 7/24
UNICORN, Bi/Pan Femme Comedy – By Safe Words Queer Comedy Showcase
7/24 | SF Eagle | 398 12th St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | Pay what you can/$15-$25 suggested
Join us this July for UNICORN, bisexual femme comedy! We’re welcoming back the incredible Emily Van Dyke, headlining for the first time since releasing her hour-long special Feeling Myself. Our lineup also features the hilarious Ashley Monique, the sharp-witted Adrianna McCain, the delightful Ivy Vasquez, and the ever-entertaining Natasha Vinik.
Chelsea F.C. vs. Wrexham AFC
7/24 | Levi’s Stadium | 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara | 7 p.m. | $66+
Chelsea F.C. is one of the most successful and storied soccer teams in the world. Nicknamed “The Blues,” the West London based club has captured 6 Premier League titles and won the UEFA Champions League trophy twice, most recently in 2021. Chelsea F.C. has a star-studded roster including midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, Forward Raheem Sterling, and Defender Reece James.
Pallbearer
7/24 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $25-$29
While the band’s earlier work established them as a hit makers in the doom metal genre, specifically for their now classic debut, Sorrow and Extinction, Pallbearer have since shown their eclectic metal and rock influences which range from progressive metal, stoner rock, grunge, and even hints of death metal.
Thursday, 7/25
Agness Twin w/ Lady Starbeast & Tektonic
7/25 | Ivy Room | 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany | 8 p.m. | $10, 21+
Agness Twin is a project that goes back to the late ’90s San Francisco underground music scene with Elisa Ovrahim as the front woman. Defying traditional genre and embodying idiosyncrasy, Oakland-based dark pop artists Ilana and Marc Martell join forces to form the project Lady Starbeast. Ilana is the songwriter and vocalist; Marc creates the instrumentation; and together they record and produce.
2024 DIVA Extravaganza
7/25-7/27 | Lost Church SF | 988 Coumbus Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. Doors | $28.52+
It’s time to heat up San Francisco with some delectable DIVAs during the 2024 DIVA Extravaganza! Join us at The Lost Church on July 25, 26 and 27 for fun and flirty evenings with three uniquely themed shows at the Lost Church’s sultriest festival! 
Barbie The Movie: In Concert™
7/25 | Shoreline Amphitheatre | One Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View | 8 p.m. | $25-$99.50
Barbie The Movie: In Concert™ is a live-to-film concert experience produced by Overture Global Entertainment that will bring Warner Bros. Pictures’ feature film Barbie—Mattel Film’s first theatrical production—to life with live music from The Barbie Land Sinfonietta, a special presentation from Orchestrator and Executive Producer Macy Schmidt’s all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra.
Flow World Tour – Anime Shibari 2024-2025
7/25 | San Jose Civic Center | 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose | 8 p.m. | $50
Japanese rock band Flow, known for countless anime song contributions, has announced the band’s largest-ever and first five-continent tour in its history: “Flow World Tour – Anime Shibari 2024-2025”. The tour title “Anime Shibari”, meaning “Anime-only” in Japanese, denotes that they will only perform the numerous songs that Flow has contributed to Japanese animation. Many of Flow’s most popular songs will be performed, including songs from “Naruto,” “Code Geass,” “Dragon Ball Z” and more.
Greg Koch ft. Koch Marshall Trio
7/25 | Cornerstone | 2367 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $21-$25, All ages
Guitar great Steve Vai, who released Koch’s 2001 album The Grip on his own Favored Nations label, heaped praise on his fellow guitarist: “Greg Koch is one of those rare guitarists that can blend various styles with a light-hearted approach and a tremendous amount of technique. Hearing him play is inspiring to a guitar player to try to achieve greatness on the instrument.”
Kinky Dirty Talk w/ Tina Horn
7/25 | Good Vibrations Polk | 1620 Polk St, SF | 5 p.m. | $20
Join professional smack talker Tina Horn as we share basic tools for great dirty talk and discuss the importance of desire and boundary communication for kinky play. You will gain something from this class whether or not you identify as kinky and/or queer, and regardless of your gender.
65th Ever Bay Area Pun-Off
7/25 | Rickshaw Stop | 155 Fell St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $25
The Bay Area Pun-Off is a bi-monthly sold-out San Francisco comedy staple: holding together a diverse community of wordplayers and countless unfortunate bystanders (and sitters). Bolstered by groans, eye rolls, and the ever-sought-after double-handed facepalm, we enter our 7th year with equal parts ironic triumph and gleeful apology.
Friday, 7/26
Sasha
7/26 | The Great Northern | 119 Utah St, SF | 9:30 p.m. | $30, 21+
North Wales native Sasha became one of the world’s most renowned and popular DJs, known for populist fusions of house, techno, and trance.
Pretty In Kink
7/26 | Public Works | 161 Erie St, SF | 10 p.m. | $25-$55
Kick off your Dore Weekend with the GlamCocks at Public Works for another edition of Pretty in Kink, where glam meets kink in an electrifying blend of queer joy, sexy beats, and untamed creativity!
Friday Nights at OMCA w/ The Whoadees
7/26 | Oakland Museum of California | 1000 Oak St, Oakland | 4 p.m. | Free
July’s final addition to Friday Nights at OMCA brings The Whoadees to the Garden stage! Self-described as “a gumbo of styles and sounds from around the globe including roots sounds of world music, Hip Hop, funk, and jazz,” the Whoadees stay true to their Bay Area roots by bringing a fusion of multiple genres to the mix inspiring you to dance or simply close your eyes and be filled with soulful sounds.
Saturday, 7/27
West Oakland Matters
7/27 | 7th West | 1255 7th St, Oakland | 3 p.m. | Free
The historic and often maligned neighborhood of West Oakland is set to host a captivating art and advocacy event that calls attention to the neighborhood’s rich but endangered cultural heritage. Curated to highlight the significance of art in amplifying voices and economic vibrancy, “West Oakland Matters” spotlights how residents, long familiar with resistance and resilience, are committed to playing a role in the area’s revitalization.
X-FOLX: Artists of the Atom
7/27 | Hella Positive | 1606 7th St, Oakland | 4 p.m. | Free
Join opening night as 16 mutartists band together to entertain a world that hates and fears them, creating paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints & more. Come see all the uncanny art showing love to the world of the X-Men.
Celebration: Why I Ride: Low and Slow, Film Screening and Lowrider Party
7/27 | SF Public Library, Koret Auditorium | 100 Larkin St, SF | 2 p.m. | Free
Join us for a day packed with excitement, including members of the San Francisco Lowrider Council with cars, music from DJ Wray Velez of the Frisco Gang Vinyl Collective, button-making, book give-away and concludes with a film screening with a filmmaker discussion.
Parks4All: Brewfest 2024
7/27 | Civil War Parade Ground – Presidio | Graham St, SF | 12 p.m. | $50
Step into an afternoon of joy at the Presidio of San Francisco, where you’re invited to savor delightful brews from local breweries while supporting outdoor recreation right on the Civil War Parade Grounds, nestled next to the scenic Presidio Tunnel Tops.
SF Live: Sudan Archives
7/27 | Crane Cove Park | 18th St & Illinois St, SF | 12 p.m. | Free, All ages
As Sudan Archives, Brittney Parks has combined left-field strains of R&B, hip-hop, and experimental electronic music with hypnotic string loops and the fiddling style of West Africa, as heard on her critically acclaimed album Natural Brown Prom Queen (2022).
J. Espinosa
7/27 | Temple | 540 Howard St, SF | 10 p.m. | Free before 11 w/ RSVP, 21+
J. Espinosa is a highly skilled DJ known for his party-rocking style and unwavering dedication to his craft. In addition to his impressive list of accomplishments, J. Espinosa remains the Red Bull 3Style World Champion. With his diverse musical repertoire and precision mixing skills, J. Espinosa never fails to leave the dance floor shaking. Whether it’s hip-hop, R&B, dance music, or any other genre, J. Espinosa’s champion sound is sure to get the party started.
History of the Bay Podcast
7/27 | Brick & Mortar Music Hall | 1710 Mission St, SF | 8 p.m. | $15-$100
Welcome to ‘History of the Bay,’ the ultimate podcast delving into the vibrant world of Bay Area culture, hosted by rapper and graffiti artist Dregs One. Dregs explores the Bay’s roots through conversations with rappers, DJs, producers, street artists, journalists, designers, photographers, activists and more. ‘History of the Bay’ shines a spotlight on the people who have made a global impact from San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Richmond, and beyond.
Sunday, 7/28
Lake Street Dive
7/28 | Greek Theatre | 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley | 5:30 p.m. Doors | $49.50-$59.50, All ages
As a band, Lake Street Dive epitomizes democracy in action: the group, expanded into a quintet since touring keyboardist Akie Bermiss officially joined in 2017, share writing and arrangement duties. Their personalities, skills, and wide-ranging taste in pop, rock, R&B, and jazz have long blended together to make an impressively cohesive sound, both sophisticated and playful, combining retro influences with contemporary attitude.
Monday, 7/29
Gossip
7/29 | The UC Theatre | 2036 University Ave, Berkeley |8 p.m. | $52.02
Real Power, pioneering Northwest trio Gossip’s first album since 2012, finds Beth Ditto, Nathan Howdeshell and Hannah Blilie back together and reunited with super producer Rick Rubin, who helmed their 2009 opus Music For Men.The result is a comeback of magnum force that celebrates the galvanizing might of music, the joy of creative expression, and the power of chosen family in the aftermath of collective and personal trauma.
The Week of 7/30-8/5
Tuesday 7/30
7/30 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 8 p.m. | $25/advance, $28/doorArushi Jain is a modular synthesist, singer, producer, radio host and engineer with an unorthodox vision of a centuries-old tradition – one that’s electronic and resolutely DIY. Her compositions are inspired by Hindustani classical ragas, explored in an aesthetic that is contemporary and current.
7/30 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7 p.m. | $30.25Binchtopia podcast hosts Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb guide you through our current cultural hellscape, share sociological and psychological perspectives on pop culture, and deconstruct everything you’ve ever loved. Come have a laugh with us through the end times of late stage capitalism!
7/31 | El Rio | 3158 Mission St, SF | 8 p.m. | $15 suggested donationJoin us to experience the extraordinary power of music, raise vibrations, and change our City together. VIBE SHIFT with performances by indie rock icon, Kelley Stoltz, and with jammin’ cover band, The Barney’s.
Thursday 8/1
Downtown First Thursdays
8/1 | 2nd St between Market & Howard St, SF | 5 p.m. | Free, All ages
DFT is a FREE street party bringing live music, all-ages activities, DJs, drag, outdoor bars, food trucks, and the biggest disco ball west of the Mississippi to 2nd Street is back and the August 1st edition of DFT will feature a DJ set by Special Guest Performer Vandelux as part of an Outside Lands Warm-Up presented by Another Planet Entertainment from 7-9pm on Howard and 2nd Street.
Patton Oswalt
8/1-8/3 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7 p.m. | $50.25
A comedian, actor, and writer, Patton Oswalt continues to find success in all areas of entertainment. From his Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated comedy specials to his many memorable film roles and guest appearances on his favorite TV shows, Oswalt continues to choose work that inspires him and entertain audiences.
DJ Qbert
8/1 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $27-$30
DJ QBert, born Richard Quitevis, is widely regarded as the most highly skilled skratching dj that has walked this planet. His long-standing career of innovating the DJ culture has set off a worldwide generation of DJs who are now regarded as musicians and not just DJs that play records, from A-Trak to C2C to Z-Trip; they would testify to DJ QBert’s influence in their sound and successful careers.
The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, & Carly Simon
8/1 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $35-$275
Experience the unforgettable songs of three of the most influential and iconic artists of the last 50 years as the SF Symphony performs the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon, curated by Ted Sperling. Together with guest vocalists, the Symphony presents a journey through the heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies that have shaped generations.
Friday 8/2
Ben Schwartz & Friends
8/2 | The Masonic | 1111 California St, SF | 8 p.m. | $49.50-$74.50
Ben Schwartz & Friends is an improv comedy show that features Ben Schwartz and other improvisers, including Eugene Cordero, Brandon Scott Jones, and Jess McKenna. At the start of each show, Schwartz asks an audience member a question to inspire an hour of improv.
Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS world tour
8/2 & 8/3 | Chase Center | 1 Warriors Way, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $49.50-$199.50
Multi-platinum, three-time Grammy award-winning artist Olivia Rodrigo announced her highly anticipated GUTS world tour. Following the incredible success of her 2022 debut tour The SOUR Tour, the GUTS world tour will be Olivia’s first arena tour.
Yeah, Whatever – Smooth Comedy for a Rough Era
8/2 | Gilman Brewing Company | 912 Gilman St, Berkeley | 7:30 p.m. Doors | $10
Join host Micheal Foulk (Queer Film Theory 101) for a monthly stand-up comedy night to take the edge off. Things are bad, but comedy and beer are good so join us at Gilman Brewing in Berkeley for a little relief.
Saturday 8/3
Jack London Brewing District Block Party 2024
8/3 | 5th St between Harrison & Alice St, Oakland | 12 p.m. | $40-$60, 21+
Ready to explore Oakland’s buzzing craft beer scene? Swing by the Brewing District of Jack London for a taste of the action! It’s indie breweries galore, all packed into one waterfront neighborhood. This isn’t a typical beer festival: it’s a collaboration and celebration of all the breweries in the neighborhood that only features beer made here in Oakland.
Salesforce Park Rooftop Rhythms with Christian Kuria
8/3 | Salesforce Park | 425 Mission St, SF | 1 p.m. | $20, All ages
Noise Pop and TJPA present Rooftop Rhythms at Salesforce Park, featuring Christian Kuria and special guests! A Vallejo, California native, Christian is a celebrated producer, songwriter, and recording artist whose music has garnered over 180 million streams globally.
The Aquabats!
8/3 | The UC Theatre | 2036 Univeristy Ave, Berkeley | 7 p.m. | $38.50
Since their formation in 1994 in Orange County, The Aquabats have been punk rock’s superheroes, dedicated to injecting harmless fun into a music scene that often took itself too seriously. The band was established with a unique vision that includes their iconic Paul Frank-designed “power belts,” trademark rash guards, black eye masks, and “anti-negativity” helmets, along with entertaining onstage antics. This distinctive approach quickly gained traction, earning The Aquabats a fiercely loyal following that spans multiple generations.
SF Bondage Ball
8/3 | Public Works | 161 Erie St, SF | 9:30 p.m. | $25-$40, 21+
Prepare to lose your inhibitions and be completely immersed in this palace of guilty pleasures.
Monster Jam
8/3 & 8/4| Oakland Arena | 7000 S Coliseum Way,Oakland | 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. | $29.50+
Enjoy big-time family fun at Monster Jam®, where the world’s best drivers and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. Witness massive stunts, big-air, backflips and fierce head-to-head battles for the Event Championship. You’ll be on the edge of your seat watching the world’s most popular trucks like Grave Digger®, Max-D™, Megalodon® and more push the limits in Freestyle, Skills and Racing competitions.
Sunday 8/4
Dweezil Zappa
8/4 | The Warfield | 982 Market St, SF | 8 p.m. | $39.95-$99.95
A Grammy-winning guitarist, Dweezil has left an indelible mark on the music industry with over 2000 concerts performed worldwide. Known for his masterful performances and deep connection to his father’s music, he’s returning to concert stages in 2024 for the first time since the 2020 Hot Ratz Live! Tour, continuing to guide fans through the thrilling and sophisticated world of his father’s music.
Monday 8/5
Jhené Aiko
8/5 | Chse Center | 1 Warriors Way, SF | 7 p.m. | $151+
A Los Angeles native, Jhené Aiko has remained at the forefront of a new wave of contemporary R&B for more than a decade. She is known for experimenting with a range of styles – incorporating sound healing, modern mantra, and the use of crystal alchemy sound bowls in her music.
The Week of 8/6-8/12
Tuesday 8/6
The Untime
Now-8/25 | 514 Fourth Street Theatre, San Rafael | 7:30 p.m. | $15-$40
Jon Tracy and Nick Musleh team up to conceive a new play echoing the story of Macbeth, that rips open the fabric of war and explores how we are all interwoven into its past, present and future.
Wednesday 8/7
8/7 | Yoshi’s Oakland | 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland | 7:30 p.m. Doors | $64-$109Jose Feliciano is recognized as the first Latin Artist to effectively cross over into the English music market, opening the doors for other artists who now play an important role in the American music industry.
Thursday 8/8
Xena: Warrior Parody
8/8-8/10, 8/15-8/17 | Eclectic Box SF | 446 Valencia St, SF | 7 p.m. | $23.18
A drag send-up of the classic TV series starring one of the Greatest Queer Heroes of all time!
8/8 | The Independent | 628 Divisadero St, SF | 8 p.m. | $29.50, All agesAmen Dunes, the project of Damon McMahon, was born out of a collection of songs made in the fall of 2006 in upstate New York. He has written elemental songs about time, love and memory, as much about the listener as they are about the writer: pure, open, and beautiful.
8/8 | Freight & Salvage | 2020 Addison St, Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $30/advance, $35/doorStep into the unique world of SE:UM, a fusion of jazz and Korean traditional virtuosos who united through the pulsating beats of ancient folk tunes and shamanistic rhythms.
8/8 | The Curran | 445 Geary St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $39.50-$175Hilarious and moving, Thank You for Listening adapts tales from Ari Shapiro’s best-selling memoir, The Best Strangers In the World, into an evening of stories and songs about the power of listening to forge connections. Audiences will leave feeling more hopeful about the world around them…and may never listen to All Things Considered quite the same way again.
Friday 8/9
Outside Lands 2024
8/9-8/11 | Golden Gate Park, SF | 11 a.m. | $226.20+, All ages
This year’s headliners include, Sabrina Carpenter, The Killers, Sturgill Simpson, and so many more!
8/9 | The Masonic | 1111 California St, SF | 7 p.m. | $39.50-$99.50Tim Minchin is an Australian composer/lyricist, musician, comedian, actor, writer, producer and director. His setlist will be fluid and the shows will have more of an unplanned intimate ‘evening with’ vibe as Tim chats about his songwriting and performs songs drawn from his 2020 studio album, Apart Together, his musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day, his TV and film writing and from his early song-writing days around the turn of the century.
Rich Medina, Epik, DJ Platurn
8/9 | Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission St, SF | 9 p.m. | $20-$30
For the past two decades, Rich Medina has cemented his reputation as an elite DJ, one of few on the planet capable of taking audiences worldwide on a sonic journey through hip-hop, house, soul, afrobeat, funk, breaks and dance classics.
Saturday 8/10
DJ Pauly D
8/10 | Temple | 540 Howard St, SF | 10 p.m. | $30, 21+
Known for his dynamic sets and magnetic stage presence, Pauly D will be spinning the hottest beats to keep the party going all night long. This event promises to be unforgettable.
Jake Peavy & friends, Tim Flannery, Jackie Greene, Duane Trucks, Kevin Scott
8/10 | August Hall | 420 Mason St, SF | 8 p.m. | $35-$200, All ages
Join Jake Peavy and friends for a Benefit for The Giants Community Fund.
Megadeth – Destroy All Enemies Tour
8/10 | Toyota Pavilion at Concord | 2000 Kirker Pass Rd, Concord | 6:30 p.m. | $29.50-$79.50
Megadeth in concert with along Mudvayne and All That Remains.
KMEL Summer Jam 2024
8/10 | Oakland Arena | 7000 S Coliseum Way, Oakland | 8 p.m. | $108+
See the Ambassador of the Bay, E-40, along with performances by Jeezy, JT, 4BATZ, 310Babii, LaRussell, BossMan Dlow + DaBoyDame & Friends!
Sunday 8/11
Pony Bradshaw
8/11 | The Chapel | 777 Valencia St, SF | 8 p.m. | $20-$24, All ages
On his new album North Georgia Rounder, Pony Bradshaw leads the listener on an exploration of the woods, rivers, and mountains of Appalachia, more specifically, the area for which the album is named and he’s called home for the past 15 years. The sonic excursion includes stops along the Conasauga River, visits to the holler, and a few diversions—nearby Knoxville plays a supporting role, as do Louisiana and Arkansas. It’s an impressionistic journey of introspection and connection all at once.
Doug Loves Movies LIVE Podcast Recording
8/11 | Rooster T Feathers | 157 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale | 4:20 p.m. | $25
Comedian Doug Benson hosts a podcast where he talks to his hilarious special surprise comedian guests about his first love…movies! To have a chance at winning some prizes, bring a movie themed name tag!
Monday 8/12
8/12 | The UC Theatre | 2036 University Ave, Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $51-$453.50, All ages
Tuareg nomads and cowboy drifters. Camel trains and mustang horses. The timeless horizon of the endless Sahara and the wild frontier of the Old West-and when the day is done, guitars around the campfire, singing songs of loss and longing and ‘home on the range’.Several thousand miles of ocean may divide the desert blues of Tinariwen and the authentic country music of rural America, but the links are as palpable as they are romantic.
Don’t forget to check out our Big Bad List of Rad Ongoing Events right here!
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