Best Bay Area Events 8/25-9/7

Imagine a spaghetti-western soundtrack scored by a Brooklyn Bhangra drummer. Booming Punjabi dhol under twanging surf guitar. A Bollywood melody from the golden age of Hindi cinema from a howling alto jazz saxophone. That's Sunny Jain's Wild Wild East, the band that mesmerized viewers on NPR's Tiny Desk and KEXP - one of the most exhilarating live bands touring today. Songlines (UK) named it one of the best albums of 2020, deeming it "epic in every sense," and The New York Times described the title track as "furiously propulsive." 

You can buy tix here or enter below for a chance to win!

Scumdance Film Festival
8/29 | The Lost Church - San Francisco | 988 Columbus Ave, SF | 2 p.m. | $20.90

Scumdance is a celebration of the weirdest and wildest micro-budget films. A cinematic world dominated by punks, dirtbags, metalheads, wastoids and misfits - all united to unleash their unconventional creations on an unsuspecting audience!

State of Play
8/27-8/30 | ODC Theater | 3153 17th St, SF | 7 p.m. | $80+

State of Play invites you to join the creative process, presenting premieres and works in progress by dance artists from the Bay Area and across the US who push the limits of experimentation, risk, and curiosity.

Doc Martin | Miguel Migs | David Harness | Loft: DJ M3 & Friends
9/5 | The Great Northern | 119 Utah St, SF | 9:30 p.m. | $37.33+

Green Gorilla Lounge pulls up again at the Great Northern for another crazy night. Catch the legends Doc Martin, Miguel Migs, David Harness all night in the Main Room; and DJ M3 and AND MORE taking over the loft!

Tuesday 8/25

Noe Valley Night Market
8/25 | Noe Valley Town Square | 3861 24th St, SF | 4:30 p.m. | Free

We look forward to seeing everyone back in the Noe Valley Town Square for the August Night Market! Come join us for an evening of live music, local food, artists, shopping, and more!

Wednesday 8/26

San Francisco Chronicle presents: San Francisco Time Machine with Peter Hartlaub
8/26 | Gray Area/Grand Theater | 2665 Mission St, SF | 5:30 p.m. | $30.49

Culture critic Peter Hartlaub will get you as close to time travel as possible in a theater seat. You’ll venture back to the 1980s with former Mayor Art Agnos, detour to Muni’s colorful 1970s with Muni staff photographer and archivist Jeremy Menzies, and dive into the best of the Chronicle’s historic archive along the way.

Thursday 8/27

Castro Magazine Gala
8/27 | Public Works | 161 Erie St, SF | 9 p.m. | $14.52-$31.67

Castro Magazine returns to Public Works for the release of Issue No. 2, bringing together queer art, music, fashion, and nightlife for an unforgettable evening.

Friday 8/28

Shotz: MAXXING
8/28 | Eclectic Box SF | 446 Valencia St, SF | 7 p.m. | Donation ($30 suggested)

ShotzSF is dropping eight world-premiere short works so fresh the ink's still wet on the scripts.

Rhythm & Ruse! Live jazz. Classic burlesque. Vintage glamour with a wink.
8/28 | The Palace Theater | 644 Broadway, SF | 6 p.m. | $43.95+

Rhythm & Ruse is an immersive jazz cabaret experience featuring live music from Hella Fitzgerald and performances by some of the Bay Area and California's most celebrated burlesque artists.

Saturday 8/29

The Take-Off: A Queer Art Showcase
8/29 | The Stud | 1123 Folsom St, SF | 5 p.m. | $5-$40

The Take-Off is a queer art showcase centering visual artists and performers across disciplines, creating space for experimentation, visibility, and collective expression. Rooted in San Francisco’s lineage of radical queer creativity, this event exists to gather us in a time when collectivism matters most. Come as you are. Show up for the art. Show up for each other.

Customers Only - Art Show Upstairs @ Kilowatt
8/29 | Kilowatt | 3160 16th St, SF | 6 p.m. | $20, 21+

Art Show featuring 30+ artists in Kilowatt's upstairs lounge!

Nas and The Roots
8/29 | Shoreline Amphitheatre | 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View | 7:30 p.m. | $27.50+

Nas, The Roots, and De la Soul bring their A Great Night in Hip Hop tour to the Bay.

Sunday 8/30

Tom Kenny & the Hi Seas
8/30 | Bottom of the Hill | 1233 17th St, SF | 7 p.m. | $25.31

Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob) & the Hi-Seas headline an unforgettable night of Rock 'n' Soul with support from SF's harmony driver, Michael Michael Motorcycle and nautical garage rock opener, Cape Fury.

Monday 8/31

Mark Hummel's Blues All Stars
8/31 | Yoshi’s Oakland | 510 Embarcadero W, Oakland | 7:30 p.m. | $36.70-$31.10

Mark Hummel’s All-Stars is a high-caliber blues ensemble led by Grammy-nominated harmonica virtuoso Mark Hummel, featuring some of the most respected names in traditional blues.

Tuesday 9/1

Eagles of Death Metal
9/1 | The Fillmore | 1805 Geary Blvd, SF | 8 p.m. | $48

The band's music is characterized by a mix of rock genres, often described as a combination of bluegrass slide guitar and stripper drum beats. Their sound is intended to be humorous, and they have stated that they are not a death metal band, despite the name.

Wednesday 9/2

Stand-up Comedy at Mayes Oyster House
9/2 | Mayes Oyster House | 1233 Polk St, SF | 6:30 p.m. | Free

Stand-Up Comedy EVERY WEDNESDAY at Mayes Oyster House! Same-day sign-ups: Online via FB or in-person at 6:20 PM. Comedians get 5min or 7min with drink purchase (Non-alcoholic OK).

Thursday 9/3

Little Brown Dolls No More Exhibition Reception
9/3 | Koret Auditorium - SF Library | 100 Larkin St, SF | 6 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP

This exhibit pays reverence to Filipino boxers and their innovation to American boxing, a colonial import turned powerful expression of identity, resilience and resistance. The opening reception will feature music by Power Struggle and a cultural dance performance by Barangay Dance Company. A moderated conversation between Dr. Bernard James Remollino and Emmanuel Rivera of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society and Hall of Fame will follow.

Friday 9/4

Twelve String Roulette
9/4 | The Rite Spot Cafe | 2099 Folsom St, SF | 8 p.m. | $8

A Tin-pan Django-Classical Band in San Francisco, with a rotating roulette wheel of members and genres.

Castro Art Walk
9/4 | Castro District | 1800 Market St, SF | 5 p.m. | Free

Experience the collaboration between local artists and small businesses as they extend their hours and open their doors to showcase exceptional artwork. From traditional galleries to unique venues, each participating business offers a distinct creative perspective, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the Castro.

Saturday 9/5

Forever Grateful Exhibition
9/5 | San Francisco County Fair Building | 1199 9th Ave, SF | $39.19

A new immersive exhibition that will transform the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park into an immersive celebration of the music, art, and community that made the Grateful Dead a defining part of San Francisco's cultural identity.

DroneArt Show: Harry Potter™
9/5 | Oracle Park | 24 Willie Mays Plaza, SF | 6:15 p.m. | $34.11-$49.41

Watch 1,200 illuminated drones recreate your favorite characters and most beloved movie moments, synchronized with the legendary music from the soundtrack and dialogue from the films.

Sunday 9/6

Drag Bingo Brunch
9/6 | Saluhall | 945 Market St, SF | 12 p.m. | Free

Join us in person for an unforgettable day filled with laughter, dazzling performances, and exciting bingo games. It’s the perfect chance to mingle, enjoy some great vibes, and maybe even win some fun prizes!

Monday 9/7

Hiero Day
9/7 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 2 p.m. | $30.90-$111.24, All ages

It’s Heiro Day featuring Killer Mike, Mereba, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and more!

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