Jeremiah Lockwood

Tonight is not only the final night of the Festival of Lights (Chanukkah), but also the the final night of the pop-up Tikva Records store. For those of you who have never heard of Tikva Records, they were a Jewish label that disbanded more than 30 years ago. (Here’s a cool little article about the label from NPR.)

And so, the Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation is holding the last of a series of live music events to celebrate the season, hosted by Jeremiah Lockwood of Sway Machinery and (one of my personal faves) the Balkan Beat Box, and featuring a couple of unbelievable guests: Ethan Miller (Howlin’ Rain, Comets on Fire) and — hold onto your hats — Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, The Black Crowes)!

The truly amazing thing about this event is that it’s absolutely free! But tickets are limited, so register/RSVP very, very soon! Here are the details:

Who:  Jeremiah Lockwood; Ethan Miller; Luther Dickinson

What:  Mystical Lights of the Guitar Night 2

Where:  Tikva Records Pop-Up Store, 3191 Mission St.

When:  7 p.m. — 8 p.m. only!

Anything else?:  Doors open 15 minutes before show (i.e. 6:45 p.m.). Also, this is very limited admission, so reserve your tickets soon! The ticketing site is closing down at 6 p.m.! And, finally, the event is being held at the Queens Nails Projects space, which is basically a performance artist space. This is in the Mission District, so parking may be tricky; plan accordingly.

Gaucho

‘Tis the season…to get your gypsy on! Local favorites Gaucho are holding down the fort at Amnesia during their weekly fete, featuring killer tunes and strong drinks — all for no cover! Joining them for the evening’s festivities will be Dink Dink Dink and Michael Abraham. So, put on your dancing shoes and hottest steampunk outfit, and head over for an evening that is spectacularly San Franciscan! Here are the details:

Who:  Dink Dink Dink; Gaucho; Michael Abraham

Genre:  Gypsy/Jazz/Americana

Where:  Amnesia, 853 Valencia St. (between 19th & 20th)

When:  7 p.m. — 11 p.m.

Anything else?:  Keep in mind that the venue is long, rather than wide, so if you want to get up close and personal to the acts, it’s really best to arrive on the earlier side. Also, it’ll mean that you might actually be able to get to the bar faster! And, finally, this is in the Mission District, so parking can be tricky. If you can take public transportation, I recommend it!

First up: San Francisco popfest 2011, a celebration of international indie-pop music, featuring such bands as The Aberdeens, 14 Iced Bears, and Eternal Summers. Festival runs May 25th to May 29th at various venues throughout the City. Check out the Web site for more info!

Not so much into the indie scene? Like your music with what one may call a little more spice? Then check out San Francisco Carnaval! The festivities run May 28th and May 29th. And not only is there a full-blown, feather-boa’d parade both days, not to mention a ton of grubbin’ food and libations, but there is a bevy of luscious music, from the salsa of Avance, to the Afro-Latin beats of Sandy Perez — not to be missed!

So get out this weekend and get your free live music on! See you around town.

Well, folks, it’s the closing weekend for this annual fete, and despite the prohibitive weather, The Scene is officially encouraging you to get your dancin’, foot-stompin’ rain boots on and partake in the jubilation!

Alas, in the closing weekend, there are no truly free shows. (Alex Caton and Pete Winne are doing a gig at Bird & Beckett that has a “suggested donation” of $10 — all ages — on Sunday.) But Saturday night, there’s as awesome line-up at Cafe du Nord, featuring the Alt-Bluegrass likes of the Pine Box Boys, Kemo Sabe and Old Man Markley. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door — more than The Scene generally recommends us poor workin’ folk pay — but the venue’s awesome, and the show’s gonna be an auditory feast!

O.K., that’s it — that’s the official recommendation for this year’s SFBOT Festival! Also, check out their Web site for all kinds of cool info on various workshops this weekend and family-friendly fare.

Peace — and lots of free live music — to you!

Hello, all! Here it is, your Friday Night Guide to some awesome free live music in our fair city. Tonight, for your live music pleasure, The Scene has found out about the following couple o’ goodies:

Friday, November 5, 2010

Who:  Manicato
Genre:  Latin/Reggae/Rock
Where:  de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
When:  6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
Anything else?:  The music performance is part of a larger event — the “Friday Nights at the de Young” series, running through November 26th. The theme for tonight’s event is “Mission Muralismo,” and focuses on the history of San Francisco’s Mission District and the contributions of the Mexican-Americans who live here. There will be gorgeous displays of mural artwork, engaging speakers, and all sorts of interesting speakers. Full event festivities begin at 5:00 p.m.

Not enough music for you for a Friday night? Then go check out:

Who:  The Fairmounts, The Lotus Moons
Genre:  Psychedelic/R&B/Pop/Rock/Soul
Where:  Burritt Room @ the Crescent Hotel, 417 Stockton Street
When:  9:00 p.m.
Anything else?:  This little city gem is So Very-Very, specializing in vintage cocktails and a cool, vintage hip vibe. Entry is free, but expect to spend a little dough on your libations.

Where to start?

Well, first of all, let’s talk Peace. And, more specifically, let’s talk Power to the Peaceful, the annual “Music, Art and Action” festival held in the heart of the City — a.k.a. Golden Gate Park. Annually, some 50,000 attendees join in the fun, which includes art displays, real-time graffiti creations, and — you guessed it! — a shit-ton of free live music. This year’s line-up includes local favorites Rupa & the April Fishes, Michael Franti + Spearhead, and American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox. (Sept. 10-12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Not feeling so peaceful? Perhaps the city might be able to entice you via the annual Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival — that’s right, you heard me! Two chocolate-filled days of silky, rich, creamy goodness — and, natch, plenty of free live music! Featured artists are the Magnolia Jazz Band and the jazz guitar stylings of Dave Costa. (Sept. 11 & 12, 12-5 p.m.)

Looking for something perhaps a little more exotic? Well, you’re definitely in the right city! And this Saturday — as on every Saturday through Oct. 9th — is the Chinatown Night Market Fair. This event has been on hiatus for a while, but is back in full swing. Chinatown’s Portsmouth Square gets transformed into a thriving Hong Kong-esque outdoor market, and as you’re strolling through the throng, feast your eyes and ears on a plethora of traditional Chinese music performed by local artists. (Sept. 11, 6-11 p.m.)

Finally, if you’re into the more classical side of things, this Sunday has two amazing offerings: the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Chamber Music Day, and San Francisco Opera’s Opera in the Park. Hit up the Conservatory to hear some of the world’s finest up-and-coming classical musicians in intimate chamber-music style. Or if you’re more in a vocalese kind of mood, head on over to Golden Gate Park for a selection of arias performed by the stars of the current season. Plus, there’ll be a chance to enter for a drawing for two tickets to see Madama Butterfly, complete with dinner for two at Absinthe! (Sept. 12: SF Conservatory 12-6 p.m.; SF Opera 1:30 p.m.)

*phew!*

O.K., that’s it from The Scene today. Get out there and hear some music, yo!

Peace.

This weekend is the awesome-rrific-est festival (in my humble opinion) that this city has to offer — the 37th Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair in Japantown! This festival, if you’re at all interested in the Japanese culture, is a bevy of art, live music, martial arts demonstrations, and seriously grubbin’ food. The coolest part for me, tho’ is the performance of the world-famous San Francisco Taiko Dojo. These masters of this complex and soul-shaping musical and percussion art form put on one of the best presentations of taiko drumming, and are superlative in their approach to the craft, treating it — as any serious taiko dojo does — as a discipline, a study in meditation, a marriage between the physical body and universal rhythms.

(Want to check them out before heading over to the fair? Rent “Rising Sun”; yeah, that’s them in the opening sequence. You’re welcome.)

Trust me, this is not to be missed…ever…especially since it’s TOTALLY FREE!

Check out the fair’s Web site for more detailed information, including other musical performances and demonstrations, and where you can best set-up a perch to watch the parade. (Last year, George Takei was the Grand Marshall — I LOVE this city!) See you there!

This weekend brings together two of my favorite things: superheroes and the Stern Grove Music Festival! So, time to get suited up and headin’ out. Start off on Saturday with the 2nd Annual Superhero Street Fair. Festivities begin at the noon hour and go ’til midnight — that’s right, babies! Twelve freakin’ hours of costumed mayhem, with a plethora of live electronic music from deep house to dub step and beyond! (Admission is free, but donations will be appreciated, natch.)

Then follow up your crazy Saturday with a slightly more decompressed and soul-fulfilling two hours of pure classical bliss, as the San Francisco Symphony takes over Stern Grove for their yearly free concert in the park. This is a truly San Franciscan tradition, complete with gorgeous tree-dappled setting and stunning, life-altering performances by our very own local greats. This year’s performance is being conducted by Donato Cabrera, an up and comer in the conducting world. Just watching him shape the journey of a piece of music is worth the price of admission alone — which, in case I didn’t mention it already, is free. Oh, wait, I did mention it, didn’t I? Well, I’m mentioning it again! It’s all right; you can take it. In any case, the symphony starts at 2 p.m., but I recommend getting there around noon; there’s usually an opening act that’s also awesome, and you just might actually get a spot in the inner ring of stone benches, rather than hoofin’ it up onto the hillside.

(Incidentally, if you do decide to come a little later and want to sit on the hill, I actually love doing this myself. Just make sure to bring a blanket, and regardless of where you sit, I suggest a picnic, too, complete with wine and cheese and fruit and crusty sourdough bread. Hell, if you’re gonna have a true San Francisco experience, might as well hit as many cliches as possible, right? Right!)

O.K., kiddies, that’s it from me for today! Peace, love, and lots of free live music to ya!

Hey, gang! This Sunday is Radio Alice’s Summerthing! For those of you who either are not from or are new to the Bay Area, Radio Alice is a local radio station that plays largely Top 40 pop-style music, and every year, they take over Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park and put on a free concert for anyone who wants to come listen. And the awesome thing about this concert is that (a) the weather’s almost always amazing and fabulous, and (b) they get some surprisingly big-name artists to participate! This year’s line-up  includes Lifehouse, Kris Allen, One eskimO, and Thriving Ivory.

Seriously.

No…seeeerrriousssly!

Plus, there’s always a ton of vendors with grubbin’ food (garlic fries, anyone?) and fun activities to be had. This year includes an art station where you can get your Creative on, and photo booth station where you can get a free picture to commemorate the day.

A couple of things to know: dogs and kids are welcome! Yippee! That being said, please pick up after your pet(s) and youthful dependent(s) — for everyone’s sake! Plus, for those of you who are concerned that the welcoming of canines and children will lead to lame-o family fare, know that there generally are SEVERAL beer and wine and margarita stations, so adults get to play, too! Just make sure you add some water to the mix — trust me, even if it’s a little overcast, that sun will dry you out much faster than the local Irish pub. Which brings me to this: for God’s sake, wear some high SPF sunscreen, people! Trust me on this one! (I nag ’cause I love.)

And, finally, even though this concert is free — and I mean, it’s truly free; no passing the hat or not-so-subtle suggestions from your emcee to help out these poor, not-so-starving musician/artist types — Radio Alice will have a booth where you can find out more information about the San Francisco Parks Trust, the featured non-profit organization for this year’s concert. Not to get all politico on y’all, but seriously! Can we please all agree that having parks that are free and well-maintained and have not just a dedicated and much-appreciated volunteer staff but also a highly skilled and reasonably paid professional staff is a good thing?

*sigh*

O.K., that’s enough outta me. So, please, take advantage of this free concert! It’s a great time had by all in one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor areas with a surprisingly kickin’ sound system. I truly cannot recommend this enough (unless, y’know, you really hate these artists; then stay home — haters!). Peace, babies!

Extra! Extra! Extra! Tonight, the de Young Museum and Alliance Franςais are hosting one of a series of Friday Night Soirées, in partnership with the French American Cultural Society — and it’s FREE! Tonight’s installment is entitled “Fête de la Musique,” and features music performances by International School of the Peninsula Children’s Choir and troubadour Eric John Kaiser. Plus, there will be a strolling accordion player — how cool is that! Highly, highly recommend this one, kiddies! Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. and go until 8:45 p.m.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll get to participate in hands-on art projects? Seriously. Don’t walk — run to this event!