Aug. 19 – 21: Aerial dance is a young art, pioneered in the Bay Area, that mixes the thrills of rock climbing and circus, with the ambitions of modern dance. Nothing is more beautiful than watching a troupe seem to defy gravity, and here’s a chance to catch the world’s best aerial dancers at the Aerial Dance Festival at Fort Mason. Zaccho Dance Theater has organized this event featuring their own work, plus the Upswing Aerial Dance Company, Nehara Kalev & Glenn Easley, Bandaloop, Flyaway Productions, Karl Gillick, Syn Circus and more. Details are here.
Aug. 24: Barbara Dane is still making vital American roots music at 89. She’s been crediting her pianist and arranger Tammy Hall for reinvigorating her performances, but Dane has always worked with the best, singing jazz, blues, folk, and roots rock with everyone from the Chamber Brothers to Louis Armstrong. Her new album features songs by Abbey Lincoln, Duke Ellington , Paul Simon, and Lennon-McCartney, and every one’s a winner. Details for her album release party at Yoshi’s are here.
Aug. 24 – Sept. 17: This is a coup for Robert Kelley, the artistic director at Theatreworks Silicon Valley. He’s booked Andrew Lippa leading a quartet of performers doing songs from some of Lippa’s Broadway and London shows, including Life of the Party, The Addams Family, and Big Fish. This revue comes from London, with the same cast of Lippa, Damien Humbley, Sally Ann Triplett, and Teal Wicks. Details for three-week run at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts are here.
Aug. 20: Boulevards (Jamil Rashad) is just one of the bands playing the 20th Street Block Party this Saturday, but I just love that popping old-school bass line. This noo- to-6pm festival on Saturday is how Noise Pop gives some love to the Mission District, including raising funds for the Mission Language and Vocational School. Other headliners include LA’s Chicano Batman, Dos Four, Miami Horror, La Gente, Oakland’s Hazel English, SF’s Spooky Mansion; and Oakland’s Madeline Kenney. Details here.
Aug. 20 & 21: Oakland’s Art and Soul is my personal favorite street party. It’s easy to get to on BART, a great family event, with a eclectic mix of art, food and music. Tony! Toni! Toné! is the biggest name, but there’s a blues stage with Oakland’s Sonny Rhodes and other local players, plus a gospel and dance stage, and music from local favorites John Santos and Linda Tillery, not to mention the Oakland Throwdown barbeque competition that brings contenders from all over California, plus lowriders and funnel cake. Details here.
Aug 22: The Go-Go’s are giving a farewell tour after 38 years as a pioneering, all woman, punk pop band out of LA. The band deserves hall of fame consideration if only for “We Got the Beat.” This last tour features the band’s “classic” lineup with Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey and Gina Schock, but not bassist Kathy Valentine, who sued her former bandmates in 2013 after leaving over “irreconcilable differences.” Best Coast opens. Details of their Mountain Winery show are here.
