Braxton Cook, Kiefer Trio, Josh Johnson
2026-01-18 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Our second Sunday SMARTBOMB takeover features saxophonist Braxton Cook with the Kiefer Trio in Miner Auditorium, and saxophonist and composer Josh Johnson with a solo set in the Joe Henderson Lab.
Called “a prominent voice for this generation of musicians” by DownBeat, alto saxophonist Braxton Cook has garnered worldwide acclaim for his solo artistry as well as his extensive sideman work with Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Marquis Hill, Christian McBride, and Robert Glasper. His most recent release is the Nettwerk EP My Everything. He performs with the acclaimed trio led by pianist Kiefer.
Info & Tickets

Everything You Have is Yours
2026-01-18 17:00 | ODC Dance Theater, 3153 17th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
In Everything You Have Is Yours, NYC-based choreographer Hadar Ahuvia interrogates the roots of the Israeli folk dances she grew up dancing with her mother in the U.S. Confronting romanticized stories about her grandparents, settlers in 1930s Palestine, Ahuvia embarks on a personal journey to reckon with the founding mythologies and transgressions of Zionism. Through her work, a web of artistic portraits emerges – Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian dancers living in New York City grapple with the questions of what we inherit and what we embody to carry forward.
Info & Tickets

MLK Tribute Concert: Fight the Power!
2026-01-18 19:00 | The Freight, 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States
Musician and visual artist Mark Montgomery French is an award-winning film composer with the group Spiky Blimp, host of the podcast “All Your Favorite Music is (Probably)…”, and Director of Audio Visual at Glide Memorial Church. In June 2025, he released his ambient protest album Thy Navel is a Goblet That Does Not Lack for Wine. He’s also a music historian noted for his talks All Your Favorite Music is (Probably) Black, Unsung Women of Music, and Black Country Before Beyoncé. He was formerly the co-leader of the ’90s progressive funk band Endangered Species.
Parking
Center Street Garage, next door to The Freight, is currently open nightly until 1am except Sunday. More details here.
Public Transit
The Freight & Salvage is BARTable! Downtown Berkeley BART station is a half a block from the Freight. Details at bart.gov. Many AC Transit bus lines stop within a few blocks of the Freight. Details at actransit.org.
Nearby Favorites Bars/Restaurants
Revival Bar + Kitchen | 2102 Shattuck Avenue, (510) 549–9950
Comal Next Door | 2024 Shattuck Ave, (510) 422-662
Gather | 2200 Oxford Street @ Allston, (510) 809-0400
Info & Tickets

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Free Community Day
2026-01-19 11:00 - 17:00 | MoAD | Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
MoAD will celebrate the national observance of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a Day of Service, providing FREE admission to the museum and programs throughout the day. Through art, performance and music, our special guests will help us reflect on the importance of protest, creativity and diverse communities.
Info & Tickets

AACSA's 46th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon
2026-01-19 12:00 - 14:00 | San José State University Student Union Ballroom, 211 South 9th Street, San Jose, 95192
Join us at AACSA’s 46th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon, to honor the legacy of Dr. King on January 19, 2026

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Azure McCall
2026-01-19 20:00 | Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
She is heir to the vocal tradition of Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Her warmth and sense of humor fuel every interpretation.
After releasing her first CD ‘Body and Soul’, she was asked by the great bassist, once married to Ella Fitzgerald, to be his vocalist on tour. His band consisted of Geoff Keezer, Kareem Riggins, Joe Lovano, Nicholas Peyton, and, of course, Ray Brown. She accepted, and it began an incredible jazz journey, school was in!
Info & Tickets

Antibalas
2026-01-20 19:30, 2026-01-21 19:30 | Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
It’s hard to believe that more than twenty years have passed since Antibalas’s humble beginning as a neighborhood dance/protest band in the block parties and underground parties in pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Over the past two decades, they have evolved into what The Guardian called “one of the world’s finest Afrobeat bands” while enjoying equal renown for their cross-genre collaborations with legends of popular music. With a heavy balance of experience and new blood, the group leaps into their new Daptone Records full-length “Fu Chronicles.”
Info & Tickets

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
2026-01-21 - 2026-01-22 | Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, 10 10th Street, Oakland, 94607, United States
An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA–THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll.
Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.
Featuring her much loved songs, TINA–The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall.
Info & Tickets

A Streetcar Named Desire
2026-01-21 - 2026-02-01 | A.C.T.’s Toni Remby Theater, 415 Geary St, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Tennessee Williams’s exploration of family, sex, death, and decay is a haunting: family, trauma, relentlessly recurring patterns of destruction. It’s about the abuse we heap upon ourselves, and the pleasures we use to forget. In that spirit, director Nick Westrate and an ensemble of four astonishing New York theater actors set out to create a performance of the play like no other. By presenting Tennessee Williams’s complete, unabridged text, with just four performers—no props, no set—this production can exist anywhere. It strips bare to the bones the greatest piece of American drama.
Info & Tickets

Sunday in the Park with George
2026-01-21 - 2026-02-15 | The Ashby Stage @ Shotgun Players, 1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94703, United States
Sunday in the Park with George is a 1984 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It was inspired by the French pointillist painter Georges Seurat’s painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
Info & Tickets

AACSA Food on the Table
2026-01-21 10:00 - 14:00 | African American Community Service Agency, 304 N. 6th Street, San Jose, CA, 95112
AACSA Bi-Weekly Food on the Table will be on Wednesday January 21, 2026, from 10:00am to 2:00pm! Open to All!AACSA Bi-Weekly Food on the Table will be on Wednesday January 21, 2026, from 10:00am to 2:00pm! Open to All!

Info & Tickets

Building Economic Opportunity in the Bay Area
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:45 | 1950 Broadway, 1950 Broadway, Oakland, 94612, United States
Join us on Wednesday, January 21 at 6:00 PM for a special Airbnb Academy in partnership with the Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Since launching in 2021, the Airbnb Academy has helped thousands of people explore hosting as a pathway to entrepreneurship and financial stability.
At this in-person session, you’ll get a friendly introduction to hosting on Airbnb, hear real stories and tips from local Bay Area Superhosts, and learn how hosting can open new economic opportunities — especially with the FIFA World Cup 2026™ coming to the Bay Area in 2026.
Dinner will be provided by alaMar. We hope you’ll join us!
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ATRIUM - A Free Alternative Art Fair at Minnesota Street Project
2026-01-22 - 2026-01-25 | Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota Street, San Francisco, 94107, United States
Minnesota Street Project presents ATRIUM, a new free alternative art fair bringing together 20+ established and emerging contemporary art galleries rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area. Timed for SF Art Week, ATRIUM transforms the 10,000-square-foot industrial warehouse at 1275 Minnesota Street in Dogpatch into a custom-designed showcase of the region’s gallery scene.
Info & Tickets

FOG Design+Art Fair
2026-01-22 - 2026-01-25 | Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, 94123, United States
Celebrating today’s leading contributors to the worlds of design and visual arts, FOG Design+Art brings together international art galleries, prominent 20th-century and contemporary design dealers, and a weekend of exciting programs.
Info & Tickets

Best of North Berkeley Food Tour
2026-01-22 11:00 | 1504 Shattuck Ave., 1504 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Dive into the heart of California’s culinary revolution with a thrilling 3-hour journey through Berkeley’s North Shattuck district. Led by a food-savvy guide, you’ll explore iconic spots like the original Peet’s Coffee & Tea, indulging in a feast of gourmet cheeses, chocolates, gelato, pizza, sandwiches, and wine along the way. Get the inside scoop directly from the passionate owners and chefs who’ve shaped the city’s taste and commitment to sustainability and organic farming. Get your tickets for Best of North Berkeley Food Tour!
Info & Tickets

SFNOMA: MLK Symposium
2026-01-22 17:00 | Joyride Pizza, 730 Howard Street, San Francisco, 9410
Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring leaders from across the AEC+ industry—Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and allied fields. Through personal stories and lived experiences, each panelist will offer insights and guidance on navigating the profession today, addressing both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and inspiring meaningful change in the built environment.
Info & Tickets

ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing & Trivia Night
2026-01-22 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA | Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Unwind in the gentle pulse of ThursDates at OMCA with a signature cocktail and smooth beats from DJ Mark DiVita, setting the perfect backdrop for a relaxed evening of creativity and connection. This Thursday, make new connections with a “Spaces of Belonging” trivia night in Town Fare, while Sketchboard Co. hosts uninstructed live figure drawing sessions in the Gallery of California Art.
We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes.
Info & Tickets

Artist Talk: Lineage of Care — Lava Thomas in conversation with Key Jo Lee
2026-01-22 18:00 - 19:30 | MoAD | Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
Join us during FOG Art + Design and SF Art Week as we celebrate our twentieth anniversary with the exhibition Continuum: MoAD Over Time and the central role of MoAD in the constellation of care for Black artists. Lava Thomas will be in conversation with Key Jo Lee about the lineage of support that Black women in particular have provided her in and around MoAD throughout her career as an artist. Women like Mildred Howard, Lizzetta LeFalle Collins, and Denise Bradley championed her work and helped advance her career, with a crucial moment being her first museum show Beyond at MoAD in 2014. Not only was she supported by those who came before her and by her contemporaries, but she has paid forward her gratitude by mentoring younger artists such as Mary Graham who have gone on to exhibit at the museum.
Info & Tickets

Black FIlm Unscreened & Unstreamed, Eyes on the Prize III
2026-01-22 18:30 | Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
We are showing two shows – Episodes 5 and 6, both produced by Niema Jordan.
Info & Tickets

Marcus Machado
2026-01-22 19:00, 2026-01-22 20:30 | SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Marcus Machado is a guitar virtuoso whose explosive talent has electrified the music world. Born in Brooklyn, Machado picked up the acoustic guitar at age two and the electric by four, earning early comparisons to Jimi Hendrix for his prodigious skill and fiery stage presence. Last appearing at SFJAZZ with the masterful soul-jazz vocalist José James, Machado headlines his first performance in the Joe Henderson Lab.
Info & Tickets

Etienne Charles Trio
2026-01-22 19:00, 2026-01-22 21:15, 2026-01-23 19:00 | Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Francisco, CA, 94109, United States
Trinidad born Etienne Charles is a performer, composer and storyteller, who is constantly searching for untold tales and sounds with which to tell them. His lush trumpet sound, varied compositional textures and pulsating percussive grooves enable him to invoke trance, soothing and exciting listeners while referencing touchy and sometimes controversial subjects in his music. Highlighting marginalized communities and engaging with them has been his mission, evident with projects such as his Guggenheim Fellowship Project, Carnival: The Sound of a People Vol. 1, San Jose Suite, Creole Soul, Gullah Roots, Folklore and his latest commission, San Juan Hill – A New York Story. His concerts engage, enlighten, educate and enrich audiences with energized multidisciplinary performance utilizing original composition, thematic improvisation, dance, short films and spoken word to create a holistic experience. A firm believer in music and performance as a tool for provoking thought and dialogue, Charles’s themes speak to the status quo while drawing parallels to history.
Info & Tickets

Mistah F.A.B. with Kev Choice Ensemble
2026-01-22 19:30 | Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Mistah F.A.B.’s breakout album, 2005’s Son of a Pimp, established the North Oakland emcee as a rising star and a major factor in a resurgent Bay Area rap scene, which would demand national attention from hip-hop’s cultural gatekeepers. A decade later—older, wiser, and more resilient—FAB returns with Son of A Pimp 2, a no-holds-barred, 21-track extravaganza he considers the truest representation of his artistic talent to date. The list of features is sure to raise eyebrows, as is the fact that FAB more than holds his own against some of the rap world’s most celebrated artists from practically every region in the United States. Just as impressive as the tracks themselves is the fact that FAB assembled his all-star roster of talent from his friends list, leveraging the networking he’s been doing for years as a go-to guy for out-of-town artists visiting the Bay, as well as his solid rep within Oakland.
Info & Tickets

Mark Morris Dance Group MOON
2026-01-23 - 2026-01-25 | Zellerbach Hall, 2499 Bancroft St., Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States
MOON is commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in partnership with Arizona Arts Live, University of Arizona; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Mark Morris Dance Group.
Info & Tickets

How Shakespeare Saved My Life
2026-01-23 - 2026-03-01 | Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison St, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States
“America tried to take my life, and somehow a five-hundred-year-old white dude saved it.”
In an autobiographical and music-filled tour-de-force, award-winning performer Jacob Ming-Trent dares to rescue himself from the “slings and arrows” of his past. Born with a gift for poetry but rejected as unfit to play the poet, his search for home yields results both hilarious and tragic. Invoking artistic geniuses like Biggie, Tupac, and Basquiat, he takes us on a propulsive ride that reaffirms the power of language and music. Directed by Tony Taccone, How Shakespeare Saved My Life begins with the Bard but becomes a ritual of communal salvation.
Info & Tickets

Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
2026-01-23 18:30 | St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Avenue, San Francisco, 94118
⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in San Francisco. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen vs. ABBA at St Ignatius Church under the gentle glow of candlelight.
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B. DeVeaux
2026-01-23 19:00 | SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
A powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist, B. DeVeaux kicks off the Hotplate series in 2026 with their tribute to neo-soul singer Jazmine Sullivan’s GRAMMY-nominated 2008 album Fearless.
Based in Oakland, DeVeaux is a gifted young musician who rose through the Oakland School for the Arts to become an in-demand touring and recording artist, performing at Outside Lands, Yerba Buena Gardens, Mountain Winery, and at Kennedy Center as part of the group Oakland Rising with fellow Bay Area greats August Lee Stevens and NAIMA. DeVeaux released their debut album, Chrysalis, this year.
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