Live Music

Bill Kirchen returns to the Freight with the twang, swing and road-tested wit that have made him a cornerstone of American roots music. The former Commander Cody guitarist draws from country, rockabilly, blues and Western swing, pairing crisp Telecaster work with songs from across his career and material from his 2026 album, Cat Out of […]

Elizabeth Mitchell celebrates the 20th anniversary of You Are My Little Bird, the beloved Smithsonian Folkways album that introduced many families to her warm, unhurried approach to children’s music. Rooted in the Folkways tradition, the collection brings American folk songs and melodies from around the world into an intimate sound made for listeners of every […]

This tribute celebrates the partnership of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, whose voices and musical vision helped define country rock and laid groundwork for what would later be called Americana. Parsons described his hybrid of country, soul, R&B, folk and rock as “Cosmic American Music,” and his recordings with Harris gave that idea its most […]

Afghan tabla virtuoso Salar Nader presents a program devoted to the depth and resilience of Afghan music. With rubab player Quraishi, he pairs the 21-string national instrument of Afghanistan with tabla in classical compositions and folk melodies, illuminating the close musical ties between Afghan and Hindustani traditions. The performance moves through intricate ragas, rhythmic exchange […]

Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East imagines a new kind of frontier music: Bhangra drums collide with surf guitar, jazz saxophone, Bollywood color and the widescreen atmosphere of a spaghetti western. Led by the Red Baraat founder, the band turns South Asian rhythmic energy into a vivid, genre-bending live soundtrack. Between songs, Jain uses storytelling to […]

For more than three decades, Old Blind Dogs have carried the songs and tunes of Scotland to audiences around the world. The group draws deeply from the traditions of the Scottish northeast while approaching them with rhythmic force, adventurous arrangements and the energy of a band that treats folk music as a living form. Their […]

The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention brings a concentrated evening of fiddle tunes, ballads, string-band rhythm and living tradition to the Freight. The program features Alice Gerrard, whose influential work in old-time and bluegrass has made her both a treasured performer and an advocate for traditional artists, alongside musician and cultural historian Justin Robinson and […]

Oakland’s T Sisters—Rachel, Chloe and Erika Tietjen—build their music around the rare blend of voices shaped by growing up and singing together. Their close harmonies can move from unaccompanied precision to full-bodied roots music, carrying original songs that balance folk intimacy, pop instinct and Americana swing. Onstage, the sisters pair that vocal chemistry with inventive […]

Michael Cleveland brings the fire, precision and emotional pull that have made him one of the defining bluegrass fiddlers of his generation. Whether driving a tune at full speed or drawing out the ache in a melody, he combines formidable technique with the direct, communal spirit of the tradition. With his band, Cleveland turns bluegrass […]

Bill Frisell expands the musical world of his acclaimed HARMONY project with Harmony Five, featuring Petra Haden, Hank Roberts, Luke Bergman and Tim Angulo. The ensemble blends jazz, traditional Americana and chamber-music color, using voice, guitar, cello, bass and drums to open familiar songs into spacious new arrangements. Frisell has spent decades finding unexpected connections […]

Synergy brings together Pandit Nayan Ghosh and his son Ishaan Ghosh in a multigenerational exploration of North Indian classical music. Nayan is acclaimed for his rare mastery of both tabla and sitar, combining a deep traditional repertoire with expressive tone; Ishaan has emerged as a compelling tabla soloist known for intricate rhythmic design and sensitive […]

El Khat brings a raw, inventive sound rooted in Yemeni musical traditions and rebuilt for the present. Formed in 2019, the trio combines original Arabic songs of Yemeni origin with the restless energy of psychedelic rock, playing on self-made instruments whose unusual textures make the music feel handmade and immediate. The group’s work grows from […]

Holly Near brings five decades of songwriting, activism and musical community to an evening with pianist Tammy Hall, bassist Jan Martinelli and the duo Emma’s Revolution. Near’s songs turn large questions—peace, feminism, racial justice and LGBTQ freedom—into personal stories, balancing conviction with humor, tenderness and an invitation to sing together. The program draws from a […]

Benmont Tench steps forward from his celebrated role as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for an intimate evening centered on his own songs and unmistakable keyboard voice. The pianist and organist has shaped recordings across rock, country and American roots music, always serving the song with color, restraint and feel. The […]