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 […]

Bay Area Americana musicians celebrate the partnership and enduring influence of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. The lineup includes Jill Rogers and Myles Boisen of Crying Time, Loralee Christensen and Paul Olguin of the Loralee Combo, Candy Girard, David Phillips, Gary Vogensen, Kevin Russell, and Tim Gahagan of The Familiar Strangers.Parsons blended country, rhythm and […]

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 […]

Drummer and composer Sunny Jain leads Wild Wild East, a band where Punjabi dhol, surf guitar, Bollywood melody, jazz saxophone, and cinematic Western atmosphere collide. The project reflects Jain’s perspective as a first-generation South Asian American artist and turns multiple musical inheritances into a propulsive contemporary sound.The group’s Smithsonian Folkways album launched the label’s Asian […]

Formed in Aberdeen in 1992, Old Blind Dogs carries Scottish songs and dance tunes onto an international stage with rhythmic drive and a continually evolving sound. Original member Jonny Hardie performs fiddle and vocals alongside Aaron Jones on cittern, guitar, and vocals; Donald Hay on percussion and vocals; and piper and whistle player Mike Katz.After […]

The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention returns to The Freight with Alice Gerrard joined by Reed Stutz and Suzy Thompson, Justin Robinson, and Forty Drop Few. The concert is part of a citywide gathering of old-time music that also includes dances, workshops, jams, and a string-band contest.Gerrard’s career spans more than 50 years, including her […]

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 commanding technique and emotional directness that have made him a defining bluegrass fiddler of his generation. After early work with Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent, he formed Flamekeeper, a seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association Instrumental Group of the Year.Cleveland is a 12-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, a National […]

Guitarist and composer Bill Frisell expands the sound of his 2019 Harmony project with Harmony Five, blending jazz improvisation, traditional Americana, and chamber music. The ensemble features Petra Haden on vocals, Hank Roberts on cello and vocals, Luke Bergman on bass and vocals, and Tim Angulo on drums.Across a career of more than 45 years, […]

Tabla and sitar maestro Pandit Nayan Ghosh joins his son, tabla virtuoso Ishaan Ghosh, for Synergy, a meeting of generations grounded in North Indian classical music. Nayan Ghosh is renowned for uncommon mastery of both tabla and sitar, bringing a rich repertoire, commanding tone, and deep emotional focus to each instrument.Trained by his father, tabla […]

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 […]

Singer, songwriter, and activist Holly Near marks more than 50 years of music rooted in peace, social justice, humor, and global community. Her work joins political conviction with self-reflection, using a powerful and recognizable voice to challenge audiences while remaining grounded in empathy.Near is joined by pianist Tammy Hall, bassist Jan Martinelli, and the activist […]