Live Music

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 […]

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 […]

Benmont Tench steps forward as a singer-songwriter after decades as the foundational keyboardist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. His organ and piano playing has also shaped recordings by Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, the Chicks, John Prine, and many others.Tench’s second solo album, The Melancholy Season, […]

L. Shankar brings a lifetime of Carnatic mastery and boundary-crossing collaboration to the Freight. Trained in voice, violin and mridangam from childhood, he became a major figure in Indian classical music before helping form Shakti with John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain and T. H. “Vikku” Vinayakram—an ensemble that reshaped the possibilities of global fusion. In performance, […]

Singer-songwriter and pianist Jon McLaughlin brings The Scenarios Tour to The Freight, drawing on a catalog shaped by personal experience, family life, and emotionally direct storytelling. Since his 2007 debut Indiana, he has developed both his piano-driven sound and impassioned vocal style across six full-length albums.McLaughlin has toured with Billy Joel, Kelly Clarkson, and Adele, […]

Sister Sadie brings the chemistry, vocal blend, and instrumental fire that turned a one-off jam at Nashville’s Station Inn into a leading bluegrass ensemble. The six-member band combines deep respect for tradition with bold contemporary arrangements and an electrifying live presence.Across three acclaimed albums, Sister Sadie has earned a Grammy nomination, three consecutive International Bluegrass […]

Quebec guitarist, singer, composer, and bandleader Christine Tassan leads Les Imposteures in a performance rooted in gypsy jazz and swing. One of the relatively rare women to establish an international profile as a jazz-guitar soloist, Tassan has guided the ensemble through more than 600 appearances across Canada, Europe, the United States, and China.Founded in 2003, […]

Altan celebrates 40 years at the forefront of traditional Irish music with a concert rooted in the songs and fiddle style of Donegal. From its beginnings in the duets of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy, the band has carried regional music to the world stage while preserving its melodic character and emotional directness. The […]

Bedouine, the project of singer-songwriter Azniv Korkejian, brings the intimate folk-pop of Neon Summer Skin to The Freight with Other Delights. Written after a visit with family in Saudi Arabia, the album considers upbringing, safety, memory, and the difficult end of childhood through vivid, closely observed imagery.Korkejian is known for gentle fingerpicked melodies that gather […]

California guitarist, singer, and bandleader Tommy Castro brings four decades of blues, rock, R&B, and soul to The Freight with his fiercely responsive Painkillers. Across 17 albums, Castro has built a reputation for soul-drenched vocals, searing guitar work, and high-energy performances.His latest Alligator Records release, Closer to the Bone, returns to raw, direct blues under […]

Los Vega brings two decades of commitment to son jarocho, balancing Veracruz-rooted family tradition with polished musicianship and expansive stage experience. The ensemble has represented the form at festivals and cultural events across Mexico, China, the United States, Canada, and Colombia, while releasing five albums.The group’s recording of “La Bruja” appeared in the film Frida, […]

John Gorka brings a lifetime of sharply observed folk songwriting to The Freight. His path began at Godfrey Daniels, the venerable Pennsylvania listening room where he worked as emcee and sound engineer, absorbing the example of touring writers including Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton, and Claudia Schmidt.Gorka later found a wider community in Jack […]