It’s been vacation time around here at your favorite alt-culture site, so we’re going to get wild again this week, break the normal Big Week format, and throw a bunch of excellent suggestions at you from all of of our writers and editors without the traditional genre categories. Buckle up and get out there!
THROUGH AUGUST 30: THE MARSH PRESENTS THE 2ND ANNUAL IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES FESTIVAL Theatre festivals have become a rarity in the Bay Area. That’s why it was a welcome relief when The Marsh actually started a new festival two years ago. With a focus on women and non-binary theatre-makers, the festival has already gone on to produce some of The Marsh’s most acclaimed shows. This year’s line-up looks to continue that streak, with shows covering topics from mourning, love, body image, and the humor of everyday life. This is your chance to see them all first. The Marsh Theatre, SF and Berkeley. More info here.
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12: ‘DISASTROUS!’ Oasis Nightclub is back, and you know they had to bring back one of D’Arcy Drollinger’s extreme live theatrical campfests: “Exotic dancer and divorce’, Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White is heading to sunny Acapulco for a much-needed vacation, but things quickly fall apart when a wounded secret agent gives her a mysterious attaché case before dying in her arms. On the run, and undercover, Champagne must battle natural disasters, vicious animals, and the ruthless henchmen of the pharmaceutical industry; all while searching for the perfect orgasm.” Oasis, SF. More info here.
THU/20-SUN/23: SF BAY POPFEST Catch your fave local indie music festival long after the big ones have stomped off. Oakland Weekender has teamed up with San Francisco Bay Area record labels Speakeasy Studios SF and Slumberland Records to bring SF Bay Popfest. With 16, count ’em, stellar indie pop bands and DJs from across the land, Bottom of the Hill—the SF Bay Popfest headquarters—will host four exciting shows August 20-23. The Aislers Set, Kids On A Crime Spree, Tony Molina, Galore, Lightheaded, and Wifey, The Kitchenettes, Pillow Fight, The Umbrellas, Artsick, WUT, Remedy & Wren, plus DJ Wam Bam Ashleyanne for the Sunday Matinee. Bottom of the Hill, SF. More info here.
FRI/21 + SAT/22: SF COCTEAUFEST Ella Megalast Burls Forever, baby. For the past 12 years, the Dancing Ghosts party has celebrated all things Cocteau Twins with an annual club night and live band tribute. This year sees a radical expansion of the event, with actual Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde coming in! Fri/21 sees a blowout Dancing Ghosts party with five-hour dance bonanza of Cocteau cuts and a backroom dedicated to more dream pop. Then Sat/22 offers a daytime meet-and-greet with Raymonde, discussing lore and his recent In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor and Me memoir. Saturday night brings live tribute bands to the Chapel with Sugar Hiccup and Mocteau Twins, plus a DJ set from Raymonde himself. More info here.
FRI/21-SUN/23: SF QUEER FILM FEST Frameline recently observed its 50th anniversary, but it’s not the only annual LGBTQ+ film event in town. A relative newcomer is the SF Queer Film Festival, whose sixth edition takes place this weekend at the Roxie Theater. Heavy on shorts, and a tad lighter on international scope as well as political content compared to its big sister-brother, it still packs plenty of queer punch, with Latino leathermen, sassy soccer players, Emeryville drag queens, deep dives into queer aesthetics, and more on the tippy-tap. Roxie Theater, more info here.
FRI/21 + SUN/23: THOMAS CLARK PRESENTS GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST There’s never a wrong time to take in Puccini. That’s why renowned Bay Area vocal studio Thomas Clark Inc. has decided to set its sights high with the classic opera about California’s Gold Rush days. Plus, this two-weekend performance in precedes as a similar run out in Santa Cruz. There’s a reason why the Golden State is renowned for its indie opera scene, so The Girl of the Golden West is in good hands. Terra Nova Theater, Pacifica. More info here.
FRI/21: ALL MO’ WAX DJ NIGHT AT LITTLE HILL Such an inside-baseball type of DJ night in an up-and-coming little incubator of a venue, located in El Cerrito, that many of the cool kids in bands in the city seem to be flocking to. TASTE. That trend continues Friday night when local musician, skateboarder, and DJ Tommy Guerrero joins Cool Chris, DJ and owner of Groove Merchant Record Store, and DJ Andrew Jarvis for a night behind the decks spinning classic Mo’ Wax vinyl. Expect trip-hop, downtempo, instrumental hip-hop, and experimental electronic joints to make the night epic. Little Hill, El Cerrito. More info here.
SAT/22: CRASH AN INDIAN WEDDING PARTY This annual hoot from the Non Stop Bhangra party crew is a must: “Ever wanted to crash an Indian wedding? Now’s your chance. Join us for an immersive night inspired by the joy, music, dancing, and celebration of an Indian wedding. Expect DJs, live drummers, dance performances, interactive lessons, henna art, Indian snacks and sweets, vibrant décor, photo moments, and a dance floor packed with wedding-party energy. Dress up, bring your friends, and prepare to become part of the family. No invitation required.” 6pm, Great American Music Hall, SF. More info here.
SAT/22: STARMAN SF This tribute extravaganza “came to life when a group of some of the Bay Area’s most talented musicians united over a shared admiration for the legendary David Bowie. Each member, with diverse musical backgrounds and deep respect for Bowie’s artistry, came together to create a tribute band that would honor his extraordinary legacy. The vision behind Starman SF is simple yet powerful: to celebrate the life, music, and transformative influence of David Bowie, while capturing the essence of his iconic performances and groundbreaking sound.” 8pm, Sweetwater Music Hall, SF. More info here.
TUE/25: DAVID BYRNE: ‘WHO IS THE SKY’ TOUR The legendary Talking Head and Putomayo label head has reinvented himself yet again as an immersive theatrical artist, refreshing his left-field pop standards with a colorful show of movement, dance, knock-out lighting effects—but still infused with his awkward charm and genius for observational quips. Surrounding himself with young artists and refusing to be boxed in by the past is working! 8pm, Greek Theater, Berkeley. More info here.
