Music

Devo-meister Mark Mothersbaugh’s quirky screen scores come to Sketchfest

Red Room Orchestra pays tribute to the composer, who's tuned up 'Pee-wee's Playhouse,' 'Rushmore,' 'Rugrats,' even 'Thor.'

Comedy Joshua Rotter - January 12, 2026

Bottom of the Hill says it’s closing—here’s why we’ve loved the indie venue for decades

From Sunday BBQs in the '90s to Die Spitz last month, the 35-year-old venue remains in our ears and hearts.

Music John-Paul Shiver and Marke B. - January 7, 2026

‘2025 sucked, but the music did not’: Local players on how the year sounded

Favorite albums, DIY playlists, industry analyses, vibe checks... Here's what topped some great musical minds.

Music John-Paul Shiver - January 5, 2026

Year in Music 2025: The Bay made magical noise

SPELLLING's R&B wild-out, Orcutt Shelley Miller's moonlit jams, Spiritual Cramp's guerrilla punk... a watershed year for local ears

Music John-Paul Shiver - December 30, 2025

Music

Year in Music 2025: We will not be dumbed down

Daniel Bromfield - December 30, 2025

Artists are finally teasing out a happy medium between digital and analog, with surprisingly audacious releases.

Music

Under the Stars: Noise Pop’s latest scores? Jay Som, Giraffage, CupcakKe, Open Mike Eagle…

John-Paul Shiver - December 26, 2025

Plus: A perfect, purple way to spend NYE, RIP Jellybean Johnson of the Time, Say She She, Altın Gün, more music news.

Music

Under the Stars: Karl Denson’s ‘Sexy 69th’ is your post-holiday treat

John-Paul Shiver - December 16, 2025

Plus: Michael Shannon's R.E.M. tribute, Jamaica's Sister Nancy links with Fake Fruit, Newcleus brings back '80s boombox mastery, more.

Onstage

Live Shots: Circus Bella brings warm cheer (and super stunts)

Jon Bauer and Patty Riek - December 15, 2025

Local troupe's latest show "Starlight: Winter Circus Spectacular" is unadulterated expression of joy and flexibility.

Contest

Win a pair of tickets to Berner’s Cookies Christmas and FISHER

Marke B. - December 14, 2025

Go see a banging show on us. Here's how to enter.

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Music

Under the Stars: Band of the moment chokecherry gets a glow up

John-Paul Shiver - December 9, 2025

Plus: RIP Jimmy Cliff, Momoko Gill's massive debut, K-Lone's radiant house, La Luz gets 'Extra,' Davia Schendel crashes, more

Music

‘Mood Swings’ crooner Mario: ‘San Francisco has always been supportive of R&B’

Joshua Rotter - December 8, 2025

The singer talks to us about his new release, whose title pays homage to a time 'when R&B was in your favorite movies.'

Music

Fred Again surprised SF with ecstatic ‘USB002’ set—yes, in this economy

Andrew Brobst - December 8, 2025

Cameras down, hands up, bangers on deck at the UK favorite's Cow Palace reveal. It may have been worth selling that kidney

Music

Win tickets to Dillinger Escape Plan, Tape B, Ranger Trucco, MYD

Marke B. - December 8, 2025

Go see a banging show on us. Here's how to enter.

Music

Under the Stars: Fresh new music nods to wrap up your year

John-Paul Shiver - December 3, 2025

Bandcamp Friday picks, Tortoise returns, the Beatles' latest, '80s Japanese swagger, SFJAZZ and Castro 2026 lineups.

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Festival

Live Shots: Dickens Fair 2025 takes the plum cake—just watch for the squirrel

Jon Bauer and Patty Riek - December 2, 2025

Vast annual Christmas extravaganza at Cow Palace recreates Victorian London, and comes with a furry friend.

Music

Under the Stars: Spiritual Cramp gives a sloppy punk kiss to SF with ‘Rude’

John-Paul Shiver - November 26, 2025

Plus: KeiyaA's atmospheric heft—and 'tis the season for new releases from immortal crews like De La Soul, The Pharcyde, and Lush.

Arts + Culture

Take me to tinsel town: a music lover’s holiday gift guide

John-Paul Shiver - November 24, 2025

Fillmore merch, kaleidoscopic Peanuts Xmas vinyl, books to cheer any genre buff, donations to the arts, much more

Featured

Danny Brown enters his sober era, with wild ‘Stardust’ still intact

D'Andre Ball - November 21, 2025

Rehab stint led Detroit rapper to hyperpop and 'The Artist's Way'; new LP highlights one of the genre's true originals.

Music

Under the Stars: An ode to Edinburgh Castle (RIP), and making big noise in little rooms

John-Paul Shiver - November 18, 2025

The spot that launched 1000 bands and parties is gone—but the vibe must live on. Plus: Indigo Elephant sings and Khruangbin jams.

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Music

Devo-meister Mark Mothersbaugh’s quirky screen scores come to Sketchfest

Bottom of the Hill says it’s closing—here’s why we’ve loved the indie venue for decades

‘2025 sucked, but the music did not’: Local players on how the year sounded

Year in Music 2025: The Bay made magical noise

Year in Music 2025: We will not be dumbed down

Under the Stars: Noise Pop’s latest scores? Jay Som, Giraffage, CupcakKe, Open Mike Eagle…

Under the Stars: Karl Denson’s ‘Sexy 69th’ is your post-holiday treat

Live Shots: Circus Bella brings warm cheer (and super stunts)

Win a pair of tickets to Berner’s Cookies Christmas and FISHER

Under the Stars: Band of the moment chokecherry gets a glow up

‘Mood Swings’ crooner Mario: ‘San Francisco has always been supportive of R&B’

Fred Again surprised SF with ecstatic ‘USB002’ set—yes, in this economy

Win tickets to Dillinger Escape Plan, Tape B, Ranger Trucco, MYD

Under the Stars: Fresh new music nods to wrap up your year

Live Shots: Dickens Fair 2025 takes the plum cake—just watch for the squirrel

Under the Stars: Spiritual Cramp gives a sloppy punk kiss to SF with ‘Rude’

Take me to tinsel town: a music lover’s holiday gift guide

Danny Brown enters his sober era, with wild ‘Stardust’ still intact

Under the Stars: An ode to Edinburgh Castle (RIP), and making big noise in little rooms

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