March 5, 2025
For immediate release

Contact:
Andrew Wood: 415-399-9554 (o) 415-305-1102 (c) [email protected]
Lucho Ramirez: 415-425-0445 [email protected]

Music Carries the Message at the
2025 Festival

- All Concerts Listed by Dates & Times Below

Calendar Editors Please Note
Who: Multiple Artists
What: San Francisco International Arts Festival
Where: Multiple Venues in the Mission District
Dates: April 30 - May 11, 2025.
Tickets: FREE - $30. Festival Passes: $60 - $175
Box Office and Information: https://www.sfiaf.org or 415-399-9554

Photos Available on Request

March 5, 2025, San Francisco: As the San Francisco International Arts Festival (SFIAF) continues its embrace of the Mission District, a defining feature of the program has been the increase in the number of live music performances with over 30 ensembles, soloists and dance/theatre performances featuring live onstage musicians as part of this year's proceedings.

The lineup is richly diverse and includes classical music, jazz, blues, experimental electronica, reggae, flamenco, tango, Balinese, various type of world and folk, participatory events and, for the first time ever in the Festival's more than 20-year history of avant-garde, cutting edge performances.....SHOWTUNES (albeit with a difference)!

The move back to the Mission meant we could escape the specter of the Memorial Day Weekend (the trade-off for free space at Fort Mason for all those years), but going earlier in the month also presents perils of its own, none more so than MOTHER'S DAY, another Hallmark Holiday that plays havoc with curated art schedules.

So, at a time when attacks on the LGBTQ+ community across the country are becoming increasingly vitriolic and dangerous, we could think of nothing more appropriate than to celebrate Mother's Day with a queer take on the Great American Songbook to emphasize how much Hollywood, Broadway and a huge swath of American popular culture has historically been generated by LGBTQ+ artists.

Led by Dr. Dee Spencer and Jason Brock in the guise of Brock & Spencer, two of the country's greatest aficionados of show tunes, the closing show of the 2025 Festival will celebrate Mother's Day in a uniquely San Francisco fashion in collaboration with the Chan National Queer Arts Center.

Other highlights include the US debut of Duane Forrest from Toronto, Canada (a separate country, not the 51st state) with his hit solo music show, Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World that collected Fringe First awards during sold-out shows in Edinburgh last year and that is currently on a global tour.

Also, the much-anticipated reunion of Melody of China with Swapan Chaudry from the Ali Akbar College of Music. Their last collaboration at the Festival at Fort Mason in 2017, is still cherished as one of the richest musical moments in our history.

Another collaboration we are looking forward to is that between, Colombian marimba master, Eryen Korath Ortiz Garcés and Mission based Neblinas del Pacifico.

Contemporary Latina composers are also the focus of Ensemble for These Times with Mujeres ahora.

For those who remember Francis Wong's musical suite, Wong Wei's Gamble from the 2015 Festival, we are pleased to announce that Francis is revisiting the piece and adding spoken word and libretto to create Wong Wei's Legacy. The work follows three generations of the Wong family through war and flight as refugees in the latter half of the 20th Century.

Another concert to look out for is the Sumi Lee - Ramiro Boero tango duo who will use the Festival as a platform to release their latest album, El Gaucho Perdido (the lost horseman / cowboy).

Finally, the Festival would not be complete without a healthy dose of atonal experimentation, and we are pleased to welcome Moe Staiano back for the first time since 2009 with his treatize on Music for Eight Guitars.

FULL MUSIC CONCERT LISTINGS
The full chronological listing of music concerts at this year's Festival is listed below. For an alphabetic menu CLICK HERE.

Duane Forrest (Canada)
Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World (2022, U.S. Premiere)
Thu May 1 – Fri May 2, 8:30pm; Sat May 3, 3:00pm
60 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Finger Snaps Media Arts, 3527 20th St.
Duane Forrest embarks on an acoustic journey celebrating Bob Marley’s life and the roots of reggae. The performance includes soulful renditions of legendary songs, exploring reggae’s origins and its global impact. This interactive show invites audiences to, reflect on the life of Marley, sing along and connect through the power of music.

Dee Spencer Trio with Michelle Jacques & Students
Women in Jazz & World Music Graduation Concert
Fri May 2, 7:00pm
90 mins w/out intermission. Tix: Free / By Donation
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
The culmination of SFIAF’s free vocal training course for 15 – 24 year olds led by Dr. Dee Spencer with Mistress of Choirs Michelle Jacques.

Moe Staiano Ensemble (USA)
Music for Eight Guitars (The Parting Gift)
Fri May 2 7:30pm
30mins. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Monkey Brains, 933 Treat Ave
Composer and percussionist, Moe Staiano continues to explore works for electric guitar ensembles with his third composition--an experimental exploration of tonal interplay and contrasting rhythms for eight electric guitars, bass, drums and percussion.

Romano & Ophir Duo (USA)
Classical & Latin American Interpretations
Saturday, May 3, 2:00 PM
70 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28
Barbara Berkeley Studio, 3340 A 18th St.
Works from the Baroque era to the present day re-imagined with harp, clarinet and flute, offering a fresh new look at classical music, and interwoven with the dynamic flare of Amelia’s original compositions inspired by Latin American rhythms and folk traditions.

Motion (USA)
Circle Singing
Saturday May 3, 4:30pm
90 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Bobby McFerrin's group, MOTION present a circle singing event. Through improvisation, MOTION will spontaneously create music that promotes community, harmony, health and joy. This is an interactive event where the audience will participate in the experience so come free your voice with Tammi Brown, Bryan Dyer, Destani Wolf and David Worm.

JazzFrancisco (USA)
Sat May 3, 6:00pm
60 mins w/out intermission
Barbara Berkeley Studio 3340A 18th
Guitarist Jackson Moran and clarinetist Nathaniel Vincent perform a set comprised of jazz standards interpreted in the style of Django Reinhardt. They will also be performing some original pieces drawing inspiration from Reinhardt’s approach to playing.

Valerie Troutt Trio (USA)
Loopy Church
Sat May 3, 6:30pm
45min w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Fingersnaps Media Arts 3527 20th St
Valerie Troutt presents "Loopy Church," a captivating performance that blends soulful melodies with innovative looping techniques. Utilizing a loop pedal, live percussion, guitar, and backing vocals, Valerie creates a rich, layered sound that resonates deeply.

Melissa Cruz Flamenco (USA)
Tablao Flamenco
Sat May 3, 7:30pm
60 minutes with intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Abanico Coffee Roasters, 2121 Mission St
The vibrance and allure of flamenco come alive in this tribute to the flamenco “tablao,” an improvised collaboration allowing for the expression of the full spectrum of human emotion. Deep cante jondo juxtaposed with light-hearted cante chico, the pulse of palmas and the stirring poly-rhythms of heel work weave and unravel to create tension and release so emblematic of flamenco.

Robert Lopez Ensemble featuring Jorge Alabê (USA)
Ogum Onirê (2025, World Premiere)
Sat May 3, 8:30pm
50 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Ogum Onirê is a suite of ancestral music originating from the Candomblé religion. These practices, enduring the Transatlantic slave trade and centuries of religious intolerance are a staple of Brazilian culture. This work adds chamber music instrumentation to traditional Candomblé ensemble featuring the prominent educator and master drummer Jorge Alabê.

Conspiracy of Venus (USA)
Sun May 4, 2:00pm
60 minutes w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Conspiracy of Venus performs music of Leonard Cohen, PJ Harvey, and more, with dance and choreography by Bethany Mitchell, and choral arrangements by Joyce Todd McBride, director.

Francis Wong (USA)
Wong Wei’s Legacy (work-in-progress)
Sun May 4 3:00pm. 60 mins. w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28
Monkey Brains, 933 Treat Ave
Wong Wei’s Legacy is a new work integrating music, text, and movement, by saxophonist, Francis Wong exploring three generations of the Wong family through war and flight as refugees in the latter half of the 20th Century. Artists: Francis Wong, William Roper, Karl Evangelista, Deszon X. Claiborne,and Lynn Huang.

Music in-Takht (USA)
Nile Vibes: Ancient Roots, Modern Grooves
Sun May 4, 6:30pm
105 minutes with intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Dive into the enchanting world of Egyptian instrumental music with Music in-Takht, the Bay Area’s premier Egyptian heritage ensemble! Journey through the sounds of Egyptian classical music to modern contemporary Egyptian grooves in a night of mesmerizing melodies.

Karma Roulette Quartet (USA)
Slinky Proverb (2024, California Premiere)
Sun May 4, 7:00pm
105 mins with Intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St
Slinky Proverb is the title of one of two new works by Michael Smolens that will be performed as part of this evening length concert. Slinky Proverb combines West-African groove with bluesy, contemporary jazz and 20th century classical-influenced melodies. The second new composition is titled Abakim featuring the kalimba that progresses into a jazz waltz.

Rashida Oji & Just Now (USA)
Directions (2001)
Wed May 7, 7:00pm
70 mins. w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Fingersnaps Media Arts, 3527 20th St. SF, CA 94110
A founding member of Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir, Rashida uses her voice to uplift and heal. Her concert performances empower audiences to transform suffering into strength and community resilience. Rashida is joined by beloved bandmates, supremely skilled and gifted musicians, Lillie Robinson and Wade Peterson.

Barrio Mundial Trio (USA)
Wed May 7, 8:00pm
60 mins. w/out intermission. Tix: FREE
Chile Lindo 2943 16th St. SF, CA 94103|
Co-presented by SF Planning Dept.
The Barrio Mundial Trio, featuring Javi Jiménez and Ross Howe on guitar and Luis Jiménez on percussion, perform a fusion of flamenco and gypsy jazz.

Moving Van Trio
Flight Risk (2025, World Premiere)
Thu May 8, 8:00pm
60 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20 - $28 Gen Adm.
Finger Snaps Media Arts, 3527 20th St.
Moving Van will present an intimate night of music performing a low-volume, heartfelt set, bringing deep grooves and soulful melodies in a warm, stripped-down setting. This special performance features the premiere of the new composition, Flight Risk.

The No-Mads (USA)
Guilty Pleasures and Hip Hits
Music of 20th-Century American and European Pop Culture
Fri May 9, 7:00pm
70 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $15 - $23 Gen Adm.
Finger Snaps Media Arts, 3527 20th St.
An invitation to celebrate music’s reign in the 20th-century pop culture of Europe and the Americas! Jazz, TV and film themes, rock, French waltzes, Italian folk songs, Bossa Nova, and more are on The No-Mads’ instrumental program to bring a smile with once-familiar songs that maybe you’ve forgotten that you know and love.

Ensemble for These Times (USA)
Mujeres ahora
Fri May 9, 7:30pm
70 mins with intermission Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Award-winning contemporary music group Ensemble for These Times (E4TT) celebrates works by 21st century Latina composers Gabriela Lena Frank, Tania León, Carla Lucero, Claudia Montero, Angélica Negrón, and Gabriela Ortiz. Performed by Nanette McGuinness, soprano, Margaret Halbig, piano, Lylia Guion, violin, and Vanessa Ruotolo, cello. Pre-concert talk with Carla Lucero.

Prasant Radhakrishnan Trio (USA)
Fri May 9 8:00pm.
45 mins. Shared Bill with Siddique Ahmed.
Total duration 105 mins
Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Monkey Brains, 933 Treat Ave
The Prasant Radhakrishnan trio features Carnatic and jazz saxophonist, Prasant Radhakrishnan, Carnatic and hybrid kit percussionist Rohan Krishnamurthy, and jazz bassist and guitarist, Eric Vogler. This new trio will present original work drawing on Indian classical and jazz traditions and the shared energy of many years of playing together.

Siddique Ahmed and Eman Hashemi (USA)
Melodies & Rhythms of Afghanistan
Fri May 9 8:00pm.
45 mins. Shared Bill with Prasant Radhakrishnan.
Total duration 105 mins
Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Monkey Brains, 933 Treat Ave
Melodies & Rhythms of Afghanistan showcases the rich musical heritage of Afghanistan through the masterful performances of Eman Hashemi on Tabla and Siddique Ahmed on Rubab. Audiences are invited to experience the soulful melodies and dynamic rhythms from diverse Afghan regions, brought to life by the exceptional musicians preserving and celebrating this timeless tradition.

Sumi Lee - Ramiro Boero Duo (USA)
Saturday, May 10, 4:30 PM
70 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
The Lee Boero Duo takes to the stage to premiere their new EP, a daring collection of contemporary tango compositions that fuse tradition with fresh ideas. With intricate arrangements, passionate melodies, and a dynamic interplay between piano and bandoneón, this concert offers an exhilarating, modern take on tango’s evolving landscape.

The Shadowland Band with Others.
SUMUD: Celebrating Resistance in Arab Arts and Culture
Fundraiser for AROC ACTION & MECA
Sat May 10, 7:00pm
180 mins. with intermission. Tix: $0-$20 Gen Adm.
Bissap Baobab, 2243 Mission St. SF, CA 94110
In one of the world’s oldest cultures, Arab arts have flourished throughout the ages, embodied in rich language, elegant arabesques, and unique rhythms. Unfortunately, various powers seek to control the region, leaving much of the population hungry and cold, without shelter or medical care. You can help. Celebrate Arab art.

Malpica (USA)
Abanico Coffee Roasters
Sat May 10, 7:30pm
60 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Abanico Coffee Roasters, 2121 Mission St.
Malpica is a one-man band who blends modern looping techniques with the vibrant rhythms of Latin America. Creating live percussion, basslines, backing guitars, and vocal harmonies, he delivers a dynamic solo performance. Fusing traditional syncopation with innovative production, Malpica offers a captivating soundscape that bridges tradition and technology.

Loco Bloco (USA)
Otro Mundo del Azul Profundo (2025, World Premiere)
Sat May 10, 8:00pm
45 mins w/out intermission
Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Americas, 1333 Florida St.
Otro Mundo del Azul Profundo celebrates Loco Bloco's Carnaval 2025 theme in true Afro-Latin tradition - a high energy concert performance featuring live music, percussion and dance, followed by a DJ dance party. Come ready to move!celebrates Loco Bloco's Carnaval 2025 theme in true Afro-Latin tradition - a high energy concert performance featuring live music, percussion and dance, followed by a DJ dance party. Come ready to move!

Eryen Korath y Neblinas del Pacífico (Colombia / USA)
Mangroves and Marimba (2025, World Premiere)
Sat May 10, 8:30pm
90 mins mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St.
Eryen Korath Ortiz Garcés (Buenaventura, Colombia) and Neblinas del Pacífico (La Mission, San Francisco) present a sound fabric of marimba de chonta music from the Afro-Colombian Pacific: music of rivers and mangroves, of polyrhythms and harmonies, of spirituality and everyday life, of ancestors and tradition, of celebration and resistance.

Melody of China with Ali Akbar College of Music Ensemble (USA)
Mystic Harmonies (2025, World Premiere)
Sun May 11, 2:00pm
75 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St
Evoking fond memories of their last shared concert at SFIAF 2017, Melody of China performs in collaboration with Indian tabla virtuoso Swapan Chaudhuri. The concert program will include repertoire from minority ethnic groups in China as well as the world premiere of a new work for mixed ensemble featuring Chinese and Indian trained musicians.

Sameer Gupta (USA)
Jupiter (2024)
Sun May 11, 4:00pm
75 minutes mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.Monkey Brains 933 Treat Ave.
Jupiter is a shoegaze inspired free jazz experiment with visions of Indian classical music and universal consciousness joining epic improvisational journeys set across a luscious landscape of long-sample warping and shimmering dynamics. The piece sets a luminous tone through its interstellar raga-inspired improvisations woven throughout a cosmic drone landscape.

Teresa Tam, Obadiah Díaz Wrynla, Basma Edrees (USA)
Bach, Tango & Beyond
Sun May 11, 4:30pm
105 mins with intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St.
Teresa, Obadiah, and Basma unite with diverse musical histories to present a dynamic blend of traditions. Rooted in tango, their repertoire spans Bach to Piazzolla, Disney to Mandopop. Showcasing violin, voice, and bandoneón, their performances highlight expertise, cultural influences, and a shared exchange that resonates deeply with audiences and themselves.

Gamelan Sari Raras (USA)
Hanoman in Action
Sun May 11, 7:00pm
75 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Community Music Center, 544 Capp St
Experience the magic of Javanese culture with Gamelan Sari Raras in a captivating Wayang Kulit (traditional shadow puppet performance). Directed by Midiyanto, with puppeteer Ki Hanggoro Murti and vocalist Heni Savitri, the show blends ancient storytelling, shimmering shadows, and the hypnotic sounds of a traditional bronze-forged gamelan orchestra.

Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco
Sun May 11, 7:00pm
50 mins with intermission Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St
Tríptico is a captivating flamenco performance that blends the passion and tradition of flamenco with the innovative spirit of contemporary dance. Artistic Director and flamenco dancer Carola Zertuche leads this dynamic collaboration, where three dancers—Zertuche, contemporary artist Nol Simonse, and flamenco dancer Nevarez Encinias—explore the intersections of movement, gender, and expression.

Brock & Spencer (USA)
Celebrating Mother’s Day with a Queer American Songbook
Sun May 11, 7:30pm
105 mins with intermission. Tix: $25 Gen Adm. Reserved Seating & Tables $35 - $50.
The Chan National Queer Arts Center, 170 Valencia St.
The Chan Center and SFIAF join forces to bring the 2025 Festival to a close in an uncharacteristically wholesome manner—celebrating Mother’s Day in the company of two of the nation’s greatest authorities on show tunes as they bring a distinctly queer perspective to the Great American Songbook.

~XXX

Music Carries the Message at the2025 Festival

- All Concerts Listed by Dates & Times Below

Music Carries the Message at the
2025 Festival