March 25, 2025
For immediate release

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

Monkeybrains, Fingersnaps, Abanico & More
Local Businesses Step to the Fore

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 - $40. Festival Passes from $45 - $175
Box Office and Information: https://www.sfiaf.org or 415-399-9554

Photos Available on Request

March 25, 2025, San Francisco: The San Francisco International Arts Festival's (SFIAF) return to the Mission District has caused the event to evolve and grow in a number of different ways from the model it operated at the Fort Mason Center prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only has the Festival gone from six to 20 stages, but the nature of some of those venues is also strikingly different with a number of non-arts businesses joining the program as presenting partners and venues.These include Monkeybrains, Fingersnaps Media Arts, Barbara Berkeley's chiropractic studio, Abanico Coffee Roasters, Cafe la Boheme, Chile Lindo and Folk Yoga. All are taking the plunge and becoming the presenters of music, dance, theatre and/or visual arts  to join with businesses such as Bissap Baobab, El Rio and Temo's who came on board in 2024.

A number of them are members of the Mission Merchants Association and answered the Festival's call for non-traditional venues to participate.

The Festival is also working in collaboration with San Francisco City Departments for the first time, co-presenting two lectures with the Mission District Branch of the Public Library at Ruth's Table and featuring a concert at Chile Lindo with the Planning Department's Cultural Corridors Program. The program develops culturally grounded strategies in collaboration with cultural workers, small businesses, and local organizations. It seeks to anchor cultural resources and promote economic prosperity in these communities.

Altogether more than two dozen concerts, plays and other activities will take place at small business establishments including the US premiere of Canadian Duane Forrest's solo theatre show, Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World, Eric Kupers' immersive performance piece Lost & Found, Melissa Cruz Flamenco with a dance concert titled Tablao, classical music from the Romano Ophir Duo, carnatic jazz by Prasant Radhakrishnan, Blues by Valerie Troutt and Latin Jazz with the Barrio Mundial Trio. For a full-line up of all the artists presenting their work at non-arts small business venues in this year's festival, see the calendar listings below.

Festival Director, Andrew Wood said of the plan, "We are adapting the program to integrate with the environment. Our goal is to fully engage with the Mission District neighborhood and the different types of entities that make up the community here."

Mission Merchants Association President Ryen Motzek expressed full support for the Festival’s partnership with local small businesses as venues, stating, “This concept is one we wholeheartedly endorse. Building connections between artists and local businesses not only revitalizes the neighborhood but also fosters cross-pollination between the Festival’s audience and the merchants’ customer base.”

Monkeybrains is a local internet provider that has offered affordable, accessible and independent internet to over 25,000 Bay Area residents and businesses since 1998. Monkeybrains will play host to seven Festival concerts.

Co-founders, Alejandro Menendez and Rudy Rucker said, "As a partner with the San Francisco International Arts Festival, Monkeybrains is committed to contributing to the community as a venue for the festival's multiple performances, events, and shows, highlighting the diversity of the arts."

Lamont Bransford-Young of Fingersnaps Media Arts, a DJ Studio where the art of the DJ Mix is taught and who is presenting seven concerts, was philosophical stating, "I wanted to offer my studio to the Festival to take part in something greater than myself."

Ana Valle, owner of Abanico Coffee Roasters who is presenting two concerts said, “As a small business owner, I believe there is always room for experimentation, evolution, and growth. Abanico Coffee's partnership with musicians and dancers offers a valuable opportunity for community building within our neighborhood in the Mission District."

For Dr. Barbara Berkeley, D.C. who is also presenting two concerts, the reasons are more personal.

"I love the performing arts," she said, "So I was honored when the Festival selected my studio as a venue for the program!"

Working with the Mission's merchant associations in this fashion is just one way that the Festival tries to engage with local businesses. The organization also partners with selected establishments who offer discounts to Festival ticket holders. There are more details AT THIS LINK.

A Chronological List of Festival Artist Performances at Small Business Venues.

The Wandering Ensemble (USA)
Lost & Found (2025, World Premiere)
Wed Apr 30, 8:00pm
70 mins w/out intermission.
Tix: Pay what you can. Suggest: $20. No one turned away...
El Rio, 3158 Mission St.
Lost & Found explores the many losses of the last five years as well as emerging futures arising out of the wreckage of old systems, institutions, beliefs, and habits. Inclusive dance, music, theatre, ritual, storytelling, and spectacle weave an immersive performance ceremony guiding participants and witnesses towards vibrant aliveness.

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.
Fingersnaps 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.

Moe Staiano Ensemble (USA)
Music for Eight Guitars (The Parting Gift)
Fri May 2 7:30pm
30mins. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Monkeybrains, 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.

Speakeasy Storytellers
Everyone Has a Story to Tell
Sat May 3 3:30pm
90mins. Tix: $0-$20 Sliding Scale
Monkeybrains, 933 Treat Ave
The theme of the event, Everyone Has a Story to Tell, is a testament to the heritage that dwells in the veins of every human being. Stories connect and bridge differences. History lives within us -- a compelling narrative waiting to be told, whether a person knows it or not; every single person has a story within them.

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

The Last Supper Party (USA & Canada)
An Evening of Poetry and Music with Fernando Marti, Duane Forrest and Susan Dambroff. Open Microphone to Follow.
Sat. May 3, 6:00pm, 90 mins w/ intermission. Tix: FREE
Temo's Café, 3000 24th St
The Festival organization's monthly spoken word and music performance series inspired by Fe Bongolan’s 200 sq. ft. canvas of the same name. The Last Supper Party invites audience to share ideas and find inspiration in the thoughts and words of artists whose perspectives are drawn from a kaleidoscope of cultures. But who are united by compassion and a common desire to seek justice, equity and truth.

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.

Francis Wong (USA)
Wong Wei’s Legacy (work-in-progress)
Sun May 4 3:00pm. 60 mins. w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28
Monkeybrains, 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.

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.
Fingersnaps 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 Wandering Ensemble (USA)
Lost & Found (2025, World Premiere)
Thu April 8, 8:00pm
70 mins w/out intermission.
Tix: Pay what you can. Suggest: $20. No one turned away...
Monkeybrains, 933 Treat Ave
Lost & Found explores the many losses of the last five years as well as emerging futures arising out of the wreckage of old systems, institutions, beliefs, and habits. Inclusive dance, music, theatre, ritual, storytelling, and spectacle weave an immersive performance ceremony guiding participants and witnesses towards vibrant aliveness.

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.
Fingersnaps 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.

PULP (USA)
Pulp and it's completely different but also still pulp (2025, World Premiere)
Fri May 9, 7:30pm; Sat May 10, 7:00pm; Sun May 11, 3:00pm
60 min w/out intermission Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Folk Yoga Studio, 3315 20th St
Pulp and it's completely different but also still pulp is a dance show full of personality, attitude, vulnerability and juicy oranges. PULP uses dance and theater to ask questions, have conversations and hopefully make you laugh about our relationships with ourselves, the world and its outrageous constructs. PULP shares their perspectives on what consumes most of their 30-something-year-old lives: autonomy, identity, injustice, pleasure, communication, betrayal and love.

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.
Monkeybrains, 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 (USA)
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

The Po' Poets Project of POOR Magazine (USA)
Houseless/Poor Mamas Write Homes with Poems (2025, World Premiere)
Sat May 10, 5:00pm. 120 mins with intermission.
Tix: Pay what you can. Suggest: $20. No one turned away...
Monkeybrains, 933 Treat Ave
Po' Poets of POOR Magazine (poor, houseless, disabled, youth and elder poets in resistance) presents writing from street, shelter and community-based theatre/poetry workshops with poor and houseless mamas.

The Shadow Band with Others (USA)
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.
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.

Sameer Gupta (USA)
Jupiter (2024)
Sun May 11, 4:00pm
75 mins w/out intermission. Tix: $20-$28 Gen Adm.
Monkeybrains 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.