 |
Artists Performing at No Kings III
San Francisco March 28, 2026
Market Street
11:00am Market & Embarcadero Musicians Action Group
Musicians Action Group (MAG) is an ad-hoc group of musicians, horn players and percussionists, who have played at Bay Area actions and events for progressive political causes for over thirty-five years. The group started in the early 1980’s, participating with the Livermore Action Group protesting nuclear weapons research. MAG is comprised of amateur and professional musicians who make music for marches, rallies, boycotts, picket lines, block parties, neighborhood actions and celebrations. We use our music to mobilize for union causes, against war, for civil rights, against fascism, for women’s rights, against police brutality, for the rights of immigrants, and with left/progressive movements in our local communities and around the world.
12:30pm Market & Sixth Street Anna Karney Band (Duo)
Throughout her storied music career, Anna Karney has performed across the country and released an incredible catalog of chart topping and critically acclaimed music. Always keeping her mind on social justice and positive messages, KARNEY channels her love for the planet and the beauty of the earth into her live performances for stage and protest rallies.
Embarcadero Plaza
11:15am John Elliot & Mike Rufo (Medley)
See below for biographies
11:25 The Wandering Ensemble “We Got The Power”
The Wandering Ensemble sprouted in the wake of the COVID Pandemic to experiment with inclusive, creative, and sustainable ways of collaborating that responded directly to the massive changes rippling through our world. Directed by Eric Kupers, the ensemble is a fusion of Dandelion Dancetheater and the CSUEB Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble. Committed to honoring the complexities of creating work by and for people of all abilities/disabilities, shapes, sizes, cultures, ancestries, body identities, neuro-types, art forms, modes of perception, and walks of life, they collaborate year-round, welcoming new members online or in person. The Wandering Ensemble perform at the San Francisco International Arts Festival on Saturday May 2. https://www.sfiaf.org/sfiaf2026_dandelion_dancetheater_wandering_ensemble
11:40am The Rainbow Girls
Rainbow Girls are an eclectic folk trio hailing from the golden countryside just north of California’s Bay Area. Vanessa May, Erin Chapin, and Caitlin Gowdey seamlessly combine soul-touching harmonies, varitextured instrumentals, and poignant lyrical content into a beautiful sonic tapestry. Throughout their performance, voices are paired with an ever-changing amalgamation of acoustic and slide guitar, keys, upright bass, harmonica, and an array of vocal techniques creating an engaging and often emotionally moving live show.
12:05 Emma’s Revolution
Known for fearless, truth-telling lyrics and melodies you can’t resist singing, Emma's Revolution is the award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O. Performances feature the duo's signature soaring harmonies and lush acoustic instruments, in songs that span folk to jazz and funk to rock. For 25 years, Emma’s Revolution has written about critical issues happening in the world, lending their voices to the movements those issues inspire and delivering moving, uplifting performances. Their songs have been praised by Pete Seeger, covered by Holly Near, featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and Pacifica’s Democracy Now!, and sung around the world. Emma’s Revolution perform at the San Francisco International Arts Festival on Thursday April 30 https://www.sfiaf.org/sfiaf2026_emmas_revolution
12:15pm John Elliot
John Elliott is a human, the most common and widespread species of primate. He does many things, among them writing songs and performing them. He has been releasing albums and performing in every type of venue you can imagine since the late 90s, touring in 49 of the 50 states and all over Europe. He believes most urban car trips can be replaced by walking, transit, or riding a bike. His new album, I Am John Mayer, was named one of the twenty best Bay Area albums of 2025 by KQED.
12:25 The Soapbox Salute
There are so many great artists out there with a powerful message, but fusing musical artistry, songwriting, and social commentary is rare indeed. The Soapbox Salute tries to do just that with its eclectic and rootsy mix of folk, rock, soul, and Americana. The songs brim harmony and prose, driving rhythm, and accents of brass. Aside from the music, the lyrics are deeply thoughtful and compassionate, centering the plight of downtrodden and forgotten people. Timothy is a musician, teacher, and activist from the San Francisco Bay Area.
12:35 Mike Rufo
Mike Rufo is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from the Bay Area. Mike’s music builds upon powerful lyrics, soaring vocals, and melodic riffs to explore emotional depths and transformation. Mike's mission as a performer is to bring resonance and feelings of renewal to audiences, while co-creating a deep sense of connection and community. Mike blends folk, bluegrass, Celtic, roots rock, and some funk, with soulful lyrics and dynamic guitar work, to provide an uplifting journey of the heart, mind, and body. Mike also serves on the boards of Defending Rights & Dissent and Music Declares Emergency.
Civic Center Plaza
1:45pm Pete Kronowitt
Pete Kronowitt is an independent music artist Singer/songwriter who crafts honest, thoughtful, and accessible folk-based pop songs in the vein of Jack Johnson and Peter Case. Kronowitt honed his skills in the “stairwells and quads” of American University in Washington before releasing his 1995 debut album, Phases of the Heart. He has four other albums: Threads, elements, Lone Voice & Do Something Now. Pete Kronowitt and The EveryDay Items will perform a benefit for Indivisible SF at the San Francisco International Arts Festival on Sunday May 3 https://www.sfiaf.org/sfiaf2026_pete-kronowitt
1:50pm Taina Asili
Taína Asili, a dynamic singer, composer, interdisciplinary artist, and educator carrying on the tradition of her Puerto Rican ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice. She is celebrated by NPR, Rolling Stone, and Billboard for her soulful, genre-blending music echoing calls for love and liberation. With powerful vocals and a multi-genre fusion traversing salsa, rock, reggaeton, Afrobeat, and other global sounds, Asili’s music is both unique and deeply rooted. Accompanied by her brilliant ensemble, she delivers energetic performances at diverse venues nationwide – from iconic stages such as Lincoln Center, to renowned festivals like San Francisco Pride, to historic events like The Women’s March on Washington, to numerous colleges and conferences – inspiring audiences to dance to the rhythm of rebellion.
2:20 Genny Lim
Genny Lim is an American poet, playwright, and performer. She is the ninth poet laureate of San Franciso, and the first Chinese American in the role. She was the Chair of Community Arts and Education Committee, and Chair of the Advisory Board for the San Francisco Writers Corps. She has performed with Max Roach, Herbie Lewis, Francis Wong, and Jon Jang among others in San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Houston and Chicago.
2:35pm Tureeda Mikel
Tureeda Mikel (aka Ture Ade’ or Story Medicine Woman) is an award winning poet with her work published in four languages. Tureeda has also been variously referred to as an activist for holism, Djele Musa, Woman of Truths, Black Panther Alum, and word magician. Her publications include, Synchronicity, The Oracle of Sun Medicine; nominated for the 2020 California Book Award, the Patrice Lumumba Anthology (in collaboration with East-Side Arts Alliance, 2021). Tureeda is a Bay Area Writing Project Teacher Consultant at UC Berkeley where she has published 72 anthologies with CA Poets in the Schools for at-risk youth. She has also been the Eth-Noh-Tec Nu Wa Delegate storyteller in Beijing and the Museum of African Diaspora 2022, poet in residence. Tureeda will perform with Eth-Noh-Tec as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival on Saturday May 2 https://www.sfiaf.org/sfiaf2026_eth_noh_tec
3:00pm Marvin Flores
Marvin is a Chicano poet, teaching artist, and community organizer who won the 2024 Youth Speaks Bay Area Slam and went on to represent the Bay Area at the national youth slam in Washington, D.C. His work centers on bringing poetry to under-served and underrepresented youth in the South Bay, with the goal of launching a youth slam specifically for local voices. Marvin also started Los Jaguares, a student-led organization at Foothill College dedicated to political education, advocacy, and holistic community support. Los Jaguares addresses the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of Latino students by providing opportunities for students to become involved in their local communities. Marvin is also the first ever poet laureate of his college campus.
3:15pm Rebecca Solnit
Rebecca Solnit is an American writer and activist. She has written on a variety of subjects, including feminism, the environment, politics, place, and art. She is the author of more than 25 books, including Orwell’s Roses, Hope in the Dark, Men Explain Things to Me, A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster, and A Field Guide to Getting Lost. A longtime climate and human rights activist, she serves on the boards of Oil Change International and Third Act.
Fulton Plaza
12:30pm – 3:30pm
People’s Circus Theatre
People’s Circus Theatre is a growing performing arts organization based in San Francisco that blends circus and theatre in ensemble-based productions. Founded in 2023 by seasoned performer, producer and director Felicity Hesed, People’s Circus Theatre delivers poignant, thought-provoking and memorable experiences that win new audiences back to the wonder of live performance, through a unique blend of theatre, dance, and circus arts. People’s Circus Theatre creates high-quality performances, employs local artists, develops the next generation of performers, and produces shows that are highly accessible for diverse audiences. People’s Circus Theatre’s previous productions include "Reindeer Games" and "The Nightingale." People’s Circus Theatre will perform at the San Francisco International Arts Festival on April 30 and May 1 https://www.sfiaf.org/sfiaf2026_peoples-circus-theatre
Mystic Ventures Collective
Mystic Ventures Collective creates queer focused immersive theater in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their spooky mystery show, The Gravermind Estate, won No Proscenium's Pick of the Week in 2019. Show styles range from in person to virtual to pre-recorded on old school tapes. Mystic Ventures Collective will perform at the San Francisco International Arts Festival on Saturday May 9 https://www.sfiaf.org/sfiaf2026_mystic-ventures-collective
