Freebie of the week: The 122-year-old Golden Gate Park Bandshell, one of many oldest and largest of its type in North America, is thought for a lot of issues. With its Italian Renaissance structure, it’s among the many most distinctive landmarks in a park that is stuffed with them. It’s also distinguished as one of many metropolis’s most beneficial presents: The bandshell is formally named the Spreckels Temple of Music in honor of sugar magnate Claus Spreckels, who donated the $80,000 construction (in 1900s {dollars}) to the town on the urging of his son, Adolph B. Spreckles, who was Parks Fee president on the time. Largely, nonetheless, the bandshell is thought for yearly internet hosting greater than 100 free live shows, ranging in style from jazz to classical to roots music, rock, R&B and extra. This weekend, the bandshell kicks off its 2025 season with a free gig that includes Bay Space jazz/blues/soul singer and activist Christie Aida and The Free Press; Afro-Latin band Batuki; ecologically minded singer Anna Karney; NorCal singer-songwriter Ben Lang; and the Stephanie Woodford Duo. Reportedly, some (or all) will carry out covers of Beatles/Paul McCartney songs, in celebration of the exhibition “Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm,” which opens this weekend on the de Younger Museum. The live performance runs from midday to 4 p.m. on Saturday; it’s adopted by a reggae present at 4:20 p.m. Sunday headlined by DJ Steering. The live shows are organized by the San Francisco arts/recreation nonprofit Illuminate. Extra details about the bandshell and the live performance sequence is at illuminate.org
Endgames Improv presents its comedy present “Go Tech Yourself” on Feb. 27 in San Francisco. (Courtesy Endgames Improv through Bay Metropolis Information)
Unhealthy concepts are humorous: Endgames Improv is a scrappy San Francisco troupe that provides comedy and improv lessons as effectively concept-driven comedy exhibits massive on viewers participation. The corporate’s overriding objective is to coach numerous younger humorous entertainers after which put them on a stage the place folks don’t need to pay lots. In all probability Endgame Improv’s greatest identified common present is “Your F***ed Up Relationship,” which takes of us’ actual tales of relationship woes and makes use of them as inspiration for improv comedy bits. You may catch the roughly one-hour present at 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Endgames can also be serving a once-a-month present that appears like a blast: Go Tech Your self,” wherein comedians act out viewers members’ descriptions of, as organizers put it, the “craziest, absurd and most unnecessary app ideas” folks can provide you with. The present returns to Endgame Improv’s theater, 2965 Mission St., San Francisco, at 8 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $17.35; go to endgamesimprov.com.
Longtime Bay Space musician Mark Hummel brings his annual Blues Harmonica Blowout live performance to Berkeley Feb. 28 and March 1. (Courtesy Mark Hummel)
Harp custom: Harmonica participant Mark Hummel, 70, has had a considerable influence on the native music scene, and blues, since settling within the East Bay within the early Seventies. He’s collaborated with icons Charlie Musselwhite, John Mayall, Elvin Bishop, Nation Joe McDonald, Duke Robillard and Angela Strehli, has launched greater than 20 albums below his title and contributed to numerous others. However maybe his most beloved accomplishment, at the very least amongst blues followers, is the annual Blues Harmonica Blowout live performance he based and has been operating since 1991. Hummel by no means fails to draw A-list musicians. This yr’s version isn’t any exception. Visitor artists embody the extraordinary musician and blues/soul singer Curtis Salgado; the acclaimed Alligator Information duo Nick Moss and Dennis Gruenling; Marta Suñé, aka Candy Marta; guitarist Bob Welsh and extra. You may catch the 2025 Harmonica Blowout at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the Freight & Salvage Espresso Home in Berkeley. Tickets are $54-$59. Go to thefreight.org/exhibits.
Titus Muzzi III has the title function in Livermore Vallery Opera’s manufacturing of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” (Courtesy Titus Muzzi)
Downfall of the don: A lot of Mozart’s operas are frothy delights, with some semi-serious themes expertly woven in—“The Marriage of Figaro” being a trademark working example. However his massively standard, nearly as often carried out “Don Giovanni” is a distinct breed altogether. It’s a tragedy within the traditional Greek custom, the place the protagonist’s deadly flaw brings about his personal undoing, that’s nonetheless shot via with some really comedic episodes. Livermore Valley Opera brings the composer’s masterwork to life on the Bankhead Theater this weekend for 4 performances with that duality totally in thoughts. American baritone Titus Muzzi III makes his LVO debut within the title function of the swaggering, lecherous nobleman whose proud and cussed defiance of authority results in his spectacular and fiery demise. And at his facet via a lot of the opera and offering many of the comedian aid is his long-serving servant Leporello, sung by bass-baritone Samuel Weiser, whose hilarious “catalogue” aria in regards to the Don’s multitude of amorous conquests is a determined spotlight of the work. Cuban-American soprano Meryl Dominguez sings as Donna Anna, and soprano Cara Gabrielson is Donna Elvira, each making their LVO debuts. Kirk Eichelberger returns to the LVO stage to deploy the thunderous bass that finally drags the doomed Don down. The opera’s run kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with repeat performances at 2 p.m. Sunday and a couple of p.m. March 8-9. Discover tickets, $25-$110, at livermorevalleyopera.com.
Pianist Francesco Piemontesi makes his San Francisco Symphony debut taking part in Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. (Picture by Camille Blake/Courtesy San Francisco Symphony through Bay Metropolis Information)
A crush of lush music: Two highlights of the Romantic period of music are on faucet this weekend, as visitor conductor Robin Ticciati, the present music director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, steps to the rostrum in Davies Corridor to guide the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra via performances of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s standard Symphony No. 2 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s exquisitely lovely Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Main. On the bench for the Beethoven, which was accomplished in 1806, is Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi, making his San Francisco Symphony debut. Tickets for all three performances can be found in restricted quantities. They happen at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a couple of p.m. Sunday. Tickets, $49-$225, are at sfsymphony.org.
