THURSDAY, AUG. 28
GRINDCORE
KING PARROT
King Parrot turns chaos into theater. The Melbourne grindcore outfit rips through songs like they’re trying to tear holes in the stage itself with blast beats, razor-edged riffs and frontman Matt Young’s deranged bark. Their records, from Bite Your Head Off to Ugly Produce to Young Person’s Guide to King Parrot, are brutal and unrelenting, all delivered with slapstick fury. But it’s the live shows that have cemented their cult following: hardcore as demolition derby. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: Thu, 7pm, Eli’s Mile High Club, 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. $25. 510.808.7565.
THURSDAY, AUG. 28
JAZZ
TIFFANY AUSTIN
Wherever she works or performs, Oakland vocalist Tiffany Austin is all about spreading the love. A soul-steeped jazz singer with an unusually expansive repertoire, Austin has become a creative force on and off the bandstand in the decade since the release of her Howard Wiley-produced debut album, Nothing But Soul. She’s become a cultural catalyst, founding a scholarship fund for aspiring young musicians and curating the city of Albany’s Juneteenth commemoration. Most impressively, Austin co-founded Wyldflowr Arts, a West Oakland performance space that’s become an essential creative hub for a variety of traditions and practices. She presents her own program at Wyldflowr with “Love Epoch,” joined by some of the finest players in the region. – ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: Thu, 7pm, Wyldflowr Arts, 809 37th St., Oakland. $35. 510.842.5055.
THURSDAY, AUG. 28
FILM
‘THE WORST FILM FEST 2025’
The biggest fail wins at TWFF’s second anniversary festival. Filmmakers submit their most disastrous endeavors; the audience shrieks, groans, laughs and cries. The event is a terrific mashup. See some flicks, sip a brew from sponsor Oakland United Beerworks and heckle the filmmakers—go easy on them and mention at least one redeeming feature—during two Q&A sessions following each film block. It’s all about creative risk, learning from mistakes and being unafraid to crash in order to rise. Proceeds from ticket sales go towards supporting an upcoming project by one of the screened filmmakers, which is chosen by the audience. Two awards will be given: The Worst of the Worst and Audience Choice Worst. – LOU FANCHER
INFO: Thu, 6pm, Mama Dog Studios, 700 26th St., Oakland. $18. 510.920.1474.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
INSTRUMENTAL
LARAAJI
In 1978, the legendary English musician Brian Eno set out to record his now-infamous Ambient series. After he released the first two installments, Eno walked down the street in New York and was stopped in his tracks by an autoharp busker. That musician was Laraaji, the only person Eno would invite to collaborate with him on the Ambient series, which resulted in 1980’s Ambient 3: Day of Radiance. Since then, Laraaji has never stopped creating music and exploring the space of sound. Recently, much of his earlier work has been reissued, leading the artist to revisit these tracks. This Friday, he will perform Ambient 3 live. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for ambient lovers anywhere. – MAT WEIR
INFO: Fri, 8pm, The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $39. 510.644.2020.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
PUNK
THE DICKIES
They gave us the theme song for Killer Klowns From Outer Space. They drove us ape—ape!—and got stuck in a pagoda with Tritia Toyota. Now, the Dickies return to the Bay to remind us when punk was fun and funny, instead of being so full of itself. What else can be expected of the band that has held the title of the Clown Princes of Punk for 50 years? Opening the show are “punk curious” duo Supersonic Symbiotic, “less than mid punk band” East Brothers and the punk Blunt Force Karma out of the Bay Area, NOT the metal band. Time to ice those knees and get some stretches in because the pit is calling. – MW
INFO: Fri, 8:30pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $23-$26. 510.526.5888.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
HIP-HOP
THE ROOTS
Of all the game-changing hip-hop artists from the 1990s, there aren’t many still performing today. Of that subset, fewer are even still relevant. Yet when it comes to the Philadelphia-based hip-hop collective the Roots, both of these boxes are checked off. This year, they are taking fans back to where it all began as the band celebrates the 30th anniversary of their sophomore full-length, Do You Want More?!!!??! Their first album on a major label, Do You Want More?!!!??! is considered a classic and quintessential jazz-rap album. However, it didn’t go certified gold until 2015—another example of artists being ahead of their time. – MW
INFO: Fri, 8pm, Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, 10 10th St., Oakland. $98-$209.
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
AFRICAN
ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO
Angélique Kidjo joins forces with cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a collaboration that resists category and centers on connection. Both artists are renowned for stretching past the borders of genre: Beninese-French singer-songwriter, actress and activist Kidjo weaves West African roots with jazz, funk and global pop; Ma has brought the cello through classical, folk and far beyond. Together, the two world-renowned musicians create a dialogue that asks audiences to listen differently—to hear how rhythm, memory and tradition have always crossed boundaries. – SBB
INFO: Sat, 8pm, The Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd., Berkeley. $65-$310. 510.871.9225.
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
JAZZ
CARMEN STAAF
When Brooklyn pianist Carmen Staaf isn’t touring with NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater, she can be found providing a creative jolt for an elite cadre of improvisers. Just this month, she’s been performing around the Bay Area with Berkeley-reared Brooklyn bassist Noah Garabedian and Humboldt-based violinist Jenny Scheinman. She’s featured on recent albums by both artists, but this gig focuses on music from Staaf’s upcoming Sunnyside album Sounding Line. Joined by Oakland vibraphonist Dillon Vado, well-traveled drummer Hamir Atwal and Berkeley clarinet wizard Ben Goldberg, she presents a series of solo, duo, trio and quartet encounters designed to reveal the deep connections between pianists Mary Lou Williams and Thelonious Monk. – AG
INFO: Sat, 5:30pm, Piedmont Piano Company, 1728 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $25-$30. 510.547.8188.
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
FOOD
SOUL FOOD STROLL: BLACK BUSINESS EDITION
Hella Bees in downtown Oakland will be transformed into a vibrant scene of food, fashion and entrepreneurship at the Soul Food Stroll. Chef Rene Johnson (“the Heartbeat of Oakland”) joins forces with the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce to create the event, which will feature “activated streets,” like Shrimp and Grits Lane and Chicken and Waffles Way, where local chefs serve up soulful creations. Black Business Vendor Row will feature live music, storytelling and the Blackberry Soul VIP Lounge, hosting a tasting with small bites from the acclaimed catering company. This Stroll is about more than food—it’s about economic empowerment and community healing. And also, food. – JANIS HASHE
INFO: Sat, Noon, Hella Bees, 2430 Harrison St., Oakland. $45-$50.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2
JAZZ
CHRIS MITCHELL
The award-winning jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader ushers in smoother-than-silk R&B vocals, but it’s the way he blazes through sax solos that knocks down every pin in the alley. The setlist for this show is sure to carry the essential inflections of classic standards, the Blues and Latin jazz. Followers of Mitchell or anyone awake today know it takes time and a bold, suave and sexy performer to build up three million fans across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook platforms, a data point Mitchell can claim. But it only takes 20 seconds of sound coming out of Mitchell’s mouth and from his fingers and beloved sax to recognize Yoshi’s new jazz series. – LF
INFO: Tue, 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $35-$69. 510.238.9200.
