Mike Henderson, dubbed “the Blues Professor” by John Lee Hooker, is a veteran blues guitarist, singer, and bandleader who holds a monthly afternoon slot at The Saloon, San Francisco’s oldest bar. His sets lean into electric Chicago and West Coast blues, with lived‑in vocals and sharp guitar work. It’s barroom blues at close range.
Katy Stephan’s residency at Comstock Saloon turns the room into a small, candlelit listening space. At the piano she blends jazz‑inflected originals with reimagined standards and art‑pop tunes, her clear, expressive voice sitting right on top of the clink of glassware and low conversation. It’s an intimate, song‑forward set that feels equally at home as...
The 3 Elements is the jazz-fusion project of Andre Mateo and Anthony Ferraro, bringing an energetic blend of improvisation, rhythmic groove, and contemporary fusion textures to The Grove.
The Magic School Busk holds weekly residency directly in front of The Red Window at the corner of Stockton and Columbus. This high‑energy busking collective has become one of North Beach’s unofficial “resident joy‑makers,” blurring the line between band and audience as people pause, sing along, or dance on the sidewalk. Whether you are enjoying a...
New York pianist-composer Alon Nechushtan leads a boundary-crossing quintet at Mr. Tipple’s on Friday, September 11, with Jesse Levit and Matt Renzi on saxophones, Sam Bevan on bass, and Greg Wyser-Pratte on drums. Known for combining inventive straight-ahead jazz, free improvisation, contemporary classical ideas, klezmer, and Middle Eastern grooves, Nechushtan brings an adventurous, rhythmically charged...
Hipsteria is one of San Francisco’s favorite jazz, soul and party bands! Members of Hipsteria have included some of music’s legendary musicians! Featuring “Tender Tim” on drums and some vocals Hipsteria plays every Friday at Etcetera Wine bar.
Rome Yamilov Blues Band at The Deluxe features the Bay Area–based guitarist and vocalist, whose encyclopedic command of blues styles is paired with an adventurous, cross-cultural instinct. Yamilov is known for work with Aki Kumar and for The Lenoir Investigation, his collaboration with guitarist Henry Kaiser, where he joined June Core, Kid Andersen, and Jim...
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats at Biscuits & Blues bring a San Francisco–born harmonica master, singer, and songwriter fronting one of modern electric blues’ most spirited and decorated bands. Joined by guitarist and producer Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, keyboardist and bassist Lorenzo Farrell, and drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin, Estrin mixes razor-sharp harp playing, witty songwriting, traditional...
The Sinatra Songbook at Black Cat brings acclaimed jazz vocalist Richard Cortez, backed by the Sam Hirsh Trio and an all-star band of special guest musicians, to San Francisco for...
Tiffany Austin“Thirsty” at Keys Jazz Bistro spotlights the Bay Area vocalist, composer, educator, and Berkeley Law graduate in a playful, provocative program built around blues, soul, swing, and an unmistakable...
Dr. Tammy Hall at the Redwood Room features the Grammy-winning Bay Area pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and musical director, whose playing is shaped by Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Classical, and the broader Black American music tradition. A lifelong pianist who began playing at age four, Hall has built a four-decade career as a sought-after bandleader and...
The Jazz Theory is a straight-ahead jazz ensemble appearing at Sheba Piano Lounge in the Fillmore District. Drawing on the Great American Songbook and the bebop and hard-bop tradition, the...
Two-time Latin Grammy nominee Eddy Navia and Quentin Navia are joined by master violinist Georges Lammam, dancers and dancing. Their performances blend the charango (a traditional ten-string instrument), haunting sounds of panpipes (zampoñas) and notched flutes (kena) with high-energy rhythms. You don’t need a plane ticket to experience a "little piece of South American carnaval,"...
Mr. Lucky & The Cocktail Party brings a mischievous, martini-soaked mix of lounge jazz, swing, classic pop, and performance art to Stookey’s Blue Room. Frontman Mr. Lucky’s long San Francisco performance history runs from 1970s punk and new wave through the Ring-a-Ding Duo and the Mr. Lucky Experience, a project known for reframing Songbook material...
Gaucho is a masterful Bay Area band that combines the influence of gypsy jazz of 1930’s Europe with the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, gutbucket blues and elements of ragtime. Their sound, a uniquely American concoction, blends instrumental acuity and lighthearted humor that keep their audience coming back for more....
Experience the resurgence of San Francisco’s historic Chinatown nightlife at the Lion’s Den. Tucked away on Wentworth Place, this bi-level lounge and performance space blends modern cocktail culture with the East meets West spirit of the Chinatown’s golden age. Every week, the venue transforms into a unique destination for live music, featuring a rotating roster...
Experience an intimate evening of soulful jazz, blues, and swing featuring the iconic trio of Lavay Smith, Mike Olmos, and Chris Siebert! Vocalist Lavay Smith delivers sultry, classic jazz and blues alongside the powerful trumpet of Mike Olmos. Musical director Chris Siebert on the house Hammond organ.
Ladies and Gentemen, introducing Fog City Swing! The bay area's newest and hottest swing band featuring an electrifying three horn front line, stellar crooning vocals, and a swing till you drop rhythm section. This seven piece ensemble will transport you to the 1940’s, it is truly the world’s smallest big band! Fog City Swing is...
Backed by an amazing band of talented musicians, Kiana Melendez takes the stage at Local Edition with a modern take on Jazz Classics and Jazzy twist on today’s Pop.
Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of “Ritmo y Voz”, where the deep-rooted traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz meet the power of dynamic vocals at Keys Jazz Bistro. This high-energy performance features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Kai Lyons, percussion master Ernesto, bassist Mazar, and the incomparable Einar Leliebre Nuñez, whose fiery rhythms and soaring voice...
Charles Unger Experience at Mr. Tipples features the San Francisco saxophonist, bandleader, composer, and visual artist with Sue Crossman on piano, Joe Nemzer on bass, and Tony “Steamroller” Coleman on drums. Unger’s energetic approach blends jazz improvisation with blues, R&B, soul, world beat, and New Orleans funk, creating a spirited, groove-driven set rooted in decades...
The Sinatra Songbook at Black Cat brings acclaimed jazz vocalist Richard Cortez, backed by the Sam Hirsh Trio and an all-star band of special guest musicians, to San Francisco for a three-night celebration of Frank Sinatra's music. Cortez has sold out engagements across New York, Oslo, Canada, Mexico, Cincinnati, and San Francisco, and his set...
Americano Social Club at The Deluxe brings San Francisco’s “la dolce vita” ensemble, led by mandolinist and vocalist Michael Zisman, for a romantic, cosmopolitan set that travels across musical borders. With guitarist/vocalist Jason Vanderford and bassist Joe Kyle Jr., the group blends Gypsy jazz, Italian and international song, jazz, folk, pop, classical, rock, and opera...
Prepare for a sonic assault of the best kind as Marshall Law takes the stage at Tupelo. A long-time staple of the San Francisco music scene, this powerhouse trio is known for delivering a "powerful punch" of high-energy rock and roll. Specializing in the golden era of guitar-driven music, Marshall Law transforms the intimate Grant...
Shad Harris is a California-based multi-instrumentalist and blues vocalist appearing at The Saloon in San Francisco. A bandleader known for his keytar work with The Groovenators, he blends West Coast blues with funk and has been active since the mid-1960s, including performances with artists such as Etta James and Charlie Musselwhite. He performs regularly at...