You may be firing up the grill and heading out for the fireworks on for the Fourth of July, but do you know what’s up in the Bay Area the rest of the weekend? Here’s a quick guide to the musical events of interest to families.
July 4, Thursday, 1 p.m., music concourse, Golden Gate Park: Golden Gate Park Band. For some people, it just wouldn’t be the Fourth without the band (not the orchestra). If that’s you and you’re within range of this San Francisco attraction, here’s a traditional concert, free and complete with Sousa marches, and classics by Copland and Bernstein.
July 4, Thursday, 8 p.m., Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View: San Francisco Symphony at Shoreline. This yearly concert by the San Francisco Symphony is wildly popular, the $24-$35 ticket price (plus $10 parking fee) notwithstanding. The orchestra will be playing classic film music, Morton Gould’s American Salute, Copland’s Old American Songs, featuring opera bass Michael Sumuel, and, of course, Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. The climax of the event comes with fireworks.
July 5, Friday, 7:30, Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael: Ozomatli. This ultra-hip band out of L.A. won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but they have a distinctive sound, built by embracing the wealth of urban music genres in the city of angels. They bring hip-hop, R&B, and a variety of Latin American and Caribbean genres together with politically aware lyrics “promoting a positive message of peace.” They have five albums out, they’ve been Cultural Ambassadors of the U.S. State Department, and they’ve performed for President Obama twice. If you’re thinking about going to the fair, all the musical events are free with admission.
July 6, Saturday, 12-3 p.m., The Esplanade at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco: Accordion Daze. This is an afternoon in the sun with Big Lou’s Dance Party, which plays all kinds of dance music from swing to polka to country & western; La Familia Peña-Govea, which brings Tex-Mex and Colombian music to the stage; and The Gonifs, a klezmer band. It’s the accordian three ways, and it should be great fun for little kids, at least for a while.
July 6, Saturday, 5 p.m., Vasona Lake Park, Los Gatos: Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic. You’re thinking, another free outdoor concert this weekend. Yes, and another accordian celebration, this time with local musician Andre Thierry bringing the Louisiana Bayou to Los Gatos. The music veers from traditional to a more contemporary sound; and what’s better for kids who want to move than some lively dance music? The concert is free, but there’s a $6 fee for parking on park grounds.
July 7, Sunday, 2-4 p.m., Union Square Live, San Francisco: Picklewater Free Circus Festival. This event features Circus Bella and the kids of the Prescott Circus Theatre, as well as live music. Circus Bella, now in its fifth year, has found a niche touring Bay Area parks with a show that is based on a theme (the idea pioneered by Cirque du Soleil). The endearing, one-ring troupe is currently touring a show called Shine. If you don’t catch them this weekend, there are still plenty of chances.