Red Poppy Art House

Benefit Concert for Iran-Iraq Earthquake: Persian & Kurdish Music
2017-12-03 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has shaken the northern border region between Iran and Iraq, killing at least 396 people and injuring thousands more. Moved by the tragedy of the deadliest earthquake of 2017, musician and Kermanshah native Sirvan Manhoubi brings together a group of musicians to raise both awareness and funds in support of the victims. The evening will feature Iranian and Kurdish traditional music – the first part of the performance representing grief, and the second part symbolizing the Kurdish culture through hope and vibrant melodies.

FEATURING:
Farhad Fathieh‏ – kamancheh
Azadeh Farpour – vocals
Siavosh Behbahani ‏- vocals
Mahbod Zamani – ‏tombak
Behfar Bahadoran – tar
Raman Osman – vocals, saaz
Sirvan Manhoubi – oud, arrangement

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $20-25 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Trio Caminos: Music of Venezuela, Spain, Cuba & America
2017-12-07 19:30 - 22:00
Trio Caminos, an acoustic ensemble that offers a fresh mix of Venezuelan, Spanish, Cuban, and American styles, takes the Poppy stage for an evening of original compositions that blend flamenco with joropo and Afro-Caribbean beats, as well as music by renowned composers such as Astor Piazzolla, Hermeto Pascoal, and Michel Camilo.

FEATURING:
Carlos Caminos – guitar
Sascha Jacobsen – bass
Marlon Aldana – cajón

Learn more: Website
Photo by: Zaque Eyn

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite for this show (or for all 3 nights in this Red Poppy mini-residency!)
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Trio Garufa: Tango Argentino
2017-12-08 19:30 - 22:00
World travelers Trio Garufa–comprised of Argentinian guitarist Guillermo García, Swiss bandoneon player Adrian Jost, and American bassist Sascha Jacobsen–return to the Poppy for an evening of tango: classic Argentine tangos, as well as Argentine folklore music, modern tangos from Piazzolla, electro-tangos, and original compositions.

FEATURING:
Guillermo García – guitar
Adrian Jost – bandoneon
Sascha Jacobsen – string bass

Learn more: Website

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite for this show (or for all 3 nights in this Red Poppy mini-residency!)
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

The Musical Art Quintet: Chamber con Alma
2017-12-09 19:30 - 22:00
The Musical Art Quintet, formed in 2008 during weekly jam sessions in the Mission, features the music of bandleader/composer/bassist Sascha Jacobsen. The MAQ’s modern compositions blend jazz harmony, world rhythms, and a chamber-music sensibility upon which the players of the quintet improvise.

FEATURING:
Sascha Jacobsen – bass
Lewis Patzner – cello
Charith Premawardhana – viola
Anthony Blea – violin
Michelle Walther – violin

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Sascha Jacobsen has performed with Kronos Quartet, Tommy Igoe, Rita Moreno, Hugh Jackman, Martin Short, Mandy Patinkin & Patti LuPone, Marc Shaiman, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Newman, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrew Lippa, Eddie Duran, Dave MacNab, Adam Theis, and Tim Weed. In addition, he has shared the stage with tango masters Raul Jaurena, Pepe Motta, Pablo Estigarribia, and Maria Volonte; flamenco greats Chuscales, Jose Luis Rodriguez, and Juanito Pascual; as well as Grammy-winning artists Mads Tolling and Tupac Mantilla. Sascha is in demand as a performer, composer, and arranger with commissions from the San Francisco Arts Council, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, San Jose Dance, San Jose Youth Symphony, Berkeley Youth Symphony and SF Friends of Chamber Music. He is also dedicated to teaching and has coached students at several schools.

Learn more: Website
Photo by: Zaque Eyn

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite for this show (or for all 3 nights in this Red Poppy mini-residency!)
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Mean to Me: Classic Vocal Jazz Set to a Modern Tune
2017-12-14 19:30 - 22:00
Mean to Me is a jazz quintet that resurrects classic jazz of the 1920s through 1940s–sometimes interlaced with the more modern stylings of Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and Ahmad Jamal–and an eclectic variety of soul-jazz and Latin jazz.

FEATURING:
Judy Butterfield – vocals
Ben Slater – saxophone, piano
Cairo McCochran – drums
Dave Shaff – trumpet
Scott Foster – guitar
Adam Gay – bass

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Mean to Me is comprised of four core members: Judy, who trained as a cabaret singer but whose love is for soul music; Ben, a pianist interested in exploring jazz’s roots after living in New Orleans; Cairo, a drummer with a deep knowledge of music the world over; and Dave, a trumpeter drawn to more modern and funky sounds. All four grew up in the Bay Area and have played together on and off for ten years.

Learn more: Facebook | SoundCloud

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Caminos Flamencos with Javi & Luis Jimenez of Barrio Manouche: Flamenqueando
2017-12-15 19:30 - 22:00
Six members of flamenco group Caminos Flamencos and Django-inspired Barrio Manouche explore the boundaries between both musical worlds to form an exciting mix of flamenco, jazz, and Roma jazz. Directed by Emmy Award-winning choreographer/dancer Yaelisa, Artistic Director of Caminos Flamencos, this performance is a smaller version of the highly successful Gypsy Jazz Meets Flamenco.

FEATURING:
Jason “El Rubio” McGuire – guitar
Felix de Lola – vocals
Yaelisa – dance
Fanny Ara – dance
Javi Jimenez – guitar
Luis Jimenez – percussion

Learn more: Caminos Flamencos | Barrio Manouche

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $20-25 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Michelle Alany & The Mystics: Sephardic Soul & Balkan Music
2017-12-16 20:00 - 22:00
Michelle Alany & The Mystics brings fresh interpretations of ancient melodies, hypnotic strings, and wild improvisation with their energizing soulful music. The band consists of seasoned jazz, classical, and globally folk-minded musicians with diverse musical backgrounds in Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Klezmer music.

FEATURING:
Michelle Alany – violin, vocals
Gregory Masaki Jenkins – clarinet
Misha Khalikulov – cello
Travis Hendrix – upright bass
Faisal Zedan – percussion
Andrew Cohen – accordion

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Violinist and vocalist Michelle Alany is a dynamic performer and internationally touring ambassador of world folk traditions, specializing in Sephardic, Mediterranean, and Eastern music.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:30PM / Show 8:00PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Alejandro y María Laura: Peruvian Duo of Singer-Songwriters
2017-12-29 19:30 - 22:00
Alejandro y María Laura return to the Bay Area to perform music from their third and latest album, La casa no existe, in an acoustic and intimate format. Expect to hear the songs as they were first conceived, as well as tunes from their two previous critically acclaimed albums.

FEATURING:
Alejandro Rivas – electric guitar, vocals
María Bustamante – keyboard, piano, synth, vocals

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Duo, bandleaders, life partners, co-authors, and travelers. Since 2009, the Peruvian pair Alejandro y María Laura have continued to share deeply felt songs that span various themes. Their first two records, Paracaídas (2011) and Fiesta para los muertos (2013), were produced by Matias Cella—producer of Jorge Drexler’s albums Amar La Trama and Cara B—and showcased the eclectic combination of the duo’s songwriting. In the past few years, the couple has visited more than twenty Latin American and U.S. cities, has participated in a number of festivals, and has shared the stage with many artists including Kevin Johansen, Javier Barria, and Aterciopelados.
La casa no existe (2017), Alejandro y María Laura’s third record, was released recently to both critical and popular acclaim. Produced by Juanito el Cantor, the new album was recorded with local musicians from Lima and features contributions from South American artists La Lá, Paulinho Moska, Perotá Chingó, and Ezequiel Borra. Singles include “Matrimonio” and “Aguita del equilibrio,” the latter song having surpassed two million streams on Spotify.

Learn more: Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Pasatempo Rebetika: Soulful Greek Blues
2017-12-30 19:30 - 22:00
Pasatempo Rebetika presents the heart and soul music of Greece with authenticity and depth. Christos Govetas and wife, Ruth Hunter, are well-known proponents of this music, both in the U.S. and Greece, and form the core of the group. Vocal harmonies blend to tell the stories of love, loss, exile, and more. They are joined by daughter Eleni on acoustic bass and violin, son Bobby on baghlama, and guitarist Nick Maroussis.

FEATURING:
Christos Govetas – bouzouki, clarinet, vocals
Ruth Hunter – accordion, vocals
Nick Maroussis – guitar
Eleni Govetas – bass, violin
Bobby Govetas – bass, baghlama

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Rebetika started out as music of the Greek underworld around the turn of the last century. It has endured and become the music of the Greek soul, often referred to as “Greek blues”, perhaps because of the themes which the music gives voice to. The songs deal with the timeless issues of love, heartbreak, drugs, jail, illness, exile, and death. In spite of the heavy nature of those topics, Rebetika music also maintains an innocence and joy, a love of life and passion which transcend time and language.
Learn more: CD Baby

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Ren Geisick and Her Quartet: Love Song & Other Misunderstandings
2018-01-05 19:30 - 22:00
Ren Geisick presents songs from her new CD, Ren, Love Song, along with new original music and jazz-meets-country arrangements. Kicking off the evening is a set from Adira Shark, whose rich vocals and unique style will be a great compliment to Ren and her quartet.

FEATURING:
Adira Shark – guitar, vocals
Ren Geisick – vocals
Jon Dryden – piano
Danny Gerz – bass
Bob Welsh – guitar
Jim Kassis – drums

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Her talent honed during countless renditions of old standards, Ren Geisick seamlessly melds jazz delivery with a country sensibility. Taking cues from greats like Eva Cassidy and Nina Simone, she focuses on the connections between singer and listener to tease out emotional responses while also delivering a solid, entertaining performance. While immersed in San Jose’s thriving jazz scene, she started to interweave the twang and atmosphere of Americana with the musical complexity of jazz. The result is a winning combination of heartfelt lyrics delivered with impeccable timing and style.
Learn more: Facebook | Bandcamp

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

The Project: Stringed Instruments from Around the World
2018-01-06 19:30 - 22:00
The Project explores Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Eastern European, Celtic, Medieval, and West African music through original compositions and unexpected instrumentation, including tarhu duets.

FEATURING:
Daniel Berkman – kora, percussion
Gary Haggerty – oud, tarhu
Peter Maund – percussion
Sarah Michael – kanun, tarhu
Diana Rowan – harps

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Daniel Berkman is a San Francisco-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, singer-songwriter, and electronic musician. He specializes in the gravikord and kora—a 21-stringed West African harp—on which he has produced four acclaimed musical releases: Heartstrings (1996), Feverdreams (1998), Calabashmoon (2005), and Headlands (2015). Daniel has composed many scores for dance since 1998 and has worked with Bay Area companies and choreographers such as Sara Shelton Mann, Lizz Roman, Cheryl Chaddick, Kunst-Stoff, Dandelion Dance Company, Heidi Schweiker, Dexandro Montalvo, Janice Garrett and Dancers, ODC/Dance, Robert Dekkers and Post:Ballet, Contra Costa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Dance Theatre San Francisco, and many others.
Gary Haggerty is an accomplished performer and composer who specializes in oud, saz, violin, and a wide range of stringed instruments from Greece and Turkey. Beginning his musical career playing the fiddle and mandolin, Gary has since performed and trained in the traditional music styles of Ireland, Scotland, France, Turkey, North Africa, and the Middle East for over 20 years. For many years, he toured with the Mevlevi Order of America, and he continues to participate in Turkish ceremonial gatherings around the country.
A native of San Francisco, Peter Maund studied percussion at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and music, folklore, and ethnomusicology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a founding member of Ensemble Alcatraz and Alasdair Fraser’s Skyedance, and he has performed with early and contemporary music ensembles including Alboka, Anonymous 4, Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players, Chanticleer, Davka, El Mundo, The Harp Consort, Hesperion XX, Kitka, Los Cenzontles, Musica Pacifica, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and Voices of Music among others. Described by The Herald (Glasgow) as “the most considerate and imaginative of percussionists,” he can be heard on over 50 recordings.
Sarah Michael received her B.Mus. in Music History from San Francisco State University and M.A. in Composition from Mills College. She has been playing and studying Middle Eastern music for the last 20 years, primarily with the great composer and accordion virtuoso Elias Lammam. She has performed on the kanun with groups including Aswat, Flowers of the Nile, Elias Lammam ensemble, the Mevlevi Mutrib, El Azifoon, and Ya Layl. Prior to that, Sarah had an energetic career in early music as a viola da gamba player and as a composer.
Based in the Bay Area, Diana Rowan is an award-winning musical artist with a performance career that spans over 30 years. She can be heard on many CDs and soundtracks, including her solo albums Panta Rhei, The Bright Knowledge, and the forthcoming As Above, So Below. Diana holds a PhD in Music Theory (world harp composition techniques), plus an MM in Piano Performance (classical). She presents rave-review workshops, worldwide lectures, and runs Bright Knowledge Academy, an online college for dedicated musicians. Her first book, World Harp Techniques, was released in 2015.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $20-25 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

FRESH Exchanges: RIPE ft. Amy + Hannah Wasielewski, Randy Reyes, Alexis Akridge
2018-01-09 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Tuesday, RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments] invites two artists who are working on the edge of their form to share excerpts of current projects, speak about their process, and hold a moderated group discussion. Facilitated by Alexis Akridge, the January 9th Exchange features artists Amy + Hannah Wasielewski and Randy Reyes.

A healing by Amy + Hannah Wasielewski
We explore our connection to space, color, and energy patterns and convey what we see. We entrain, open up to synchronicity, and observe the room from different resonances, new angles. Drop in. Clear out. This is an experiment with intuition and intention.
retrograde a thing or shakeshakeshake by Randy Reyes
we enter the space not choosing what we do. we take the time to listen and we move between the silence and the heartbeat. i don’t know doesn’t mean i don’t know. it means i need more time to think through the possibilities. una danza o un no-se-que. how many dimensions are there in ur reality?

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Amy Wasielewski moved to San Francisco in January 2016. She began creating performances with her sister, Hannah, and has been deeply influenced by the history of experimental dance and performance in the city. In the summer of 2017, she completed her bachelor’s degree at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she combined her academic work with performance. She also studied energy healing at the Academy of Intuition Medicine®. Energetic, spiritual, academic, and political perspectives continue to shape her dance practice.
Hannah Wasielewski has performed her own creations as a solo artist and in collaborations in the Bay Area, Arezzo (Italy), Ponderosa, and Earthdance. Her collaborators include Sara Shelton Mann, Sara Kraft/KraftyWorks, Helen Walkley, David Dorfman, Seán Curran, Leslie Seiters, and currently Sam Stone/other dance and Kinetech Arts. Hannah teaches contact improvisation at Leviathan Studio in Lasqueti Island, B.C., and is currently studying biodynamic craniosacral therapy with Body Intelligence.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

FRESH Exchanges: POTLUCK/Social Practice ft. José Navarrete, Debby Kajiyama, Jesse Hewit
2018-01-10 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Wednesday, POTLUCK/Social Practice explores collaborative coexistence and conversations with warm food and FRESH artists notorious for generating situations of connectivity, improvisation, inclusivity, and direct action. Co-hosted by José Navarrete and Debby Kajiyama, the January 10th Exchange’s meal is provided by Jesse Hewit.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

FRESH Exchanges: Alternative Conservatory ft. C.D. Fisher
2018-01-11 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Thursday, Alternative Conservatory is a time to unwind, connect, absorb, consider, listen, and discuss with FRESH artists notorious for disarming paradigms and thinking outside the box. For the January 11th Exchange, C.D. Fisher presents her lecture/performance Our Common Pros.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Born in the U.S. and based in Berlin, C.D. Fisher is a futebol activist, performance artist, and researcher. She co-founded the Brazil-based Guerreiras Project, an initiative promoting gender justice through futebol. Fisher is focused on making critical expressions at the intersection of arts-sports-politics and bringing together athletes, artists, and activists to reclaim and redefine the field of sports. She works as part of the futebol union to organize pro female players around their labor rights. Fisher has a BA from Harvard University in Biological Anthropology and MSc in Gender from the London School of Economics. She is part of ccSPORT and the DISCOVERFOOTBALL collective and X-Embassy in Berlin.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

Karavan Sarai: Mystic Melodies, Electronic Grooves & Dance from the Silk Road
2018-01-12 19:30 - 22:00
Original and traditional electro-acoustic music of the Silk Road—an ancient network of caravan routes reaching from East Asia to the Mediterranean—meets ambient contemporary electronica. With the gracious power of belly dance to the colorful dances of the Indian gypsies, one is transported on a visual and sonic journey.

FEATURING:
Narayan SIjan – vocals, electric oud, electric saz, programming
Schirin Chams-Diba – dance, percussion

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Karavan Sarai’s debut album, Woven Landscapes, was on the CMJ World Music Top Ten charts for six weeks, peaking at number six. Composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Narayan Sijan lived on the Silk Road from 1994-2006, learning music from mystics, masters, and locals on a shoestring budget. He creates an innovative alchemy of music, storytelling, and beauty in his album collaborations with two-time Grammy nominee, producer, and programmer Carmen Rizzo. Schirin Chams-Diba performs a visual feast of sacred temple and traditional dances of the Silk Road, invoking elegant dances of her native Persian lands to the magic of belly dance and the colorful gypsies of India.
Learn more: YouTube
Photo by: Marc Abba

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Renzi/Johnston/Shulman/Vogler: "Bye Bye Bartok" - Reimagining Great Symphonic & Chamber Themes
2018-01-13 19:30 - 22:00
What if Béla Bartók wrote “Bye Bye Blackbird”? What if Charlie Parker wrote a prelude in E, or Sun Ra, a symphony in C? We may never know, but four Bay Area voices come together to groove, swing, and do their thing over themes by Bach, Bartok, Satie, Tchaikovsky, and others, followed by a set of their own compositions. Chamber jazz from the heart, this evening marks the inaugural performance of the new quartet.

FEATURING:
Darren Johnston – trumpet
Matt Renzi – woodwinds
Adam Shulman – piano
Eric Vogler – bass

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
The group represents a curious mix of musical personalities, some of which are most known for swinging straight-ahead lyricism, and others as free exploring alchemists. Their sound together is a balance of all the above, dynamically nuanced dialog set in a creative and swinging context. Collectively, members have played with the Nice Guy Trio, Marcus Shelby, Stefon Harris, Michael Formanek, Ben Monder, Myra Melford, Meklit Hadero, and many others.
Learn more: Darren Johnston | Matt Renzi | Adam Shulman

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Rob Flax w/ Katy Stephan: Singer-Songwriter CD Release Show
2018-01-14 19:30 - 22:00
Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Rob Flax performs music from his debut solo record, Distractible Boy. In his “one-man band” shows, Rob uses a looper pedal and other effects to transform his violin into an entire symphony of sounds. Opening the evening, local chanteuse and pianist Katy Stephan offers her signature pop-classicism and previews new material from her upcoming album, Our Trespasses.

FEATURING:
Rob Flax – violin, vocals, electronics
Katy Stephan – piano, vocals

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Rob Flax is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer with a playful heart and an open mind. He has performed nationally and internationally with groups of many different styles, including opening for B.B. King and Tower of Power, accompanying the Trans Siberian Orchestra and YouTube star Jacob Collier, plus collaborations with modern dancers and more. As a composer, Rob has written music for choreographers, film—including the soundtrack of James Franco’s film As I Lay Dying—and several original projects. Rob is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory, and he currently lives in Boston.
Learn more: Facebook | YouTube | Distractible Boy
Photo by: Steven Duarte Photography

Katy Stephan‘s music is both sweet and salty, delicate and powerful. Her voice has been featured in major motion picture soundtracks, TV movies and theme songs, and even in children’s toys. She has created original music for theatre productions, modern dance, and circus.
Learn more: Facebook | Bandcamp | CD Baby

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

The Past Collection: Artist Reception w/ Samaneh Salehi
2018-01-15 19:30 - 21:30
The Red Poppy Art House invites you to join the artist and curator behind its first exhibition of 2018, The Past Collection, on view until February 28th. The exhibition is a collection of Salehi’s work during her years of exploring, experimenting, and combining contemporary art aesthetics with the spirit of ancient Persian art.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Samaneh Salehi began her career in Iran after studying graphic design at Tehran Noor Conservatory. Since then, she chose painting as her favorite form of art to express her artistic vision. Samaneh’s work has been exhibited in Iran, Dubai, and Malaysia, and continues to be exhibited both in the United States and abroad. She is known for her watercolor and acrylic miniature paintings, inspired by ancient Persian art and combined with contemporary techniques.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Event 7:30PM
Admission: Free
RSVP to the Facebook event:

Volunteer for this event!

FRESH Exchanges: RIPE ft. Gabriel Christian, Dazaun Soleyn, José Navarrete
2018-01-16 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Tuesday, RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments] invites two artists who are working on the edge of their form to share excerpts of current projects, speak about their process, and hold a moderated group discussion. Facilitated by José Navarrete, the January 16th Exchange features artists Gabriel Christian and Dazaun Soleyn.

Black Bussy by Gabriel Christian
An equestrian movement piece
Dazaun Soleyn
My choreographic interest is in creating work that utilizes and magnifies the individual power and beauty of each artist in the room. In order for me to explore this interest, I foster a relationship-based creative environment that works towards finding the harmony between thought-provoking dialogue and rigorously physical effort.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Gabriel Christian (t(he)y/(t)him) is a multidisciplinary artist and teacher. After receiving a BA in Theatre Studies from Yale in 2013, they shifted coasts from their native New York to the Bay Area. Here, they pivoted from stage performance to reifying queer desire, gender fluidity (or “juicyness”), and black resilience through a broader spectrum of movement arts. They’ve held residencies at Destiny Arts Center, Finnish Hall, and This Will Take Time; performed with director Robert Woodruff and choreographers Debby Kajiyama and José Navarrete, Jess Curtis, and Anne Bluethenthal; and mounted independent work at CounterPulse, SOMArts, and Brava Theater, amongst others. Ongoing projects include BLACK PRESENCE, a bricolage exploration of black presence with twenty-nine black and brown artists, and Lxs Desaparecidxs with choreographer Randy Reyes. Upcoming shows include Revolt She Said. Revolt Again (Crowded Fire) and Queering the Wake (Queer Arts Festival 2018).
Dazaun Soleyn, originally from Brooklyn, New York, graduated as the University of South Florida’s Outstanding Graduate with a BFA in Modern Dance Performance and Choreography. Upon graduation, Dazaun was accepted as a trainee at the Alonzo King LINES Ballet School (AKLBS). With AKLBS, Dazaun has performed works by Sidra Bell, Kara Davis, and Maurya Kerr. He has also attended Springboard Danse Montréal where he performed works by Shannon Gillen’s VIM VIGOR Dance Company. His teaching credits include the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, University of South Florida, Gibney Dance Center, American Ballet School, Dance Mission Theater, and ODC Commons. Dazaun is currently a company member of Robert Moses’ Kin and a teaching artist in the Bay Area community.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

FRESH Exchanges: POTLUCK/Social Practice ft. Kathleen Hermesdorf, Abby Crain, Asia Wong
2018-01-17 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Wednesday, POTLUCK/Social Practice explores collaborative coexistence and conversations with warm food and FRESH artists notorious for generating situations of connectivity, improvisation, inclusivity, and direct action. Co-hosted by Kathleen Hermesdorf and Abby Crain, the January 17th Exchange’s meal is provided by Asia Wong.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

FRESH Exchanges: Alternative Conservatory ft. Dance Studies Working Group
2018-01-18 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Thursday, Alternative Conservatory is a time to unwind, connect, absorb, consider, listen, and discuss with FRESH artists notorious for disarming paradigms and thinking outside the box. For the January 18th Exchange, Dance Studies Working Group presents a panel discussion, Creating from/in times of crisis.
From environmental disasters to sexual trauma to political upheaval, this past year has encompassed all of this and more. In this discussion, we ask how does one create from the tumult or ruins of environmental, political, and personal turmoil? What resources are needed? How do we work together to build networks of support and accountability both on and offstage, inside and outside the studio? How do we, as individuals invested in the creative potential and resiliency of the body, look forward collectively to imagine and actively create a better, more equitable future?

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
The UC Berkeley Dance Studies Working Group (DSWG) was founded in 2008 by a group of graduate students in the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Department (TDPS) at UC Berkeley. As dance scholars worked to build spaces for dance research and practice in the field of performance studies, graduate students focused on dance within TDPS felt equally compelled to find avenues for developing research and honing practices, thus the birth of DSWG. To this day DSWG exists as a site of inquiry, exploration, and discussion for students, faculty, scholars, practitioners, and community members engaged with dance and movement-based practices. With a focus on process over product, DSWG serves as an incubator to engage with new research and alternate pathways for knowledge production and dissemination, and further support dance practices and research that engage with a wide array of social, political, and cultural issues. DSWG has been and continues to be generously supported by the Townsend Center for the Humanities.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

SOLD OUT: Bay Area's Women in Jazz: An Evening of Jazz, Blues, Soul, Batucada & More
2018-01-19 20:00 - 22:00
Bay Area’s Women in Jazz brings together some of the best female jazz musicians for another night under one roof. The performance celebrates and recognizes the talents and hard work of these women who are sometimes underrepresented in the male-dominated scene. With music ranging from straight-ahead jazz, blues, swing, bebop, gospel, and soul, the evening comes to a close with some Brazilian tunes featuring a batucada percussion jam.

FEATURING:
Adriana Morrero – vocals
Kimiko Joy – vocals
Valerie Troutt – vocals
Madeline Duran – saxophone
Chloe Jane Scott – flute
Tammy Hall – piano
Gaea Schell – piano, flute
Caroline Chung – upright bass
Ruth Davies – upright bass
Ruth Price – drums
Amy Molinelli Hart – percussion
(and special guest Samba Mob for a samba batucada jam!)

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:30PM / Show 8:00PM
Admission: $20-25 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

*This performance is SOLD OUT. Due to our limited capacity, there will not be any tickets for sale at the door. Thank you for your understanding.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Sisu Brassland & Mughal Muesli: Music for Brass & Saxophone
2018-01-20 19:30 - 22:00
First up on the bill, Sisu BrassLand performs original music for brass composed by bandleader Aaron Priskorn. Crossing many genres while remaining connected to classical voice leading, the group creates aural paintings and emotive jams through various textures, grooves, and melodies.
Mughal Muesli then presents tunes from their debut album, Imperial Cereal, an exploration of an alternate-historical merging of cultures represented by their most imaginative musical exports. The album seeks to construct a new edifice on the ancient and fertile ground of mystery, spirit, and ingenuity shared by artistic traditions the world over. The trio draws inspiration from the contrapuntal mastery of the High Baroque in Europe, the originators and innovators of Khayyal in the Mughal courts of North India, and the indestructible spirit of American free jazz.

FEATURING:
Sisu Brassland
5-piece brass band
TBA – drums
Mughal Muesli
Xavier Del Castillo – tenor sax
Mat Muntz – double bass
Vicente Hansen – drum set

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Aaron Priskorn has played trumpet for more than two decades exploring many genres of music, all while staying true to his classically trained roots. He is often sought after as a guest artist and collaborator for various events and productions throughout the Bay Area. Aaron is a founding member of brass trio Lip Service and larger brass band Sisu BrassLand, for which he is the bandleader, composer, arranger, and trumpet player. He can also be heard at Grace Cathedral and with Classical Revolution, Green Street Mortuary Band, and the rock band Melvoy. Holding degrees from Mannes College of Music (BM) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM), Aaron also teaches privately in San Francisco.
Learn more: Bandcamp

While grounded in the saxophone trio tradition of Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, and Henry Threadgill, Mughal Muesli is a band that seeks to expand and transcend the associations attached to their configuration. Saxophonist Xavier Del Castillo, drummer Vicente Hansen, and bassist Mat Muntz draw on elements from early European polyphony, Hindustani classical music, and 20th-21st century microtonality to inform their distinctive take on the trio format. Their debut album, Imperial Cereal, features original compositions, deconstructed standards, and new interpretations of works by Ornette Coleman, Ivan Wyschnegradsky, and J.S. Bach.
Learn more: Facebook | Bandcamp
Photo by: F. Moretti Photography

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Sisu BrassLand 7:30PM / Mughal Muesli 8:45PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

SOLD OUT: Bay Area Women Musicians: A Sequel to Women in Jazz
2018-01-21 19:30 - 22:00
A sequel to the Women in Jazz show, this night brings together some of the best up-and-coming female musicians and veteran talents from the Bay Area. Their repertoire spans an eclectic range of styles and genres, from jazz to pop and funk to soul, through a mix of covers and original music. All the musicians can be seen around town performing with various bands and ensembles, as well as touring all over the world.

FEATURING:
Jenna Mammina – vocals
Emily Afton Moldenhauer – vocals
Rennea Couttenye – vocals
Helen Palma – vocals
Hannah Glass – violin, vocals
Carmen Getit – guitar
Helen Orzel – piano
Richelle Scales – piano, vocals
Caroline Chung – electric/upright bass
Katrine Spang-Hannsen – drums
Jae Jackson – drums

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $15-20 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

*Advance tickets for this show are SOLD OUT. There will be an additional 5 tickets for sale at the door on a first come, first served basis when doors open at 7:00pm. Thank you for understanding the Red Poppy’s limited capacity.
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

FRESH Exchanges: RIPE ft. Sarah Bouars, Kristianne Salcines, Kathleen Hermesdorf
2018-01-23 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Tuesday, RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments] invites two artists who are working on the edge of their form to share excerpts of current projects, speak about their process, and hold a moderated group discussion. Facilitated by Kathleen Hermesdorf, the January 23rd Exchange features artists Sarah Bouars and Kristianne Salcines.

Maybe​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning​ ​I​ ​say​ ​goodnight​ ​to​ ​you by Sarah Bouars and Kristianne Salcines
We have developed a practice and a ritual that helps sustain our existence under our systemic pressures from Berlin to LA. In this work, we will experience a way of existing that will offer you alternative ways of finding “the antidote” or “the answers” to the systemic struggles we find ourselves into. This work is filled with intelligence in self-love, fiercely unapologetic existence, and clever coping mechanisms. How do we celebrate what is here with us now? How do continue to feel when all we want to do is escape and be distant? How do we feed ourselves and each other of love that is there all along. This work will nourish you, literally. Food will be the string that ties us together, when what we make on stage becomes food for your minds, body, and soul.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

FRESH Exchanges: POTLUCK/Social Practice ft. FRESH Community
2018-01-24 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Wednesday, POTLUCK/Social Practice explores collaborative coexistence and conversations with warm food and FRESH artists notorious for generating situations of connectivity, improvisation, inclusivity, and direct action. The January 24th Exchange’s hosting and food is by FRESH folks.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

FRESH Exchanges: Alternative Conservatory ft. Sarah Bouars, Kristianne Salcines
2018-01-25 19:30 - 21:30
FRESH 2018 Exchanges offer nine interactive, inclusive, and insightful gatherings in the frameworks of RIPE [raw + intimate performance experiments], POTLUCK/Social Practice, and Alternative Conservatory at the Red Poppy Art House between January 9th and 25th. Each Thursday, Alternative Conservatory is a time to unwind, connect, absorb, consider, listen, and discuss with FRESH artists notorious for disarming paradigms and thinking outside the box. For the January 25th Exchange, Sarah Bouars and Kristianne Salcines present their workshop, Empathix: Bending Binaries, Bodies and Building Bridges.
By queer POCs for queer POCs, Empathix is designed to create an atmosphere for serious physical research in togetherness. We will be doing everything together for each other. This workshop will consist of a series of interactive movement practices/play followed by a facilitated discussion around participants’ experiences to build trust and intimacy, which we hope will allow us to work towards a community. Everyday, we will begin with breathing together, practicing yoga, qigong, taiji, and meditation practice, then leading to physical exercises and practices that focus on play, love, visibility, coexistence, trust, empathy, and serious, sweaty, beautifully-ugly inducing moving. Come join us to sweat and heal together.
Sarah Bouars and Kristianne Salcines are both queer people of color, intersectional feminists, and are at home in the field of dance/performance-art/choreography. In this workshop, we want to develop further our concept of “care and share,” which we created in September 2016 during Queeries into collective feminism at Ponderosa in Stolzenhagen, Germany. “Care and share” strives to use performance as a tool for community building, as well as for healing and developing an empathic eye and deconstructing the perceptions of subject and object. It allows us to open up to a much broader idea of what performance, performer, and audience might entail or mean. We are working with a concept developed by us called “queer futurism,” which includes deep ecology, rituals, utopian dreaming, somatic approaches as Tantra, sex magic, ecosex, and a lot of love and radical softness.

ABOUT FRESH FESTIVAL 2018:
FRESH Festival 2018 is San Francisco’s 9th annual festival of experimental dance, music, and performance from January 5-27, 2018. The festival offers four weekends of risk-taking main-stage Performances, three weeks + weekends of immersive studio Practices, and 14 social and interactive Exchanges, hosted by Joe Goode Annex, Red Poppy Art House and F8 Nightclub in San Francisco, and Finnish Hall in Berkeley. FRESH 2018 is inspired by and transmitted through the curiosity of 50+ cutting-edge artists from the Bay Area and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Event 7:30PM
Admission: By donation ($5-10) – No one turned away for lack of funds

Derek Lassiter: "Secular Spirituals"
2018-01-26 19:30 - 22:00
Derek Lassiter returns to the Red Poppy to present new songs along with songs from past releases. He will be joined by long-time collaborators Tammy L. Hall and Art Khu for an evening of jazz, soul, and beyond.

FEATURING:
Derek Lassiter – vocals
Tammy L. Hall – piano
Art Khu – bass, guitar
Elé Howell – drums
Maritri Garrett – vocals

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Vocalist and songwriter Derek Lassiter, a native New Yorker, has called the Bay Area home for many years now. A mainstay on the art scene, Lassiter has performed at many venues and counts the Red Poppy Art House among his favorites. Rooted in jazz and soul, his influences run the gamut from Abbey Lincoln, Jimmy Scott, and Shirley Horn to Luther Vandross, Sting, Solange, and Bjork. His latest release, Music Outside, is available through all major online music sites.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $20
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Howard Alden w/ Kit Eakle's DjangoSphere: Music of Thelonious Monk, Django Reinhardt & More
2018-01-27 19:30 - 22:00
Prominent jazz guitarist Howard Alden joins veteran violinist Kit Eakle and his project DjangoSphere for an evening of standards, originals, and the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk and Django Reinhardt. In the words of Bay Area jazz reviewer Andrew Gilbert, “DjangoSphere is a rhythmically dexterous rollercoaster ride that artfully melds the sounds of two irreducibly brilliant artists.”

FEATURING:
Howard Alden – guitar
Kit Eakle – violin
Rory Judge – drums
Don Bennett – bass

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
A California native, Howard Alden began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie, and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, and George Van Eps. Soon Alden was working professionally around Los Angeles, playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. He has won accolades from critics and musicians alike, including Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Mel Powell, Bud Freeman, Kenny Davern, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, and George Van Eps, as well as notable contemporaries such as Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski. A Concord Jazz recording artist since the late ’80s, Alden has proved himself to be an artist of astonishing virtuosity and originality on the many records he has released.
The leader of DjangoSphere, Kit Eakle is known as one of the most original improvising violinists on the west coast. He has been a member of the Hot Club of Marin, the Sons of Emperor Norton, FiddleJazz, and the Eakle Brothers, and has shared a stage with Dan Hicks, Martín Fierro, Joe Craven, Mads Tolling, David LaFlame, and Paul Mehling. In addition to being a performer, Eakle has developed a high profile in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he established a concert series, Point Richmond Jazz, featuring many of the finest jazz violinists in the world. He is also listed on the faculty of the California Jazz Conservatory, teaching a course on the history of jazz violin.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Doors 7:00PM / Show 7:30PM
Admission: $20-25 sliding scale
Advance tickets:

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!

Rumberos de Radio Habana: Monthly Community Rumba
2018-01-28 14:00 - 17:00
Rumba music originated in the Afro-Cuban neighborhoods of Havana and Matanzas as the soundtrack to community, partnered dancing and get-togethers as a means of cultural expression. Its global diaspora means rumba rhythms have found their way into other genres of music such as country, rock, and blues, and continue to impact the genres of today. Rumberos de Radio Habana bring their own contribution to the Red Poppy on the fourth Sunday of each month for a free afternoon of beat-making, hip-shaking, and good company.

EVENT DETAILS

Time: Event 2:00PM
Admission: Free; donations accepted for musicians ($5-10)
Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!
