Three days after the first anniversary of David Bowie’s death, 30-woman vocal ensemble Conspiracy of Venus hits the Poppy for an extravaganza of beloved songs by Tom Waits, Björk, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, the Pixies, and the Thin White Duke himself, as well as original compositions by artistic director Joyce Todd McBride. Drawing inspiration from […]
Among Peter Whitehead’s many custom-made instruments are the Heart Banjo, made from a baking tin; the Lawn Lyre, made from an old lawnmower and a metal oil pan; and the Spoonharp, made from a five-gallon metal drum, a eucalyptus branch, and kitchen spoons. Whitehead’s Red Poppy debut promises to feature vocals, instruments, and sampling for […]
New York-based saxophonist Roxy Coss brings her feel-good take on contemporary jazz to the Red Poppy for an evening of selections from her latest album, Restless Idealism. Coss, a rising composer and experienced educator who’s considered one of the most innovative saxophonists of her generation, is credited with a sound that DownBeat calls “intelligent yet […]
In collaboration with FRESH Festival 2017, the Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present FRESH Exchanges, free and by-donation events made to cultivate, cross-pollinate, invigorate, create access, and generate outreach within and outwith the dance, music, and performance communities. These interactive exchanges include Experimental Structures on Tuesdays, January 3, 10, 17. Hosted by Abby […]
In collaboration with FRESH Festival 2017, the Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present FRESH Exchanges, free and by-donation events made to cultivate, cross-pollinate, invigorate, create access, and generate outreach within and outwith the dance, music, and performance communities. These interactive exchanges include Social Practice/Potlucks on Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18. FRESH Social Practice/Potlucks […]
In collaboration with FRESH Festival 2017, the Red Poppy Art House is pleased to present FRESH Exchanges, free and by-donation events made to cultivate, cross-pollinate, invigorate, create access, and generate outreach within and outwith the dance, music, and performance communities. These interactive exchanges include Alternative Conservatory on Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19. Hosted by FRESH […]
Amie Cota’s sound, which melds American folk and soul, has been described as “Billie Holiday raised by hippies.” The vocalist formerly known as Amy LaCour returns to the Poppy accompanied only by bass and piano for an evening of music that’s not quite jazz, soul, or folk, but a delectable combination of the three. Featuring: […]
Weaving together Afro-Caribbean beats and fueled by folklore, pop, and gritty East Bay funk, Guarandinga descends on the Poppy for an infectious electronic dance party that promises to help you forget the cold, wet weather. Featuring: Rowan Jimenez - vocals, percussion Jeremy Allen - bass, vocals, cuatro, percussion Kenya Moses - percussion, vocals Chris Carter […]
The Poppy invites you to join the artist and curators behind its first exhibition of 2017, The Audience. On view until April 2nd, this current body of portraits seeks to celebrate an eclectic group of people from history, pop culture, and somewhat forgotten history. Born in the glamorous city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Michelle L. […]
Zina Bozzay’s vibrant original arrangements of old Carpathian Basin village songs feature the rich melodies, funky rhythms, and colorful lyrics of traditional Hungarian folk tunes, realized by her genuine singing, the fiery fiddling of Matthew Szemela, and Misha Khalikulov's soulful cello. Featuring: Zina Bozzay - vocals Matthew Szemela - violin Misha Khalikulov - cello Trained […]
Nuyorican poet/cultural worker Sandra Garcia Rivera joins the Grammy-winning musicians and educators of Brian Andres’ Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel for a special performance of original compositions and exciting arrangements of Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and U.S. classics. Featuring: Brian Andres - drum set Javier Cabanillas - congas Aaron Germain - bass Christian Tumalan - piano Sandra […]
With a sound influenced by Django Reinhardt, Edith Piaf, Roma music, jazz, and folk, Beaucoup Chapeaux returns to the Poppy for an evening of originals and reinterpretations of traditional European classics, ready to transport you through time and space. Featuring: Maggie McKaig - accordion, vocals Luke Wilson - tenor guitar, plectrum banjo, vocals Murray Campbell […]
Salsa, bossa nova, boleros, and Colombian cumbia meet in the dynamic Latin pop of IndiviDúo, a cross-continental collaboration between San Francisco-born songstress Tiffany Joy and Colombian songsmith Maqui Reyes. Expect an evening of infectious originals and celebrated hits in the duo’s Red Poppy debut. Featuring: Maqui Reyes - vocals, guitar, ukulele Tiffany Joy - guitar, […]
February Stoop Fest will engage artists from different geographies, minds, ages, and histories to share their dreams for this new year; to discover what is common and uncommon between us; and to explore the collective dream of our families, our city, and our world. We encourage you to bring a dream to share: write it, […]
Launched in 2003, the Mission Arts & Performance Project (MAPP) is a homegrown bi-monthly, multidisciplinary, intercultural happening that takes place in the Mission District of San Francisco. On the first Saturday of every even month of the year, the MAPP transforms ordinary spaces, such as private garages, gardens, living rooms, studios, street corners, and small […]
Whether playing in loud rock clubs or more intimate spaces, Sueños boasts a remarkably adaptable repertoire that integrates hip-hop beats, gospel harmonies, acoustic bass, bebop-influenced horns, and electronics. The group writes and performs original music, as well as covers by artists such as Roy Hargrove, Christian Scott, Kanye West, and J Dilla. Featuring: Noah Frank […]
This all-star lineup of some of the Bay Area’s best female musicians will pay tribute to the history of jazz, from old-time blues, 1930s and ’40s tangos, choros, valse-musettes, and swing to ’50s and ’60s bebop and ending with a special, contemporary approach on traditional jazz favorites. Featuring: Kally Price - vocals Gabi Cavassa - […]
San Francisco quartet Tango No. 9 explores the music of tango in all its myriad manifestations. Performing tragic vocal ballads, the habanera rhythms of the dance repertoire, and the tango nuevo of Astor Piazzolla, the group combines violin, piano, trombone, and vocals to capture a large sound that is both romantic and heart-breaking. Featuring: Joshua […]
Weaving together banjo, guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki with tender vocal harmonies, nomadic folk duo Fellow Pynins tells enchanted stories both old and new of frolicking through pastures of sheep, dreams of death, and entering the chasms of the human experience. They will be sharing music from their 2016 release, Hunter & the Hunted, as well […]
The Red Poppy Art House welcomes back Spanish flamenco-jazz pianist Alex Conde for an evening of Latin jazz classics and originals. Conde has received enthusiastic accolades for Descarga for Monk, his 2015 jazz, flamenco, and Latin tribute to piano genius Thelonious Monk, and his double show promises to deliver the same thrills. Featuring: Alex Conde […]
Guitarist Will Bernard and clarinetist/vocalist Beth Custer present an evening of original compositions and arrangements exploring blues, jazz, folk, and classical music. Featuring: Will Bernard - guitar Beth Custer - clarinet, vocals Guitarist Will Bernard is a Grammy-nominated bandleader and founding member of all-star Bay Area jazz conglomerate T.J. Kirk, as well as Galactic drummer […]
Backed by a guitar/bass/violin trio, acclaimed fado singer Ramana Vieira breathes new life into the works of Portuguese fado icon Amália Rodrigues. Featuring: Ramana Vieira - vocals Brad Bivens - guitar John Clark - bass Ela Polak - violin Ramana Vieira has been described as the “new voice of Portuguese world music.” “Cabo Verde,” the […]
Two of the Bay Area’s most respected saxophonists, David Boyce and Richard Howell, join drummer Sameer Gupta and bassist David Ewell for this evening-length exploration into musical improvisation. Their music reflects the continuum of jazz from a global orientation, embracing the tones and textures of Africa, India, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. Featuring: David Boyce […]
This bicoastal quartet–comprised of New York-based singer Jenny Luna and Bay Area residents Bianca Rodriguez (flamenco dance), Morgan Nilsen (clarinet), and Chris Reid (guitar)–promises to bring you a fresh take on music from Turkey, Spain, and the Balkans. Ole! Opa!, formed by Bianca Rodriguez and Jenny Luna, draws from Jenny’s background in Balkan and Turkish […]
Straight from Budapest to the Red Poppy comes Hét Hat Club, four street musicians who put their own spin on classic Django-style jazz standards and Balkan folk melodies. On their first American tour, they’ll be playing songs from their just-released debut, Pompe It, and entertaining audiences with fresh arrangements that reflect their international roots. Featuring: […]
Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Caitlin Belem and guitarist Terrence Rosnagle take you on a trip through Latin America, playing sumptuous samba, bossa nova, cumbia, son, and so much more as they make their way from Brazil to Cuba and everywhere in between. Featuring: Caitlin Belem - vocals, saxophone, guitar, fiddle, hand percussion Terrence Rosnagle - guitar Caitlin Belem, […]
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. […]
The Red Poppy is proud to host Iranian multi-instrumentalist Pezhham Akhavass and tar/setar player Shahin Shahbazi, who will present an evening of Persian classical music. The performance, which will feature percussion and stringed instruments, promises to showcase these acclaimed artists’ lifelong study of Sufi music and improvisation. Featuring: Pezhham Akhavass - tombak, daf Shahin Shahbazi […]
Influenced by the contemporary and free jazz canons, the classical avant-garde, and beyond, this Bay Area trio will explore the boundaries between jazz and their own highly refined and individualized forms of expression. Each member of the trio has built a diverse and prolific musical life in the Bay Area, and in this new ensemble […]
Saxophonist/flutist Dann Zinn, hailed as a distinctive composer and passionate soloist, leads a sax, guitar, and drums trio that combines virtuosic musicianship with memorable melodies and heartfelt passion. Featuring: Dann Zinn - saxophones Chris Robinson - guitar Alan Hall - drums Dann Zinn’s resume includes stints with Peter Erskine, Taylor Eigsti, Joe Henderson, and Barry […]
