LIVE MUSIC AROUND THE BAY
Live music around the Bay
Why a music calendar? I listen to music while I bake, and live music builds community. I want to thank the musicians who are helping me get this bakery off the ground, and I believe our world is better when we come together around music and delicious treats. Because don’t you know: Crumbs are Love. Every week I’ll share where to hear live jazz, blues, R&B, funk and world music around the Bay.
Listings are gathered every week. Times and tickets can change, so check with the venue before you go. To get them by email, join the mailing list.
Playing a show? Send it to us.
Musicians who help us bake
Watch: SnowFire, live (opens in a new tab)Adam Theis & Jazz Mafia
San Francisco trombonist, composer and arranger who co-founded Jazz Mafia, a collective that blends jazz, hip-hop, funk and orchestral music.
Next show: Thu Nov 5 @ Mercy Wellness
Watch: SingAlong for Strange Times (opens in a new tab)Ellen Hoffman
Bay Area pianist, composer and music director who has arranged for the Oakland Symphony for more than 25 years and was the pianist for the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
Next show: Tue Nov 3 @ The Marsh
Watch: I’m Walking, live (opens in a new tab)Bryan Dyer
Oakland vocalist, bassist and teacher with 30+ years of a cappella singing, including Bobby McFerrin’s group MOTION.
Next show: Mon Dec 14 @ Freight & Salvage
Watch: Live at The Velvet Note (opens in a new tab)Tony Saunders
Bay Area bassist, producer and two-time Emmy winner, son of keyboardist Merl Saunders, Jerry Garcia’s longtime musical partner.
No public dates yet
Watch: Spider, live, with Herbie Hancock (opens in a new tab)Kenneth Nash
Oakland percussionist, producer and engineer behind Nash Studios, who has recorded with Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson.
No public dates yet
Watch: Mr. Big Stuff, Solfire live (opens in a new tab)Clark Seal
Bay Area percussionist steeped in Afro-Brazilian rhythm who leads the soul and funk band Solfire.
No public dates yet
John Maquera
Wrote the Butter Bing! Butter Boom! theme song.
No public dates yet
December 2026
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
THE SHOWS, DAY BY DAY
Tue Dec 1
Butter Bing! musician
Ellen Hoffman's Piano Open Mic & SingAlong
Ellen Hoffman
· 7:30 PM
The Marsh, Berkeley
Tickets for Ellen Hoffman's Piano Open Mic & SingAlong
Fri Dec 4
Marcus Shelby Quintet
Marcus Shelby
· 7:30 PM
The Sound Room, Oakland
Details for Marcus Shelby Quintet
Sat Dec 5
Saúl Sierra Quintet: Celebrate the Holidays
Saúl Sierra
· 7:30 PM
The Sound Room, Oakland
Details for Saúl Sierra Quintet: Celebrate the HolidaysDandha Da Hora Quintet
Dandha Da Hora
· 9:00 PM
Mr. Tipple's, San Francisco
Details for Dandha Da Hora Quintet
Sun Dec 6
Mon Dec 7
The James Hunter Six: Off the Fence Tour
The James Hunter Six
· See details
Yoshi's, Oakland
Tickets for The James Hunter Six: Off the Fence Tour
Tue Dec 8
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
· See details
Yoshi's, Oakland
Tickets for Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Wed Dec 9
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
· See details
Yoshi's, Oakland
Tickets for Spanish Harlem OrchestraRene Escovedo y Son Sabrosa
Rene Escovedo, Son Sabrosa
· 8:30 PM
Blondie's Bar, San Francisco
Details for Rene Escovedo y Son Sabrosa
Thu Dec 10
Butter Bing! musician
Jazz Mafia with Making Movies, Rizo and Otis McDonald
Jazz Mafia, Making Movies, Rizo, Otis McDonald
· 9:00 PM
The Great Northern, San Francisco
Details for Jazz Mafia with Making Movies, Rizo and Otis McDonald
Fri Dec 11
Butter Bing! musician
Jazz Mafia Plays: Holiday Heist
Jazz Mafia
· 7 & 9 PM
Keys Jazz Bistro, San Francisco
Details for Jazz Mafia Plays: Holiday Heist
Sat Dec 12
Butter Bing! musician
Jazz Mafia Plays: Holiday Heist
Jazz Mafia
· 6 & 9 PM
The Sound Room, Oakland
Details for Jazz Mafia Plays: Holiday HeistBululu Presents: Las TropiGaitas
Las TropiGaitas
· 7:00 PM
Ashkenaz, Berkeley
Tickets for Bululu Presents: Las TropiGaitas
Sun Dec 13
¡Batey Boricua! Community Jam
Various artists
· 3:00 PM
La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley
Details for ¡Batey Boricua! Community JamMads Tolling & The Mads Men: Cool Yule
Mads Tolling
· 5:00 PM
The Sound Room, Oakland
Details for Mads Tolling & The Mads Men: Cool Yule
Mon Dec 14
Butter Bing! musician
Bryan Dyer directs the Freight Singers Community Chorus
Bryan Dyer, Freight Singers Community Chorus
· 7:30 PM
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
Tickets for Bryan Dyer directs the Freight Singers Community Chorus
Tue Dec 15
Wed Dec 16
Calito Franco y Su Tumbao Añejo w/ special guests
Calito Franco
· 8:30 PM
Blondie's Bar, San Francisco
Details for Calito Franco y Su Tumbao Añejo w/ special guests
Thu Dec 17
Tribute to Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta
Rebeca Mauleón, David Sánchez, Bay Area Latin Jazz All-Stars
· 7:30 PM
SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Details for Tribute to Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta
Fri Dec 18
Yusef Lateef Tribute Show
Rabiah Kabir, Laurel Fink
· 6:00 PM
Mr. Tipple's, San Francisco
Details for Yusef Lateef Tribute Show¡BAILA! Community Dance Party ft. Live Salsa
Various artists
· 8:00 PM
La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley
Details for ¡BAILA! Community Dance Party ft. Live Salsa
Sat Dec 19
Tuck and Patti
Tuck Andress, Patti Cathcart
· 7:00 PM
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
Details for Tuck and PattiChristmas with the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
· 7:30 PM
SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Details for Christmas with the Count Basie OrchestraKenny Washington Quartet
Kenny Washington
· 7:30 PM
The Sound Room, Oakland
Details for Kenny Washington Quartet
Sun Dec 20
Christmas with the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
· 7:30 PM
SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Details for Christmas with the Count Basie Orchestra
PLAYING A SHOW?
Send us your show
We gather listings every week from venues around the Bay. Sending us yours makes sure we don’t miss it. Any musician or band playing jazz, blues, R&B, funk or world/Latin music anywhere in the Bay Area is welcome.
The button opens an email with the questions filled in: who’s playing, the show, when and where, a ticket or event link, a YouTube video, the genre, your website or Instagram, and a contact email (we don’t publish it). Please attach a photo you own or have permission to share.
We read every submission before it goes on the calendar, so it may take a few days to appear. No email app? Write to benjamin@escape-velocity-ventures.org.
THE MAILING LIST
Hear it from the kitchen first.
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