7/28/2004: Look out now, 30 FREE SHOWS are happening tonight!

I would contend that there isn't. Not puppies, not ice
cream, maybe sex... but that's about it.

The North Beach Jazz Festival kicks off in style with
one of the most amazing nights of music that happens
in town all year long... Jazz on Grant. Then it
doesn't let up as there are two more afternoons of
incredible music happening this weekend too! As if
that weren't enough, Robert Walter's 20th Congress is
playing for free at the Tour de Fat (a bicycle and
beer event) in Golden Gate Park on Saturday too!
Here's a quick update on what's goin' down:

WEDNESDAY 7|28
~N.B. Jazz Fest: Jazz on Grant~
This night is a gift from the SF music Gods. There are
no less than 30 bands playing all over North Beach
tonight and they're ALL FREE! I'm planning to be down
there by about 8 or so 'cause the music starts early.
Check out the lineup here:
http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz//grant.html If
anyone is interested in a meeting spot, I'm probably
going to catch Adam Willis' band the Urban Groove
Quintet at Grant & Green (right in the middle of the
action) between 10 and 10:30. They're playing from
10-12:30. The other show I won't be missing is the
afterparty kicking off at 11. It's Realistic Orchestra
plus all of the players in the neighborhood who are
getting out of their shows... SWEET. It's at the
Velvet Lounge (Broadway & Montgomery) and it's just
$5. http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz/

THURSDAY 7|29
~N.B. Jazz: Fito Reynoso & his Orquestra @ Velvet
Lounge: $10~
Latin Jazz is the theme of the second night of N.B.
Jazz with other players scheduled to drop in.
http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz/

~Hot Buttered Rum String Band @ Swedish American Hall:
$20~
Another great musical Kerry fundraiser, $20+ donation
fights the good fight with bluegrass.
www.hotbutteredrum.net/

~Josh Roseman's Pomegranate @ Hotel Utah: $7~
This trombone player is one of the funky best. He's
sure to destroy up this little room.
http://jru.blogs.com/jru/

FRIDAY 7|30
~N.B. Jazz: Antibalas Afrobeat @ Bimbo's 365: $20~
This 12-piece afrobeat band epitomizes the funky best
of Fela Kuti's music. They're incredible and will keep
you rocking every minute. O-Maya! (afro-latin
jazz/hip-hop) opens it up.
http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz/

~Robert Walter's 20th Congress @ Shattuck Down Low:
$12~
The East Bay hosts this funky boogaloo hammond player
and his smokin' band. SFunk opens what is sure to be a
hot night at the Down Low.
http://www.20thcongress.com/



SATURDAY 7|31
~N.B. Jazz @ Washington Square Park: FREE~
Such a great time! The Sat. lineup includes the
incredible Russo/Benevento Duo, Reorchestra, and the
Spam Allstars... with a surprise headliner to close
the show. Going down 12-6.
http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz/

~Robert Walter's 20th Congress @ Golden Gate Park:
FREE~
The Tour de Fat is a ballyhoo of bikes and beer
presented by New Belgium Brewing to benefit the SF
Bicycle Coalition. This will be a total blast with
super-cheap beer, a bike parade, pedal-powered
performers and rides, juggling, and tons of other good
time whackyness. The icing on the cake is Robert
Walter playing for free! Bluegrass from the Reals
opens it. I'll be there for sure, come check it out!
It's at Speedway Meadows starting at 11am.
http://www.sfbike.org/?fat

~N.B. Jazz: Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra @ the Palace of
Fine Arts: $15-40~
From N.B. Jazz: Topping off at 60 members, Dakah is
taking hip-hop in an entirely new direction. Touted as
the world's "largest hip-hop orchestra", Dakah's MCs
and DJs are backed by a medleys of classically trained
musicians (many of whom are members of the Los Angeles
Philharmonic) for a unique symphonic lineup. While
most of contemporary hip hop is constructed with
minimal doses of samples and synths, Dakah provides a
unique lush backdrop that can only be provided by live
violins, violas, cellos, clarinets, oboes, bassoons,
harps, and the rest of the symphonic range.
http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz/

~Russ/Benevento Duo @ Bruno's: $10~
The Duo will knock your socks off. They pound out some
of the hottest acid-jazz this side of MMW, and they
only have an organ and drums to do it with. Just
unreal. http://www.organanddrums.com/

SUNDAY 8|1
~N.B. Jazz @ Washinton Square Park: FREE~
What could be better than groovin' on a Sunday
afternoon? Meet me on the lawn at Washington Square to
catch Big Chief Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias of New
Orleans, Vinyl, Mingus Amungus, and DJ Motion Potion
among others. All of this without a bit of fog in
sight... http://www.sunsetpromotions.net/nbjazz/

~Mercan Dede & Ex-Centric Sound System @ Stern Grove:
FREE~
Electronica world-beat fusion comes to Stern Grove
this weekend. Dede is a world-reknown producer noted
for mixing eastern and african rhythms and sounds with
modern beats. Everyone who saw Ex-centric at High
Sierra had a glowing review.
http://www.sterngrove.org/index.php?tpl=concert&page=08012004

HOLY CRAP! Can you believe how much FREE MUSIC is on
tap in the next five days? It's out of hand. I LOVE
this city and I'll see you at some music!