Music
Cyndi Lauper, Troye Sivan, Michelle Visage to Appear at Stonewall Benefit Concert
Cyndi Lauper, Troye Sivan, Todrick Hall, Rufus Wainwright, Kim Petras, Allie X and more artists are set to appear on “Stonewall Gives Back!” A Live-streaming Concert For The LGBTQ nightlife community.
The concert will be hosted by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” judge Michelle Visage and Tyler Oakley. Guest and performers at the event will include Alan Cumming, Allie X, Betty Who, Carlie Hanson, Darren Hayes, Dave Mizzoni, Greyson Chance, Issac Dunbar, John Cameron Mitchell, Kim Petras, Leland, Lorna Luft, Matt Rogers, MUNA, Nina West, Our Lady J, Pabllo Vittar, Peppermint, Rufus Wainwright, Todrick Hall, VINCINT and Troye Sivan. Lauper will be giving a special performance.
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“The Stonewall Inn in New York City has, for decades, served as a beacon of hope in the LGBTQ+ community,” said World of Wonder co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey. “World of Wonder similarly strives to build opportunities and access for the community, while standing beside them and The Stonewall Inn in the struggle for equality. In that same spirit, we are thrilled to partner for this one-night-only concert to offer help and support to the LGBTQ+ community during this difficult time.”
The event is being executive produced by Erich Bergen, who recently produced The Rosie O’Donnell Show fundraising event as well as the “Saturday Night Seder” streaming event which raised $2.9 Million. “I think this pandemic has made it even more clear just how vulnerable some of our communities actually are,” said Bergen. “We are coming together to respond to this crisis in a collaborative way, through music, which is the great unifier.”
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Co-Producer and Golden Globe nominated songwriter and producer Brett McLaughlin adds, “So many careers are built and sustained by the support of the LGBT nightlife community. It’s our turn and duty to support them during this time of need. I’m so grateful that many of my friends jumped at the chance to give back when asked. This is going to be an incredibly special evening.”
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“Stonewall Gives Back!” will live-stream Thursday, April 23rd at 8PM ET/7 CT on World of Wonder’s YouTube Channel. All proceeds from the benefit concert will go to a fund where industry professionals can apply for a grant.
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What’s Happening at Occidental Center for the Arts Now
Dear friends and supporters of the arts: I hope you are all safe and warm, and finding ways to keep yourselves entertained. As you know, OCA has put all of its activities on hold for the duration of the County’s shelter-in-place order. So far, we have rescheduled all ticketed events through May, and will resume small classes and group meetings as soon as the authorities deem it safe to do so. We’ll all miss getting together for the Fool’s Parade, now cancelled as well, but we look forward to lots of clever foolishness in 2021. In the meantime, there is an abundance of art and music being shared online, including free virtual tours of museums and galleries around the world, free streaming concerts, and more. Below you’ll find links to websites and video recordings of some of our performers who’ve been rescheduled this season. You can use the links to enjoy a “couch tour” of live and recorded performances while we keep our safe distances. We’re also sharing below some of the incredible artwork in our “She Persisted” exhibit, honoring the achievements of women throughout time. We hope you enjoy the artwork and music, and that you will plan to see some of these wonderful performers later this year at OCA. Even though our activities are on hold, OCA’s overhead expenses continue to accrue. With no event revenue we are facing challenges with our financial commitments including the upcoming property tax bill. If you are able, this is a great time to make a donation to OCA and show your support for our community venue. You can make a secure contribution online with this link. Your support for OCA is greatly appreciated and will help ensure that we can continue bringing quality artistic and musical programs to West County. We’ll update you again soon, and remain hopeful that our vigilance with social distancing is effective in suppressing the spread of COVID19. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns. I hope you enjoy the images from our exhibit, and use some of the links below to lift your spirits, take a break from the news media, and enjoy a musical or artistic interlude. You’ll be glad you did! Sincerely, Tina MarchettiExecutive DirectorOccidental Center for the Arts[email protected] West County’s Arts and Entertainment Hub |
“She Persisted” Art ExhibitionScroll down to see more images from the exhibit. |
“Honoring Jane Lathrop Stanford” by Lesley Pickford. Oil on Canvas, $600.“Sarah Grimske Suffragette” by Johanna Regan. Oil on Canvas, $600. |
Livestream Concert: Dirty CelloThursday, March 26th at 8 PM Join Rebecca Roudman and crew for a live performance – direct to your living room! Brought to you via Bandsintown. Click here to RSVP. Rebecca’s Klezmer band SF Yiddish Combois currently being rescheduled at OCA. Check out more of their great music on their website. |
Sarah Baker & FriendsSoul Blues with a Blues Rock Twist Check out videos from Sarah’s new album “Baker’s Dozen” on Sarah’s YouTube channel. Sarah’s performance at OCA is currently being rescheduled. |
Mariah Parker’s Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble This supergroup of Bay Area musicians includes Paul McCandless, Matthew Montfort, Brian Rice, Kash Killion, Ian Dogole, Duru Demetrius, Debopriyo Sankar and Fred Randolph. Check out the ensemble and other great performances by Mariah on herYouTube channel. Mariah and friends have been rescheduled to perform on September 12, 2020 at OCA. |
Art enthusiasts: did you know that you can tour exhibits in the Louevre for from your home? Click here to see the Louevre’s virtual tours! There are also many awesome virtual tours of museums available online. Click here to check out some options! |
“She Persisted” Art ExhibitionSelected Images |
BEST IN SHOW“If you choose to betray us, we will never forgive you”.Chris Cheek, Acrylic. $4,000. |
“Still Breathing” by Jessica Morell. Encaustic. $875. “Not Again” by Trudi Hauptman. Fabric, yarn. $500. |
“Liberty” by Marylu Downing. Mixed Media, $850.“Minnie Mouse” by Saroj Heron. Acrylic, $200. |
“Letting go/Letting in” by Jessica Morell. Encaustic, $425.“Protect” by Mylette Welsh. Acrylic, $1,500. |
“Untitled” by Nancy Kees Dunn. Pit fired clay, terasigalatta slip, $250.“Morning Tea for 50 – Women’s Work” by Lesley Pickford. Oil on canvas, $1,000. |
“Stormy Weather” by Mylette Welsh. Acrylic, $1,000.“In the light” by River Mortenson. Acrylic, $3,525. |
Visit our website to learn more about us! www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org |
Most North Bay Concerts & Events Canceled or Postponed
Here’s a partial list:
From the Sebastopol Center for the Arts
In light of the current coronavirus pandemic, and with heavy hearts, the leadership of Sebastopol Center for the Arts has decided to postpone all public events, gallery exhibits, programs and classes. This includes the postponement of the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival.
We believe it is time to step back from our public activities and focus on the health and safety of our staff, volunteers and audience. We will maintain our current staffing, but will be closed to the public until further notice.
The Center’s leadership, board and executives are evaluating coronavirus-related conditions on a daily basis. Our evaluation includes adhering to directives from the City, County and State, as well as examining our own health and financial liabilities.
Please stay in touch with us via our website where this notice and new updates will be posted regularly. If you want to reach out to us with specific questions or needs, call 707.829.4797 Ext 1008 and leave a message. Or email us at [email protected].
From Occidental Center for the Arts
In the spirit of promoting the safety and well-being of our audiences, performers and artists, we are suspending our events and activities until the end of March.
This decision has been made with hope that social distancing now will assist with the containment of COVID19, and will allow us all to resume normal activities as quickly as possible. We will be rescheduling all of the events impacted by this decision, and will inform you as soon as new dates are secured. If you had already purchased tickets to an OCA event between March 14 and March 29, you will automatically receive a refund.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. On behalf of myself, the OCA Board and our dedicated volunteers, we look forward to resuming our excellent musical and artistic experiences very soon!
From Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
With the latest recommendations from Sonoma County officials and Governor Newsom to cancel or postpone large-scale events, the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts will be contacting all of the artists and arts groups scheduled to perform in the 1600-seat Ruth Finley Person Theater through the end of March. We will be working diligently to reschedule performances.
As soon as we know the status of each event, we will communicate with all ticket holders regarding next steps: current tickets will be honored on rescheduled dates or, for cancelled events, how to obtain refunds or convert tickets to a tax-deductible donation.
The health of our patrons, students, artists, volunteers and employees is paramount. We will keep our community updated via email, as well through social media channels and on our website at the following link: https://lutherburbankcenter.org/healthandsafetyupdate/
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact our Patron Services staff at 707.546.3600 (Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
March Santa Rosa Symphony concerts cancelled
Santa Rosa Symphony, in response to local, state and CDC guidelines, has cancelled all performances through the end of March. The Symphony will keep patrons updated via email,srsymphony.org and social media channels regarding its rescheduling efforts, and it is in direct contact with its subscribers and single ticket buyers.
To protect public health and slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19, the California Department of Public Health announced Wednesday, March 11, 2020, that gatherings and events of more than 250 people be canceled, at least through the end of March, which includes the Youth Orchestra Showcase Concert on March 15 and the Symphony’s upcoming “Showcasing Cotemporary Women” classical concerts March 21-23, 2020.
“We believe this is vital to minimize the potential health risk to our patrons, musicians, volunteers and staff,” said Santa Rosa Symphony President and CEO Alan Silow.
We are hopeful that by May we will be able to celebrate and engage in classical music once again, together.
About the Santa Rosa Symphony
Santa Rosa Symphony, the Resident Orchestra of the Green Music Center, is the third-oldest professional orchestra in California, and the largest regional symphony north of Los Angeles. Francesco Lecce-Chong, the Symphony’s fifth music director in its 92 years, began his tenure in 2018. The Symphony is committed to core values of artistic excellence, innovative programming, comprehensive music education and community service. The organization infused the local economy with more than $4 million in 2018.
Currently in its 92nd season, the Symphony’s performance schedule includes 21 Classical Series concerts (7 sets), 7 Discovery Dress Rehearsal concerts, a 3-concert Family Series and a 4-concert Pops Series, as well as special concerts. The Symphony is also recognized for having one of the most comprehensive music education programs in California, serving nearly 30,000 youths annually.
Collaborations with schools and organizations across Sonoma County have gained the Santa Rosa Symphony national attention and support. Awards include an American Symphony Orchestra League MetLife Award for Community Engagement and a first-place award for adventurous programming in the 2012-2013 season from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
Coachella owner Philip Anschutz donated $1million to anti-LGBT causes in 2018
Billionaire Philip Anschutz, whose portfolio includes Coachella and London’s O2 Arena, gave more than $1million to anti-LGBT+ causes in 2018, despite previously denying the donations.
As of October 2019, the 80-year-old Christian conservative was ranked by Forbes as the 41st richest person in the USA, with a net worth of $11.5billion.
Anschutz, the head of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), was previously accused of making donations to anti-LGBT+ hate groups like Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and the Family Research Council (FRC) via The Anschutz Foundation.
The revelations originally came from a 2013 tax return released by Freedom for All Americans, a political action group that had looked at funding for a number of the most influential and powerful anti-LGBT groups in the US.
Anschutz called the allegations “fake news” and furiously denied the claims,saying that AEG would “immediately cease all contributions” to groups which “finance anti-LGBTQ initiatives”.
He later gave $1million to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and said: “I support the rights of all people and oppose discrimination and intolerance against the LGBTQ community.”
But now according to Billboard, tax returns from AEG between December 2017 and November 2018 show that the anti-LGBT+ donations have not stopped.
While the document does not show donations to FRC and ADF, it does show that the Coachella owner’s company gave $1million to Colorado Christian University (CCU) for a new student centre.
The university threatens students with suspension and expulsion for same-sex “sexual activity” and “dressing or acting differently than the biological gender that God created a student to be”.
According to CCU’s student handbook: “Sexual intercourse and other forms of sexual contact to be the unique expression of covenanted love within heterosexual marriage and are oriented toward family life… The university will not tolerate premarital or extramarital sexual activity whether between a man and a woman or between two people of the same gender.”
It adds: “When a student decides to identify as a gender other than their biological one, by requesting a change of pronouns or surgical response to their sense that they are in the ‘wrong’ body, it is in theirs, and the university’s, best interest for them to leave the university community.
“It is also in the best interest of the university and the student for them to separate themselves from the CCU community if she or he pursues a medical course of action to physically change their biological gender to that of another sex.”
AEG also gave $20,000 to Sky Ranch Christian Camps. The camp says on its website that it believes “that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sin.”
It adds: “We believe that God created the human race, male and female, and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender is immoral and therefore sin.”
The Anschutz Foundation told Billboard: “Presently, less than 5 percent of the average annual grants awarded by the Foundation go to conservative or faith-based organisations.”
In 2018, Cara Delevingne boycotted Coachella because it was owned by Anschutz, amid accusations of his donations to anti-LGBT+ causes.
The Black Brothers Band at Occidental Center for the Arts
Saturday March 7, 2020 @ 7:30 pm. The Black Brothers Band. Occidental Center for the Arts welcomes back the charismatic scions of Ireland’s famous singing Black Family- Michael and Shay Black- and their fine band, featuring famed pianist Eamonn Flynn (‘The Commitments’) with dynamic accordion player Felim Egan.The brothers have a new album! made with family members .The brothers’ joy in performing, their love of a good story, and their charm and wit plus Irish humor make every day seem like St. Patrick’s Day at OCA! $22 Adv/$26 at door. Fine refreshments. Wheelchair Accessible. Art Gallery open. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org.. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465
Billie Holiday Project at Occidental Center for the Arts February 15
Saturday February 15, 2020 @ 8 pm. Billie Holiday Project at Occidental Center for the Arts. Evocative songstress Stella Heath skillfully interprets Lady Day as she fronts a stellar quintet of Bay Area musicians for a musical tribute to the life and art of the legendary singer for Valentine’s weekend and Black History Month at our acoustic sweet spot! $20 Advance/$25 at door. Advance tickets recommended. Fine refreshments. Wheelchair accessible. Art Exhibit open for viewing in Gallery. Event and ticket info at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. 707-874-9392
‘Singing the History of Black America’ at Occidental Center for the Arts February 8
Saturday February 8 @ 7 pm. Occidental Center for the Arts presents ‘Climbing Up the Mountain’: Singing the History of Black America. Benjamin Mertz is a charismatic Bay Area performer, composer, song leader, writer, human rights activist, and the founder/director of Joyful Noise Gospel Singers. He has just released his first CD entitled ‘Climbing Up the Mountain’. Join Benjamin Mertz as he leads us on a song and spoken word journey through history, with the power and beauty of black traditional music. From work songs to spirituals, from gospel to blues and jazz, this inspiring presentation will celebrate the wisdom and courage of black music, and the indelible mark it has made on American culture. Singing along is encouraged! Also features vocalist Nancy Louise, with Brendan Buss on saxophone. $15 Adv. /$20 at the door. Fine refreshments. Wheelchair accessible. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465.
Words and Music with Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, Claudia Russell and Nina Gerber at Occidental Center for the Arts Jan. 12
Sunday January 12 @ 3 pm. ‘Words and Music’: Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, Claudia Russell with Nina Gerber. Occidental Center for the Arts. Please join us for a memorable afternoon performance of outstanding music as three award-winning songwriters trade songs in a Nashville-style song circle. Prepare to be moved as Grammy-winning songwriter Don Henry, beloved bluegrass musician/educator Laurie Lewis, and outstanding singer/songwriter Claudia Russell perform some of their favorite tunes, accompanied by virtuoso guitarist Nina Gerber. You won’t want to miss this unique sharing of stellar talents in our intimate acoustic space! $22 Adv/$25 at the door. Fine refreshments; Art Gallery. Wheelchair accessible. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465.
Teresa Tudury & Friends ! at Occidental Center for the Arts December 21
Saturday December 21 @ 7:30 pm. Teresa Tudury & Friends at Occidental Center for the Arts. Direct from her current Las Cruces, New Mexico home, Sonoma County’s favorite singer- songwriter and musical comedienne returns to her former Occidental digs for the ‘holidaze’ to gift us with her own brand of madcap musical magic ; along with some well known musical friends! Doug Jayne of KRCB will be the MC. $20 Adv/ $25 at door. Fine refreshments. Art Gallery open. Wheelchair accessible. www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465