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Brad Brooks goes ‘heavy’ soul rocker
Oakland singer, songwriter and bandleader Brad Brooks was at the dentist, having his teeth cleaned, when a dental assistant noticed a bulge on the side of his neck. Further investigation established that the lump was cancer. He...
Litquake expands horizons
Since 1999, the annual literary festival, Litquake, has featured 11,500 authors and performers appearing before an audience total of 315,000. And in 2025, it’s gaining considerable steam in the East Bay. Numerous writers, poets, illustrators, playwrights and...
Radical belonging meets play at SoulPlay Festival
Set deep in the tranquil hills of Cobb, SoulPlay Festival just celebrated its 10th anniversary at Mandala Springs—a dreamy, alcohol- and drug-free retreat located beneath towering oaks, beside a creek and along paddling ponds. Over four days,...
Film photography rebounds amidst a sea of digital images
On Saturday, Sept. 6, Black and Brown in San Jose transformed into a gallery alive with analog energy. Eric Weiss’ portraits of ’80s and ’90s icons, from Madonna to Tupac, hung beside rows of restored vintage cameras,...
LaMP burns brightly
Three esteemed players have joined forces almost by chance, and the result is one of music’s more dynamic and vital outfits. Combining a melodic jazz sensibility with the unpredictability of a jam band, LaMP keeps its members—and...
‘Groovy Old Bloke’ hits the right notes
The late novelist Pearl S. Buck once said that to find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.
That idea seems to apply to singer/songwriter/musician Nick Lowe, who is riding high with Indoor Safari, his...
Fiatrone makes meaningful music
The Academy of Language and Music Arts (ALMA) in Orinda sets out to offer lessons for all ages in a thoughtful, rich and meaningful fashion. The school was founded by Dr. James Fiatrone—also known to students as...
