Music Book Club, Studio Aurora and Fault Radio Present Tamara Palmer’s Bay Area Rap Mixtape Book Release Party and Movie Night
Photo by Myleen Hollero
Music Book Club, Studio Aurora and Fault Radio invite SF Music Week participants to celebrate the independent release of local DJ/author Tamara Palmer’s new Bay Area Rap Mixtape, a book featuring decades of archival interviews, live shows, historic moments and music recommendations. Featured artists include The Jacka, Shock G, MC Hammer, Too $hort, E-40 and Raphael Saadiq, to name just a few of the legends sharing their insights in this one-of-a-kind literary work.
The event starts at 5 p.m., with book giveaways and a special recorded DJ mix by Tamara aka T$. Movie night starts at 7 p.m. with Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay, the 2015 documentary by Zachary Butler, accompanied by free mac and cheese from Studio Aurora chef/owner Dario Barbone!
Free, no RSVP required
Instagram handles:
@california.eating
@studioaurora.sf
@Its_fault_radio
Live at San Franpsycho
Come check out live music and grab some complimentary adult bevies to celebrate SF Music Week. Check out San Franpsycho's newest art show and grab some gear!
Illuminate LIVE 2026 Bandshell Kick-Off Concert - Hosted by Golden Gate Park Bandshell and Illuminate the Arts
Illuminate The Arts is kicking off their Illuminate LIVE 2026 season at The Golden Gate Bandshell together with SF Music Week! This free, outdoor concert features 3 amazing female fronted local bands:
12:15pm Lucky Break
1:00pm Grooblen
2:00pm Gloomy June
SF Music Week Record Swap - Hosted by Harlan Records
SF Music Week 2nd Annual Record Swap at Harlan Records. Local music collectors and vendors come together to share, swap, swell and buy vinyl fidelity. Enjoy good music, good drink and good vibrations.
Inside Stern Grove: A History & Walking Tour - Hosted by Stern Grove Festival Association
Join us at the Stern Grove Festival site for coffee and bagels at the historic Trocadero House, meet our team, hear about our storied history and explore the nation’s longest-running free music festival on a guided tour of the Grove.
Live at San Franpsycho
Come check out live music and grab some complimentary adult bevies to celebrate SF Music Week. Check out San Franpsycho's newest art show and grab some gear!
The Outlet LA Presents: Nightcap Jazz & R&B Evening: Soulful Sounds Edition - Hosted by Memberly
During SF Music Week, The Outlet LA returns with a special edition of our signature Nightcap experience. This immersive live-music evening celebrates the golden era of R&B and Neo-Soul, blending timeless grooves with the sophisticated energy that defines our events.
SFSOUNDS Live Recording Experience - Presented in collaboration with Ruth Williams Opera House and La Fauna Music (Day 2)
SFSOUNDS is an intimate live recording concert that blends performance, storytelling, and connection. Featuring two acts from local Black and Brown independent artists, this unique experience invites the audience to sit close to the musicians and immerse themselves in the performance through high-quality wireless headphones — creating a “silent disco” style concert that feels deeply personal and engaging.
"50 Years of SF Punk" Celebration at the Historic Mabuhay Gardens and On Broadway - Hosted by The Fab Mab, On Broadway & Radio Valencia
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of Punk Rock in San Francisco, and it all started at the legendary Mabuhay Gardens (AKA: The Fab Mab), which is reopening, along with On Broadway, coming alive once again with the spirit of the 1970s and 1980s.
This event will feature an afternoon panel discussion, at the Fab Mab, with punk pioneers (musicians, photographers, writers, and pranksters), and culminate with an evening, upstairs at On Broadway, of legendary bands along with the new breed. Flipper & Friends, Frightiwg, and others from the original era will be hitting the stage. Newer San Francisco bands will grace the stage showing the crowd they would have fit right in 50 years ago, bringing the energy that we need now more than ever!
Many more bands will be announced in the coming weeks. Co-presented by San Francisco's Radio Valencia (radiovalencia.fm)
An Afternoon With Anna Hillburg - Hosted by SFPL Bay Beats
Anna Hillburg has spent several years making music in the Bay Area. As a singer, songwriter, trumpet, guitar, drum, and bass player she has contributed to acts such as Shannon and The Clams, The Dodos, The Moore Brothers, Will Sprott, Dream Date, Greg Ashley, Shannon Shaw and her All Star Buddy Band and more. She spent her teenage years playing with the All American Band at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Hillburg graduated from the highly selective Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she was awarded the Lew and Edie Wasserman Award as the school’s top instrumentalist. After graduating she came to the Bay Area to study music at UC Berkeley, where she was a member of the University’s symphony. She spent her 20’s and early 30’s touring with several different bands in the US and Europe before becoming a music teacher to students of all ages. After her 2013 self-titled album, Hillburg went on to release “Really Real” in 2018, gaining even more accreditation and praise as a songwriter on her own. She has once again joined Bay Area members of Extra Classic, The Dodos, and Chime School in 2023 to release her third solo album, ironically entitled “Tired Girls.” In 2025, she released the lauded synth pop EP, Dangerously Impressionable, a collaboration with her partner Bill Rousseau. Drawing inspiration from Madonna to Moroder and everything in between.
Golden Gate Valley Open House with Rent Romus - Hosted by SFPL Bay Beats
Enjoy live music with San Francisco Public Library's Bay Beats artist Rent Romus (saxophone) & Eli Knowles (vocals, keyboard) playing romantic jazz ballads and slow, ambient music in a stunning venue.
Magik Day at Hyde Street Studios - Hosted by Hyde Street Studios
For one day on Feb 28th, Magik*Magik Orchestra will provide an onsite string quartet free of charge to several local bands interested in adding strings to a track. Each band will receive one hour of free recording time with the quartet and conductor Minna Choi ($1000 value).
SFSOUNDS Live Recording Experience - Presented in collaboration with Ruth Williams Opera House and La Fauna Music (Day 1)
SFSOUNDS is an intimate live recording concert that blends performance, storytelling, and connection. Featuring two acts from local Black and Brown independent artists, this unique experience invites the audience to sit close to the musicians and immerse themselves in the performance through high-quality wireless headphones — creating a “silent disco” style concert that feels deeply personal and engaging.
The Art of Sound - Hosted by Trapxart
Trapxart brings together visual artists and musicians for a gallery experience rooted in sound, culture, and connection. Featuring creators who move fluidly between canvas and music, the night blurs the line between exhibition and performance. Join us at Dahlia during SF Music Week for an unforgettable celebration of creative expression.
Best in the Bay - Hosted by Nothin But Hits, Trapxart, 1015 MGMT and The Office Hours
Best in The Bay is a highly curated music showcase and entertainment industry night bringing out The Bay's best and brightest across music, entertainment, media, and nightlife. Come see live performances featuring rising artists in The Bay, while connecting with professional creatives in a lively environment! Whether you're a fellow artist trying to meet new collaborators, a talent scout searching for the next star, an industry exec looking to build key partnerships, or you're just a fan of good vibes and great music, this is where it's at! Join us for our biggest night of the year as part of SF Music Week's official programming - you're not going to want to miss this!
Drop-In DJ Lessons - Hosted by Blue Bear School of Music and Coven
Experience the world of the DJ as we activate the space adjacent to the Exploratorium during their After Dark Thursday Nights program.
The Power of Music & Bay Area Sports - Hosted by iHeartMedia San Francisco
Meet the DJs behind the biggest moments in Bay Area sports — from the arena to the airwaves — in a fun, insider conversation moderated by the voice of the San Francisco Giants.
Women's Audio Mission Industry Mixer
Join WAM during SF Music Week for an Industry Mixer and Happy Hour at Women’s Audio Mission's Recording Studios in San Francisco.
Join us for an Industry Mixer presented by Women's Audio Mission, where you'll enjoy a tour of WAM’s recording studios, a Listening Lounge featuring music created in WAM's studios, learn about our Local Sirens Artist Residencies, experience audio demos in our Dolby-certified Atmos spatial audio-equipped studio, and enjoy a relaxed happy hour with wine and beer. This is your chance to mingle with local artists and audio professionals, and experience WAM’s world-class recording studios - the only professional recording studios in the world specifically built and run entirely by women and gender-expansive staff.
Vinyl Workshop: A Modern Guide to Vinyl Pressing, Distribution, and Fan ConnectioN - Hosted by HOT WAX RECORDS
The vinyl revival is a massive opportunity for artists to connect with fans and experience their music in a meaningful way, but the manufacturing process is an antiquated and complex process that can overwhelm artists. HOT WAX proposes a high-value, two-hour workshop and panel designed to de-mystify the production, distribution and release process. Teaching artists and independent labels, everything they need to know about successfully utilizing vinyl for their career in the modern age.
SF Music Week and She Is The Music – SF Chapter Presents Kelly McFarling: Performance + Conversation with Emma Silvers
Join She Is The Music for an intimate and revealing conversation with Bay Area artist Kelly McFarling, moderated by journalist Emma Silvers. This special event offers a personal look at Kelly’s journey as an artist exploring moments of joy and misfortune, creative growth, and the realities of building a life in music in the Bay Area. Blending storytelling with song, Kelly will also perform a few acoustic selections, creating a warm, close-up experience that celebrates artistry, resilience, and the power of women’s voices in music.
Drum Habit: The Craft of Recording Drums - Hosted by Hyde Street Studios
Chris McGrew will be set up in the legendary Hyde Street Studio C (akaWally’s HydeOut) recording drums with Jaime Durr engineering as they track songs for selected artists. They will discuss their choices in a workshop setting.
Fault Radio at Studio Aurora - Hosted by Fault Radio
Fault Radio will be hosting a series of events that showcase what their space is all about including radio programming, art gallery, live electronic hardware showcase, wine tasting, She is the Music showcase & more. This is free and open to the public.
A Dolby Atmos Listening Experience Featuring Rogue Wave "Descended Like Vultures" - Hosted by Dolby Atmos
SF Music Week at Dolby Laboratories:
A Dolby Atmos Listening Experience Featuring Rogue Wave "Descended Like Vultures"
20th Anniversary Director's Cut in Dolby Atmos
Followed by a panel discussion with the band and Grammy Award winning engineer Michael Romanowski
Limited space, RSVP required
Mariachi CMC! Preserving the Roots: Mariachi Education in the Community - Hosted by Community Music Center
This event will feature a concert and conversation by Community Music Center’s Mariachi CMC, a community based ensemble that explores the history and the different musical styles of Mariachi. Mariachi CMC will perform from its repertoire of traditional Mariachi music and instructors will talk about how they approach teaching specific cultural traditions, work with students of different generations, and engage their students with community celebrations and activities.
Kick Off Happy Hour & Bowling Presented by August Hall, Fifth Arrow, Live Nation and Lyft
We’re taking over August Hall for an evening of music-loving mayhem—lanes lit, drinks flowing, and playlists stacked with local talent.
Whether you’re here to bowl your heart out or just hang with the scene, come connect with artists, industry folks, and fellow music fans for the official launch!
What to Expect:
Open lanes & casual games
Food*, drinks, and plenty of room to mingle
Attendees will receive a $25 Lyft credit to use throughout SF Music Week*
Reserve the date, bring your crew, and get ready to kick things off in style.
*while supplies last
Music Production Pop-Up Lab
This hands-on evening dives deep into modern music creation, blending production, performance, and sound design, hosted in partnership with music industry leading brands; Novation, Sequential, Focusrite, and ADAM Audio.
Attendees will explore creative MIDI controller roles, advanced mapping, routing, and performance-ready setups that seamlessly translate from creation to live execution, culminating in a synthesizer sound design and live performance workshop.
Space is limited to 10 hands-on workstations (with 10 additional assistant spots), and participants must bring a laptop with Bitwig pre-installed (no purchase required, a free 30-day trial is available here) to take part in the interactive sessions. While we will learn within Bitwig, however, techniques learned in this workshop can be applied to any DAW.
Hands-on spots will be assigned on a first come first serve basis at check-in. We are also reserving up to 20 spots for people who just want to attend the lecture without the hands-on lab experience.
Punk Rock Camp Museum Tour - Hosted by Mike Trouble Lin, Founder of Punk Rock Camp
A private tour of the personal collection of Mike Trouble Lin, founder of Punk Rock Camp. Highlights of the collection includes artwork by: Jason Jagël, Os Gemeos, and vintage Warped Tour memorabilia.
Castro Theatre Tour
Join Managers Garrett Blanchard and Raul Rangel for a guided walking tour of San Francisco’s newly renovated Castro Theatre, showcasing its restored historic architecture, upgraded amenities, and revitalized cultural spaces. Learn about the theater’s storied past, its role in LGBTQ+ history, and the vision behind its next era as a modern community and performance hub.
This is an invite-only event.
EMPIRE Workshop Series
Kick off SF Music Week at the EMPIRE Workshop Series—a day of forward-thinking conversations, hands-on insights, and community with the people shaping what’s next in music. Join us as we bring together creatives and innovators to connect, learn, and set the tone for the week ahead.
San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center Tour
See yourself here at the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center! Join us for this behind-the-scenes tour for a unique glimpse into some of San Francisco's most historic venues. We'll start in the Veterans Building to check out the Herbst Theatre, The Green Room, and the Wilsey Center. Then we'll head next door to the War Memorial Opera House, home to the San Francisco Opera & San Francisco Ballet. We'll conclude the tour at Davies Symphony Hall, home to the San Francisco Symphony.