October 19th – 5pm to 9pm — “The Commons on 3rd Thursdays”
media contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
October 19th – 5pm to 9pm — “The Commons on 3rd Thursdays”
Fourth in a Series of FREE Evening Events
San Francisco’s Central Public Plazas between City Hall and Market Street
www.civiccentercommons.org / #commonsthursdays
Live Music on Three Stages with Food Trucks, Beer Gardens and Activities for All Ages
13 October 2017 – San Francisco, CA: The last in a series of four evening events in 2017, The Commons on 3rd Thursday is October 19th from 5pm – 9pm. The event is a free “block party” featuring live music on three stages, roller skating by the Church of 8 Wheels, food trucks, over-21 beverages, games, interactive installations and other activities for all ages in Civic Center Plaza, UN Plaza, and Fulton Street between the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Main Public Library.
Musical headliners for October features a diverse lineup of pop, rock, soul and blues acts – Bells Atlas and No Vacation will be performing in Fulton Street, Stompy Jones in Civic Center Plaza, and Vinyl Williams in UN Plaza. Church of 8 Wheels is bringing back their funk music, bright lights and outdoor roller rink on Fulton Street. Free skate rentals of all sizes will be available to the public throughout the night.
With Jimmy Buffet performing at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, a mini ‘Paradise Cove’ experience will be curated featuring Jimmy Buffett themed activities, art, beverages, and more in UN Plaza for Parrotheads and anyone looking for a tropical good time!
Off the Grid is bringing food and beverage trucks to please all palettes – trucks in October include Caribbean Spices, Jackrabbit, Jeepsilog, Judie’s Tacos Locos, Kabob Trolley, Lamas Peruvian Food and QBC. Bi-Rite Creamery will be back in Civic Center Plaza, bringing their ice cream and other menu items to customers in their future location. Bi-Rite will operate a new café kiosk in Civic Center Plaza in early 2018, when the new Helen Diller Civic Center playgrounds open.
The Commons on 3rd Thursdays is a public-private partnership among the City of San Francisco, Another Planet Entertainment, Off the Grid, Noise Pop, and the Civic Center Community Benefit District. The event series grew out of the Civic Center Commons initiative, a strategic effort led by the City of San Francisco and community partners to transform daily experiences in these public spaces and create a unified, inclusive civic “commons.” As a result of the effort, visitors to the area also will experience a dynamic sound installation in UN Plaza, courtesy of the Exploratorium, an outdoor art gallery by the Asian Art Museum, and a new yarn wrapping installation on trees throughout the area. The latest installment includes clusters of giraffes in Civic Center Plaza, parrots on Fulton Street, and octopuses at UN Plaza. The Asian Art Museum is unveiling a new Art/Lit Living Innovation Zone exhibition on Fulton Street: #StickyQuestions is a civic, visual and digital installation inviting participants to ask important questions to ourselves and our neighbors through curated prompts. The #StickyQuestions installation launches October 15, 2017 and will be open for public participation for The Commons on 3rd Thursdays.
OCTOBER 19 FULL LINEUP
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Location |
Live Music / Exhibitions / Activities |
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Civic Center Plaza Curated by People in Plazas |
Stage Stompy Jones: 6:30-7:20pm, 7:40-8:30pm Live DJ: 5:00-6:30pm, 7:20-7:40pm, 8:30-9:00pm Swing Dancing All Night! Bocce Ball, Giant Jenga, Cornhole and other games |
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Fulton Street Curated by Another Planet Entertainment |
Stage DJ Funklor: 5:00-6:15pm No Vacation: 6:15-7:15pm Bells Atlas: 7:45-8:45pm Church of 8 Wheels – Free Roller Skating #StickyQuestions Asian Art Museum LIZ Installation |
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United Nations Plaza Curated by Noise Pop |
Stage xxi: 5:00 – 8:00pm Vinyl Williams: 8:00 – 9:00pm ‘Paradise Cove’ – Jimmy Buffett themed activities, art, beverages, and more! |
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Nearby Attractions |
City Hall photo exhibit on the Ground Floor and North Light Court by artist Tabitha Soren (formerly MTV) called Fantasy Life (open til 8pm) San Francisco Main Library’s special exhibitions, Jewett Gallery, Summer of Love & Haight and Skylight Gallery, Calligraphies in Conversation (open til 8pm) San Francisco Arts Commission 155 Grove Street Window Installation featuring design by Cliff Hengst and Martin Venezky |
HEADLINE PERFORMER DETAILS
Bells Atlas: Bells Atlas emerges from the vibrant cultural and musical backdrop of Oakland, CA. The epicenter of the group’s start was Guerilla Café (“art.coffee.vibes”) – a fateful location that fostered friendship and musical connection between the core members, sparking the beginnings of a beautiful artistic collaboration and unique blend of sounds. Primarily made up of 4 members with a musical chemistry that surprises and compliments, the sonic palette that makes up Bells Atlas is deep, cinematic and colorful. They capture the spirit of eclectic influences – soul, West African & Brazilian rhythm, noise pop, psychedelia – and draw a wide audience with diverse tastes.
No Vacation: No Vacation began in early 2015, and quickly received attention for the nostalgic bedroom-pop sounds off of their debut mixtape, Amo XO, and surf-rock single, “Draem Girl”. A few months following the release of their second mixtape, Summer Break, No Vacation went on an indefinite hiatus. The five-piece officially reassembled in 2017 after playing shows under various names and a few line-up changes. Since their reunion, No Vacation has released 2 singles, “Mind Fields” and “Yam Yam”, off of their new EP Intermission, which is set to be release with Topshelf Records this November. As they transition out of San Francisco, No Vacation will bring the novice “wavy-gravy dream-pop” sounds of Intermission to Brooklyn.
Stompy Jones: Little David Rose’s thumpin’ stand-up bass, the double-shuffle drumming of Lee Beary, and the bounce piano of Scott Lawrence provide the rhythmic foundation of the band’s jump style. Riffing on top is the trumpet sound of Robert Dehlinger and Jeff “Erv” Ervin on the saxophone. These two fellas create the fireworks of vintage rhythm and blues. The charming Glen Earl Brown Jr on vocals and have become a trademark of Stompy Jones.
Vinyl Williams: Vinyl Williams is a celestial rock band from Los Angeles which aims to transmute personal experiences of religious dissonance into multi-religious harmony through music & artwork. The band consists of Lionel Williams (composer) Ian Gibbs (keys & guitar) Billy Winger (bass) and James Lake (drums). Their 3rd LP “Brunei” came out on August 26, 2016 on Company Records. (Chaz Bundick of Toro Y Moi’s subsidiary of Carpark Records) They have toured extensively with Toro Y Moi, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Temples, & Mount Kimbie.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
About Another Planet Entertainment
Another Planet Entertainment, LLC (Another Planet) was created on July 18, 2003 when Gregg W. Perloff, President/CEO of Bill Graham Presents, left to build his own company. Since its inception in 2003, Another Planet Entertainment has been honored by a vote of its concert industry peers for a total of 14 nominations and 4 wins by Pollstar Magazine. In 2016, Gregg Perloff received the “Promoter of the Year Award” from Pollstar Magazine.
Another Planet is the exclusive promoter for the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, the Fox Theater in Oakland, The Independent, a 500-capacity nightclub in San Francisco, and Harvey’s Outdoor Amphitheatre in Lake Tahoe. In 2010, APE was honored to be awarded the exclusive contract to operate the historic Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, a flexible capacity multi-use event and concert space that holds up to 8,500. Another Planet also successfully produces three major festivals – Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival (beginning in 2008), Treasure Island Music Festival (beginning in 2007) and Life is Beautiful (beginning in 2013).
Another Planet Entertainment has produced well over 5,000 events with artists as diverse as Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Neil Young, Daft Punk, Arcade Fire, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, Muse, Robert Plant, Phish, Elton John, Pearl Jam, Kenny Chesney, Adele, Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Simon & Garfunkel.
About The Civic Center Commons Initiative
The Civic Center Commons initiative is a strategic effort led by the City of San Francisco and community partners to transform daily experiences in the City’s central public spaces between Market Street and City Hall and create a unified, inclusive civic “commons”. Neighbors, community organizations and cultural institutions are working with City agencies and people who frequent these spaces to bring interactive art installations and play structures; more frequent activities and events; additional food and drink options; new stewardship approaches; and innovative workforce development partnerships. The goal of the initiative is to create a strong foundation for future capital improvements, including the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, set to open in spring 2018, and the Civic Center Public Realm Plan, which is redesigning the area’s open space. For more information; visit: https://civiccentercommons.org/CCC_Initiative_Overview.pdf
About Civic Center Community Benefit District:
Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD) is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization that works in tandem with City agencies to provide public safety, maintenance, marketing and special events that benefit Civic Center.
About Noise Pop:
Established in San Francisco in 1993, Noise Pop is one of the nation’s leading independent music promoters. Over the last 25 years Noise Pop’s namesake festival has provided exposure to some of the top emerging artists, many of which have gone on to widespread acclaim. Noise Pop is also the year-round talent buyer for the venerable San Francisco venue the Swedish American Hall, which includes Cafe du Nord, as well as producer of the free celebration of musical and culinary delights, the 20th Street Block Party. Additionally, Noise Pop partners with various organizations, venues and institutions to produce events throughout the year including the SFMOMA, California Sunday Magazine and Academy of Sciences. Noise Pop is honored to activate these San Francisco spaces and deliver an experience that celebrates the community and history of this City.
About Off the Grid:
Off the Grid Markets are founded on the idea of bringing communities together through amazing shared food experiences. Started in 2010, Off the Grid currently operates over 50 weekly public markets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. Off the Grid seeks to maintain a shared sense of space by collaborating with local businesses and communities to activate novel public spaces with truly unique experiences.
About People in Plazas
What began as a forum for street performers who were paid by passing the hat has become a program that provides wide exposure and more than 500 paid “gigs” annually for local musicians The series has grown to producing 120 + free performances at lunchtime in public plazas Monday through Friday in July, August and September. The program reaches an audience of more than 30,000 annually. In addition, we have produced community gatherings including movie nights, poetry readings, artisan fairs and other events that encourage community use of public spaces. Its mission is to encourage visitors, residents and workers to use our outdoor public spaces. We strive to make these spaces “everyone’s neighborhood.” We do this by producing free events in public spaces that are often underused. The “People in Plazas” series is supported by the Mayor’s Office, Art Commission, SFPD the SF Entertainment Commission and a grant from the Hotel Tax Fund /Grants for the Arts.