Cavetown will perform as part of a double bill with Mother Mother at the Greek Theater in Berkeley on June 11.
Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty ImagesPride parades and weekend parties can hog the spotlight during Pride Month, but local arts organizations have plenty of performances, exhibitions and other artistic events planned, offering attendees well-rounded entertainment options while celebrating queer communities throughout June.
Check out the Chronicle’s guide to live music, art and more honoring LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Queer Conscience Photography Exhibition
A group exhibition of works by LGBTQ artists is set to coincide with Pride month. Featured artists include Andrew Carroll, Anne Vetter, Charlie Kucik, Chris Behroozian, Jesse Egner, Jorge Escobar, Judith G. Levy, Michael McFadden, Nick Simko, Shophia Dell’Arciprete, Tea Laroux and others.
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Opening reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Through Aug 30. Free. The Image Flow Gallery, 328 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. 415-388-3569. https://theimageflow.com
Cavetown and Mother Mother
Check out two extraordinary bands as part of their “Meet Me @ the Altar” summer tour. With 23-year-old London-based singer/songwriter, Cavetown, whose quirky hits include “Boys Will be Bugs” and “Lemon Boy,” sharing the bill with legendary genre-defying Canadian quintet, Mother Mother.
2 p.m. Sunday, June 11. $50.50, reservations recommended. The Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Road, UC Berkeley. 510-871-9225. https://thegreekberkeley.com
Bobby Friday will host the monthlong weekly pop-up drag performance series, “Drag Me Downtown.”
Robbie Silver/Downtown SFDrag Me Downtown
Bobby Friday hosts a monthlong weekly series of pop-up drag performances celebrating the city’s LGBTQ+ community. It’s set to feature some big names in drag including San Francisco Drag Laureate D’Arcy Drollinger along with Afrika America, Oliver Branch, Tito Soto, Amoura Teese, Tyson Check-in, Kipper Snacks, Mahlae Balenciaga and Carnie Asada.
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5-7 p.m. Thursdays. Through June 27. Free-$10, reservations recommended. June 13 at Pabu Izakaya, 101 California St., S.F.; June 20 at The Jay Hotel, 433 Clay St., S.F.; June 27 at One Market Restaurant, 1 Market St., S.F. https://downtownsf.org
Kim Shuck’s Poem Jam: Celebrate Sinister Wisdom
Kim Shuck, San Francisco’s poet laureate emerita, invites writers published in the multicultural lesbian literary and art journal to read from their works. Readers scheduled include Barbara McBane, Carla Schick, Lily Kaylor Honoré and Yeva Johnson.
6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13. Free. Lower level, S.F. Public Library, Main branch, 100 Larkin St., S.F. 415-557-4400. https://sfpl.org
Queer Chorus of San Francisco: Pleasure Principle
The choral music program is set to include music from Baroque to Broadway. With works by Mozart, Handel and arrangements of songs by Bjork, the Indigo Girls and others.
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7-9 p.m. Friday, June 14. $25, reservations recommended. Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St., S.F. 415-779-5428. www.qcsf.org
International Queer Women of Color Film Festival: Joyful Reunion
Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project is set to premiere 44 films in five screenings for its 2024 festival. All films feature subtitles and audio description, American Sign Language interpretation and other accessibility features.
7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 14-15; 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 15-16; 3 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Free, reservations recommended. Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Ave., S.F. l 415-752-0868. https://qwocff.org
Marga Gomez’ “Swimming With Lesbians” will return to the Marsh theater in San Francisco from June 7-22.
Steven Pisano/The Marsh S.F.Marga Gomez: Swimming with Lesbians
Marga Gomez’ latest one-woman comedy show — set aboard a fictional lesbian luxury cruise ship — is back in San Francisco for a special Pride Month run.
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7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 14-15 and 21-22. The Marsh S.F., 1062 Valencia St., S.F. 415-282-3055. https://themarsh.org
Pride Family Festival
Wear your brightest rainbow colors and get ready for fun during a daytime Pride event featuring crafts and movement activities, LGBTQ story time, local organization exhibitors and a “Rainbow Connection” family-friendly drag show and parade.
3-5 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Free, reservations recommended. S.F. JCC, 3200 California St., S.F. 415-292-1200. www.jccsf.org
Joe Landini Dance: Freddie vs. Elvis
A live dance performance set to the music of Freddie Mercury and Elvis Presley features choreography by Joe Landini and is influenced by pop culture imagery and collective memories.
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7 p.m. Saturday, June 15 and 22. $20, reservations recommended. Safehouse Arts, 145 Eddy St., S.F. https://safehousearts.org
Actors Amrit Kaur and Kya Moseya in a still from the film “The Queen of My Dreams,” which will be screened at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater on June 22 as part of the 2024 Frameline 48 LGBTQ+ film festival.
Frameline 48Drag Gala
Nicki Jizz hosts an evening event featuring live DJ sets, drag performances, activity stations including caricature art, a photobooth and more. Drag attire is highly encouraged.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Free, reservations recommended. The Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness Ave., S.F. www.theregencyballroom.com
Barbara Higbie and Teresa Trull: Birthdays and Pride
Grammy-nominated Windham Hill artist Barbara Higbie and award-winning producer/singer-songwriter Teresa Trull are set to present a Pride month and June birthday celebration performance featuring guest artists Vicki Randle, Julie Wolf and Kofy Brown.
7 p.m. Sunday, June 16. $25-$40, reservations recommended. Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. 510-644-2020. https://thefreight.org
Thrive City will host a free, outdoor Pride comedy night on the evening of June 20.
Thrive CityThrive City: Pride Comedy Night
HellaFunny and Accenture present an outdoor evening showcase featuring comedians Paris Sashay, Maxx Eddy, Chris Riggins and Frida Sierra.
5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20. Free, reservations recommended. Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way, S.F. www.chasecenter.com
Martuni’s Pride Kickoff Concert
The classic, cozy mid-Market piano bar hosts a cabaret performance featuring Andrew Bundy.
4 p.m. Sunday, June 18; 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22. $10-$15, reservations recommended. Martuni’s, 4 Valencia St., S.F. 415-241-0205. https://martunis.restaurants-world.com
The S.F. Gay Men’s Chorus joins the San Francisco Symphony on June 18 for a Pride Month performance titled “All We Need is Love.”
S.F. Gay Men’s ChorusS.F. Gay Men’s Chorus with the San Francisco Symphony
Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg will conduct a Pride program titled “All We Need is Love,” featuring works by Michael Tilson Thomas, David Conte, Aaron Manswell, Dominick DiOrio, Beth Nielsen Chapman and others.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18. $20-$139, reservations recommended. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-864-2000. www.sfsymphony.org
Frameline 48: Juneteenth Kickoff Celebration
The annual LGBTQ film festival gets started this year with an outdoor celebration featuring drag performances from Reparations including Nicki Jizz, Afrika America and Mudd the Two Spirit, a free screening of “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero,” live sets from DJ Die Wies, a festival discussion and surprise reveal presented by D’Arcy Drollinger. Film festival continues through June 30 at multiple Bay Area locations. See website for schedule.
6-10 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. Free. Castro St., between Market and 18th Streets, S.F. 415-703-8650. www.frameline.org
Jazz and Blues by the Bay: Pride Night
Groove in an inclusive atmosphere as Stephanie Teel Band performs an outdoor concert near the Sausalito waterfront.
6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 21. Free. Gabrielson Park, Anchor Street and Humboldt Avenue, Sausalito. www.sausalitopride.org
Tenor Jonathan Pierce Rhodes (pictured) will make his Opera Parallèle debut starring in the upcoming West Coast premiere of composer Gregory Spear’s “Fellow Travelers” at the Presidio Theatre from June 21-23.
Opera Parallele/Julius SanchezOpera Parallele: Fellow Travelers
The West Coast premiere of an operatic adaptation of Thomas Mallon’s novel “Fellow Travelers” sheds light on an often-overlooked period of 20th century McCarthyism known as the ‘Lavender Scare’ which resulted in the mass firings of suspected homosexuals from U.S. government positions. It features a score by composer Gregory Spears and libretto by Greg Pierce.
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 21-22; 3 p.m. Sunday, June 3. $30-$120, reservations recommended. Presidio Theatre, 99 Morago Ave, S.F. https://operaparallele.org
Fresh Meat Festival of Trans and Queer Performance
The festival will feature gender-nonconforming, transgender and queer artists and ensembles, including Sean Dorsey Dance, Shawna Virago, Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi, Mark Travis Rivera, Queer Taiko, Lottie Riot and others performing dance, stand-up comedy and live music in a program offering world premieres of works commissioned as part of the festival’s “Fresh Works” program.
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 21-22; 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23. $15-$30, reservations recommended. Z Space, 450 Florida St., S.F. https://freshmeatproductions.org
Dancers Nol Simonse, center, and Héctor Jaime, right, pictured in Sean Dorsey Dance’s 2022 “The Lost Art of Dreaming,” will perform with Dorsey’s ensemble as part of the 2024 Fresh Meat Festival of Trans and Queer Performance from June 21-23 at Z Space.
Kegan Marling / Sean Dorsey DanceBay Area Rainbow Symphony Pride Concert
Music Director Dawn Harms will conduct a Pride-themed concert including works by Ethel Smyth, Aaron Copland and Beethoven.
7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22. $15-$35, reservations recommended. Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 800-595-4849. https://bars-sf.org
Sean Patrick Murtagh: Beautiful Girls
The award-winning tenor celebrates Pride month in San Francisco with a tribute to Stephen Sondheim divas in an evening performance of the quintessential songs inspired by the women who made them famous.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 22. $51, reservations recommended. Feinstein’s at The Nikko, 222 Mason St., S.F. 866-663-1063. www.feinsteinssf.com
“Reality Gays” comedians Matt Marr, left, and Jake Anthony will perform on June 22 at the Swedish American Hall as part of their “If You Can Dream It…” tour.
Live Nation / Swedish American HallLive Nation Presents: Reality Gays
Comedians Jake Anthony and Matt Marr share their love for reality shows, especially those about love as part of their “If You Can Dream It…” tour.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 22. $30-$75, reservations encouraged. 21 and older. Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market St., S.F. 415-471-2969. https://cafedunord.com
SF Neo-Futurists: Infinite Pride
This year, there will be three performances of a special edition of the performance group’s critically acclaimed weekly show, “The Infinite Wrench.” It will feature queer and trans Neo-Futurists, racing against time to perform 30 gay plays in 60 minutes. Allies welcome. Performers scheduled include Wallace Yan, Siyu Song, Shaina Wagner, jeb, Eli Bishop, Ezra Reaves, Ryan Patrick Welsh and others.
7 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25. $20-$50, reservations recommended. At Club Oasis, 298 11th St., S.F.; 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. At El Rio, 3158 Mission St., S.F. www.sfneofuturists.org
Wallace Yan of the San Francisco Neo-Futurists will perform as part of The Infinite Wrench’s “Infinite Pride” show on June 25-26.
Michaela Vatcheva/Special to The ChronicleNapa Pride: Club 87
Work your fly 80s dance moves and rad attire during a night featuring drag performances from Nikki Vuitton, Lovell Mohair and Julianna Budgett followed by live dance sets from DJ Rotten Robbie. Compete for a chance to walk the runway and win a prize and browse the “Gay Mart” for Pride merch. Food and drinks available. Proceeds benefit LGBTQ Connection Napa.
6 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. $10, reservations recommended. Blue Note Napa, 1030 Main St., Napa. 707-880-2300. www.bluenotejazz.com/napa
Another Planet Entertainment: Pride Weekend Drag Shows
Celebrate S.F. Pride with a weekend of drag performances featuring Lady Camden, Alaska and Shea Couleé. And enjoy the historical architecture of the venue, preserved from the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition.
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 27-29. $39-$159, reservations recommended. Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., S.F. 415-855-1607. www.palaceoffinearts.org
Lady Camden, pictured entering the San Francisco Ballet 2024 Opening Night Gala, will perform at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater on June 27 as part of Another Planet Entertainment’s Pride weekend drag show series.
Laura Morton/Special to The ChronicleEllen DeGeneres: Ellen’s Last Stand…Up
Score a ticket to join the award-winning comedian and television icon for a live stand-up comedy performance.
7 p.m. Sunday, June 30; 7:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, July 1-2. $55-$95, reservations recommended. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707-546-3600. https://lutherburbankcenter.org
Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Non-binary People and Their Families
Family Diversity Projects has curated and developed an exhibition and companion book— featuring photographs and interviews with trans, nonbinary and gender fluid people of all ages and their family members.
Through Aug. 29. Free. LGBTQIA Center, S.F. Public Library, Main branch, 100 Larkin St., S.F. 415-557-4400. https://sfpl.org/exhibits
Reach Anne Schrager: aschrager@sfchronicle.com
