Fall Arts: Treasure Island, SFJAZZ lead a wave of pop music festivals - Inside Bay Area
Tengo, Bob Mould and the Decemberists, among
Fall Arts: Treasure Island,
SFJAZZ lead a wave of pop music
festivals
By Jim Harrington
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 08/28/2009 01:00:00 AM PDT
Updated: 08/28/2009 11:52:33 AM PDT
There was a time when all the big music festivals
happened in the middle of summer. Not any more.
Outside Lands finishes its three-day run in Golden
Gate Park today, but then the schedule really picks
up. Coming up: the San Francisco and Monterey jazz
festivals, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival and the
Bridge School Benefit, among others.
Then, there's the event we're most looking forward
to: the Treasure Island Music Festival.
It almost doesn't matter who's performing there, —
the view from the island, with the sailboats passing
by and the sunset over the San Francisco skyline, is
worth the price of admission alone. But, we're
thankful, the lineup is rock solid as well.
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The first day's electronic-music bill features such
A-listers as MGMT, MSTRKRFT and the Streets. Yet
it's the second day that has us hooked, with an
indie-rock bill featuring the Flaming Lips, Yo La
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others. The latter is touring in support of "The
Hazards of Love," a deeply clever and literate
concept work that is the current front-runner for
album of the year. And the band proved earlier this
year at the Fox Theater in Oakland it is as good in
concert as it is on record.
Day Two of Treasure Island, presented by Berkeley's
Another Planet Entertainment and the folks who put
on the annual Noise Pop festival in San Francisco,
also includes Grizzly Bear, which is perhaps the
hottest band in the blossoming indie-folk-rock
movement. Lesser-known acts worth catching
include Murs and the Crown City Rockers (Day One)
as well as Vetiver and Thao and the Get Down Stay
Down (Day Two).
Please note, parking on the island is extremely
limited. Visit the festival's Web site for information
on public transportation.
Details: Treasure Island Music Festival, noon, Oct.
17-18, Treasure Island, S.F., $65-$249.99, 800-
745-3000, www.treasureislandfestival.com .
Also recommended
Al Green: "The Rev" brings his awe-inspiring
sermon of soul to San Francisco. 8 p.m. Sept. 2;
Warfield, S.F.; $56-$85, 800-745-3000, www.
ticketmaster.com .
Monterey Jazz Festival: The 52nd edition of the
world's most acclaimed jazz festival will feature
Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, John Scofield, Chick
Corea, Stanley Clarke and dozens of other talented
artists; Sept. 18-20; Monterey Fairgrounds;
$15-$45 single-day passes, call for info on
multiday passes, family discounts and more; 925-
275-9255, www.montereyjazzfestival.org .
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Fall Arts: Treasure Island, SFJAZZ lead a wave of pop music festivals - Inside Bay Area 11/9/09 12:03 PM

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: This huge annual

traditional music serves up Del McCoury, Emmylou
Harris, Mavis Staples and many other top acts, and
all shows are free. Oct. 2-4; Speedway Meadow;
Golden Gate Park, S.F., www.strictlybluegrass.com .

Bob Dylan: The rock legend will mumble through

some of the greatest songs ever written as well as
tunes from his fine new album, "Together Through
Life." 7:30 p.m., Oct. 10-11, Greek Theatre, UC
Berkeley; $50; 800-745-3000, www.apeconcerts.
com .

San Francisco Jazz Festival: This year's lineup has

legendary "free jazz" saxophonist-composer Ornette
Coleman, young ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro,
banjo man Bela Fleck, acclaimed bassist-vocalist
Esperanza Spalding, skilled guitarist Pat Martino and
more, Oct. 10-Nov. 21, 866-920-5299, www.
sfjazz.org .

Bridge School Benefit: The lineup for Neil Young's

all-star fundraiser has yet to be announced. Past
benefits have hosted such greats as R.E.M., Phish
and the Cowboy Junkies. Oct. 24-25; Shoreline
Amphitheatre, Mountain View; ticket info TBA; 877-
598-6659; www.live nation.com .

Billy Joel and Elton John: The piano men team up for
two nights of pop-rock classics. 7:30 p.m., Nov. 14,
Oracle Arena, Oakland; 7:30 Nov. 17, HP Pavilion,
San Jose; $54-$185; 800-745-3000, www.
apeconcerts.com .

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