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Headline Concerts Announced for 2022 Marin County Fair – So Happy Together!

The 2022 fair will focus on outdoor entertainment including the headline concerts, performers roaming the grounds such as jugglers, unicyclists, and stilt walkers, and interactive art experiences for fans of all ages. Returning fair favorites will include traditional carnival rides, the Global Marketplace, the Barnyard, food and drinks, and fireworks every night over the Civic Center’s Lagoon Park. The always-popular competitive exhibits program will take place online as it did in 2021.

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Buy Marin County Fair tickets EARLY for the best prices. Online only at MarinFair.org.
Buy Marin County Fair tickets EARLY for the best prices. Online only at MarinFair.org.

Discounted tickets on sale now for June 30 to July 4

Courtesy of Marin County

Renowned for presenting world-class music, the Marin County Fair will have a stellar lineup of bands every night June 30 through July 4, all free with the price of general admission.

The 2022 fair will focus on outdoor entertainment including the headline concerts, performers roaming the grounds such as jugglers, unicyclists, and stilt walkers, and interactive art experiences for fans of all ages. Returning fair favorites will include traditional carnival rides, the Global Marketplace, the Barnyard, food and drinks, and fireworks every night over the Civic Center’s Lagoon Park. The always-popular competitive exhibits program will take place online as it did in 2021.

Here is the music lineup:

Thursday, June 30, 7:30 p.m.: Pablo Cruise

Pablo Cruise began in San Francisco in 1973 as honest, real, down-to-earth vocals, accompanied by fun yet elegant, infectious grooves. In 1975 Pablo Cruise released its first A&M album simply entitled Pablo Cruise. The album cover was shot in the tropical gardens of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. In 1977, the album A Place in the Sun was the turning point in the band’s career as they finally entered the mainstream music scene. With hit single “Whatcha Gonna Do?” and the title track “A Place in the Sun,” the album peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard charts. Other chart hits followed, including “Love Will Find a Way” and “Don’t Want to Live Without It,” “I Want You Tonight,” and “Cool Love.” Today, Pablo Cruise is bringing more energy and excitement to the stage than ever before.

Opening band:

Thursday, June 30, 5 p.m.: Matt Jaffe

After cutting his teeth on open mics around the Bay Area, San Francisco songwriter Matt Jaffe was discovered by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads. Together, they produced Matt’s first album when he was 16, cementing his dedication to music. Matt has written more songs than he can remember the words to, crisscrossed the country opening for Mavis Staples and Wilco, and co-written with Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s. Inspired by the great lineage of rock n’ roll, he marries literary lyrics with the undeniable urge to dance. Having suffered from seizures since 2015, Matt also uses his music to unite local and national epilepsy communities. Matt is currently rolling out his fourth and fifth albums, Undertoad and Kintsugi.

Friday, July 1, 7:30 p.m.: Sheila E

Sheila Escovedo picked up the drumsticks and started making music at the precocious age of 3 and delivered her first solo performance to a live audience two years later. She has since established herself as one of the most talented percussionist/drummers and performers in the world. She became a top session and touring musician before the age of 20, performing and/or recording with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Con Funk Shun, Marvin Gaye (on his final world tour), Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Patti LaBelle, and Steve Nicks among others. Sheila E.’s producing, arranging, and performance talents have been showcased throughout the music and film industry. In 2014, Sheila released her literary biography titled The Beat of My Own Drum, and her solo album, ICON. Following Prince’s death, she released the single “Girl Meets Boy” in memory of the late, great, Prince. In 2018, Sheila E. released, ICONIC: Message for America, an album that displays her efforts in awareness to social issues and humanitarianism. Her current single, “No Line” with the legendary Snoop Dogg, is Sheila’s continued contribution to the music industry.

Saturday, July 2, 7:30 p.m.: Sons of Champlin

The Sons of Champlin started in Marin County in 1965 by Bill Champlin, Tim Cain, Terry Haggerty, and Geoff Palmer and has been one of Marin’s most beloved homegrown bands for over 50 years. The band has released eight major label albums and a few on indie labels. Bill Champlin has worked on over 300 records and has performed on TV and movie soundtracks, including the lead vocal on “In the Heat of the Night” series starring Carrol O’Connor. He played for 28 years with the band Chicago and managed to fit in a handful of Sons’ gigs during that time. The current lineup is Bill Champlin on keys and guitar and lead vocals; Geoff Palmer on keys and vibes; Alan Hertz on drums; Dick Mithun on bass; Tal Morris on guitar; Tim Cain on sax; Jeff Lewis on trumpet; Doug Rowan on sax; and Tamara Champlin on lead and background vocals. The band has always been a step up musically from the norm. Founding member Terry Haggerty has been known to sit in with the band, which is always an emotional experience for diehard fans. The Sons of Champlin are a Marin County gold mine.

Sunday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.: Digable Planets

Digable Planets burst onto the music scene in 1993 with their Grammy-winning single, “Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat).” Made up of Ishmael Butler (Butterfly), Craig (C Know/ Doodlebug) Irving, and Mary Ann (Ladybug Mecca) Vieira, the trio carved out a unique style of jazz-informed hip hop. Shortly after, Digable Planets followed up with their debut album, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time And Space), melding Jazz samples, and complex rhymes that touched on everything from the nuances of city life (“Where I’m From”) to abortion rights (“La Femme Fetal”). Reachin’ was a rich and vibrant artistic statement as well as a huge commercial success (RIAA certified gold). They immediately followed up with Blowout Comb, a bold and colorful meditation on Black liberation. In 2015, the group embarked upon a string of wildly successful live shows and has been active as a tight touring unit ever since. In 2017, they released Digable Planets Live, a live album that showcases many gems from the group’s catalog as well as the trio’s skill at rocking the crowd with a live band. A pioneering act that continues to cast a considerable influence, Digable Planets have left an indelible mark on music. Nearly 20 years after their debut, their music still shines, and the group continues to bring their celebrated stage show to excited crowds around the world.

Monday, July 4, 7:30 p.m.: George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk perform The Meters

Dumpstaphunk stands out among New Orleans’ best, cementing themselves as one of the funkiest bands to ever arise from the Crescent City. Born on the Jazz & Heritage Festival stage, and descended from Neville and Meters family bloodlines, these soldiers of funk ignite a deep, gritty groove that dares listeners not to move. Their performances combine ingenious musicianship through complex funk, rock, and jazz arrangements accompanied by soulful melodies and Big Easy traditions. George Porter Jr. is best known as the bassist of The Meters, along with Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, and Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste. The group was formed in the mid ‘60s and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk, then called R&B. The Meters disbanded in 1977 but reformed in 1989. Today, the original group still plays the occasional reunions but the Funky Meters, of which Porter and Neville are still members, most prominently keeps the spirit alive.

Buy Marin County Fair tickets EARLY for the best prices. Online only at MarinFair.org.

Reserved concert seating in a special section is $60 per person and includes fair admission.

Special Admission Days:

Thursday, June 30 — Kids Day and Seniors Day

Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE

Seniors 65-over are admitted FREE

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Oakland Post: Week of March 15 – 21, 2023

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 15 – 21, 2023

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 15 - 21, 2023

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Arts and Culture

‘Put Ur Play On’ Productions Showcases Local Talent at Laney College

On Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Laney College Odell Johnson Theater, the Third Annual Black Centric Showcase celebrated Black History Month. The show depicted eras of Black history, while featuring talent showcases of monologues, skits, dance, rap and singing expressing the past, present and future.

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Actors in stage production “Unapologetically Black: Here to Facilitate Harm Reduction Services for Those in Need, Inc.” (l-r): Toni Rochelle, David Cesari, Ziare Whitelow, Christina Gluszaczak, Harley Ford, Cody Johnson, Shayna Howlett, Tyler Mae and Anthony Dixon. Photo by Carla Thomas.
Actors in stage production “Unapologetically Black: Here to Facilitate Harm Reduction Services for Those in Need, Inc.” (l-r): Toni Rochelle, David Cesari, Ziare Whitelow, Christina Gluszaczak, Harley Ford, Cody Johnson, Shayna Howlett, Tyler Mae and Anthony Dixon. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

On Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Laney College Odell Johnson Theater, the Third Annual Black Centric Showcase celebrated Black History Month. The show depicted eras of Black history, while featuring talent showcases of monologues, skits, dance, rap and singing expressing the past, present and future.

“The showcase was designed to feature talented members of the community performing all eras of Black history: Where we are from, where we have been, and where are we going,” said Saleemah Jones, production company founder-producer of “Put Ur Play On” with assistant director Angel Galloway.

Pamela Terry performed a monologue spun from August Wilson’s “Fences.” Terry responded to a casting call ad for the role. “Through my audition I learned about the production company, Saleemah Jones, and assistant director, Angel Galloway,” said Terry. “These two sisters are brilliant in their work to improve the quality of life in the community.” She said the experience was both inspiring and challenging.

AKIL of Oakland performed his original song “Gave Us 28,” referring to the number of days in February for Black History Month. “I like to produce positive rap,” said AKIL. “They gave us 28 but every day we make history.”

Other performances featured an original skit on love by Lauren Black and Erynne-Dnae of Cotati, California, and a poem by Oakland middle-schooler Talia Rochelle entitled “Go to the Back, Rosa Parks.” “Rosa Parks is an important, strong, brave woman in Black history,” she said.

Paris Jackson Jr. performed an original dance.

Gary Moore of San Francisco performed a monologue from August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Shelly Broadnax performed an original poem entitled “MIBPOC,” about having to check the ‘other’ box when filling out surveys and applications.

IMAC FADICHI of Chicago performed an original rap, “The Good Show,” and Pierre Jones of Richmond performed an original monologue entitled, “Black Caesar.”

The second half of the show included the stage production “Unapologetically Black: Here to Facilitate Harm Reduction Services for Those in Need, Inc.,” written by Itoro Bassey, a Nigerian playwright.

“Itoro reached out to us, and we thought it was a great way to put this perspective on our platform to raise voices,” said Jones, play producer.

The production, satiric in nature, explored the seriousness of Black and white race relations including white privilege and white insensitivity toward African Americans in everyday situations.

In one scene a white male doctor talks to a Black female patient in a dismissive manner. At the height of their disagreement, the two actors are frozen in time. A third actor enters, “Dr. Find You an Ally,” performed by Anthony Dixon, who narrates the situation and offers to serve as a white ally for the Black woman for 24 hours at the price of $59.99.

The actors unfreeze and the Black woman joins the narrator, as he explains his services including a bootcamp provided to retrain white perpetrators and transform their behavior into one of respect, understanding and empathy toward Black people.

Actors in the production included Tyler Mae, David Cesari, Shayna Howlett, Toni Rochelle, Ziare Whitelow, Christina Gluszaczak, Harley Ford and Cody Johnson.

“It’s been great to combine a showcase featuring some of the best in Bay Area talent with a stage play production written by a Nigerian sister,” said Jones. “The month may have 28 days, but we are 365 days a year, 24-7 making history,” said Galloway.

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Bay Area

COMMENTARY: Oakland’s Plan to Rehouse Wood Street Residents Can Only Fail a Self-Reliant Community

A large community of unhoused people have been living in an empty lot at 1707 Wood Street. The city of Oakland would like to remove them as soon as possible so they can build 170 units of affordable housing there. If you live in Oakland or spend any considerable amount of time here, then you have probably seen this encampment at least a few times. The West Oakland community is estimated to include 200-300 individuals. They support each other in accessing food, water, medicine, clothing and other basic living necessities.

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A camp for unhoused in Oakland. iStock photo by Alex B. Mount, June 2020.

By Daisha Williams
Post News Group Intern

A large community of unhoused people have been living in an empty lot at 1707 Wood Street. The city of Oakland would like to remove them as soon as possible so they can build 170 units of affordable housing there.

If you live in Oakland or spend any considerable amount of time here, then you have probably seen this encampment at least a few times. The West Oakland community is estimated to include 200-300 individuals. They support each other in accessing food, water, medicine, clothing and other basic living necessities.

In an interview with a city of Oakland official, a spokesperson for the community, John Janosko, described a bike ride that they all took to Sacramento last October.

“That bike ride was amazing for me. Everyone had a chance to bond,” he said. “The people in Sacramento were so welcoming and it was my birthday that morning and they had a cake at 1 o’clock in the morning when we finally rolled in.”

This bike ride was planned, organized and executed by people who have banded together to survive in a system that doesn’t seem to care if they live or die and made the best of those circumstances.

Before the city of Oakland can begin building affordable housing, they are required to provide shelter for the people currently living there. The initial plan was to simply provide cabins near the lot for the people to live in. On Feb. 3, the U.S. District Judge William Orick said that the city could move forward with disbanding this unit only for that ruling to be reversed a week later, on Feb. 10.

Oakland Assistant City Administrator LaTonda Simmons said that the delay was due to issues finalizing the contract for the cabins as well as “IT network challenges.”

The city hasn’t released a timeline detailing when they expect to begin moving people out. Simmons commented on the delay in a statement. “We believe this minor delay will result in an even more supportive cabin program for the Wood Street community.”

Current plans for shelter for the residents include cabins with 30 beds each, which are expected to accommodate 100 people. There will also be 29 parking spaces available for people living in RVs with electrical hookups and bathrooms available.

Furthermore, the city expects to have 100 more beds available at other shelters in Oakland, which will effectively divide the community that the Wood Street residents have created for themselves.

But it is also the case that the amount of affordable housing that the city plans to build in this lot will not be enough to accommodate the people currently living there and what the city considers “affordable housing” is not affordable for many people.

Another hindrance for the community is the difficulty of qualifying for affordable housing.

One hurdle is that it is necessary to provide proof of income, which makes it even less accessible.

Another is that applicants must pass a criminal background screening. Since homelessness itself has been criminalized, many people currently living in the lot will not be able to pass that screening and qualify.

Many of the people now living at the Wood Street lot were residents of a neighboring encampment that was cleared out about a year ago. That they are back on the street can indicate that the city’s processes for quickly finding housing for people in dire need are ineffective.

This is summarized best by what James Vann, co-founder and advisor to the Oakland Homeless Advocacy Working Group, said in response to Judge Orwick’s decision.

“The calamity that will follow is another instance of the City’s failure to acknowledge the homelessness crisis as real and to implement timely actions to assure adequate accommodations and health and safety of the affected unhoused residents.”

Sources for this news article include the Mercury News, the City of Oakland and the Post News Group.

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