Live music in San Rafael, CA

At Club Cali, FloLab hosts a weekly rap writing showdown rooted in Bay Area Hip Hop, created to push back against gentrification and keep the culture in community hands. Artists, writers, listeners, and neighbors come together for a $300 contest infused with open mic energy, giving MCs a place to test lyrics, sharpen delivery, and connect with a crowd that truly participates. You do not need to rap to be part of the room, spectators are welcome to take in the performances and the cypher. The contest awards $150 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third. Guidelines ask entrants to follow the organizers on Instagram, check posts for the current topic and beats, register in advance to reserve a spot, and review all rules. For each beat, prepare one verse, with hooks or choruses allowed. Memorizing verses can strengthen a performance, and crowd response determines who takes home the prize. FloLab is also working toward expansion into San Francisco and San Jose with support from monthly donors, aiming to sustain authentic Hip Hop spaces and a growing Bay Area community centered on substance, style, and truth.

The Mighty Neptunes return to Sailing Goat at San Pablo Harbor with a mix of blues, R&B, and soul on the bay. The venue offers food and drinks and beautiful waterfront views.

KC Turner Presents brings California songwriter and guitarist Chuck Prophet to HopMonk Novato’s outdoor stage with His Cumbia Shoes as part of the 13th annual Cookout Concert Series, sponsored by JAMBAR. Inspired by his collaboration with Cumbia group ¿Qiensave? on the album Wake The Dead for Yep Roc Records, he leans into a Cumbia-driven sound that intersects with elements of rock, surf, soul, and punk, shaping a rhythm-forward performance. This outdoor show is largely standing at ground level, with limited seating on the lawn and additional first come table seating at the top of the hill. All ages are welcome. Children need a ticket, and babies in arms are not permitted. Low back chairs are allowed in the lawn section. Parking is free and plentiful. Venue policies prohibit pets, coolers, backpacks, outside food, and umbrellas.

This inclusive celebration features music, dancing, vendors, and a petting zoo. After two years of lively fun, this year's edition is expected to be even more enjoyable for everyone.

A benefit gathering is planned in support of Bill Bowker, a longtime promoter, music supporter, and DJ at KRSH. The focus is on giving back and recognizing his role in championing music.

Enjoy an afternoon of ballroom dancing at the B Street Ballroom inside the San Rafael Community Center with live music from SwingSet. The $20 admission includes snacks, mixer dances, and a raffle. Sponsored by the San Rafael Goldenaires, the program features a versatile set suited for foxtrots, swing, cha cha, waltz, rumba, nightclub two step, and tango. SwingSet features Mike Z on guitar and vocals, Bob McBain on keys, Alex Peters on sax, Marek Webb on bass, and Roland Tolosa on drums. Singles and couples of all ages are welcome to dance to live music. For questions, contact Jim B. at (415) 609-6758 or email bozdog36@gmail.com.

Synergy at The Freight brings together Pandit Nayan Ghosh and Ishaan Ghosh for an evening shaped by deep tradition and family heritage in Indian classical music. Nayan Ghosh is celebrated internationally for rare mastery of both tabla and sitar, grounded in rigorous training with his father, Padmabhushan Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, and further guidance from Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa and Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta. His performances are prized for tonal richness, expressive clarity, and an expansive repertoire, and he has partnered on stage with luminaries including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, among many others. His recordings span labels in India, the United States, and France, and he received the 1998 Achievement Award from California’s Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis for advancing Indian music in the West. Ishaan Ghosh carries the lineage forward as a leading young tabla artist. A prodigy who presented his first solo at the age of three, he has developed a style that blends articulate phrasing with intricate rhythmic design, drawing from a broad repertoire learned under his father’s guidance. Active as both soloist and accompanist, he has appeared with prominent artists such as Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Ustad Aashish Khan, Ustad Nishat Khan, Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Dr. N Rajam, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Rakesh Chaurasia, and Purbayan Chatterjee. His creative reach includes collaborations with guitarist Max Clouth and musicians from Iran, China, and Estonia, as well as talks at TEDx. He tours and teaches to grow interest in Indian classical music among young listeners worldwide, and in 2016 he performed for the Habitat for Humanity project in Atlanta and was felicitated by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Together, their appearance highlights a meeting of generations, rigorous training, and a shared devotion to the art of rhythm and melody.