Mark your calendars…an old-time, down-home, feel-good music revue is only a week away, and right in our very own neighborhood! On Friday, February 11, the San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival comes to St. Cyprian’s Church, courtesy of SF Live Arts. SF Live Arts is making their live music performance series debut at their new home on the corner of Turk and Lyon – come enjoy three evenings of “world-class picking and all-around foot-stomping” as Cyprian’s invites everyone to celebrate with multiple musical guests.
SF Live Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting a range of musical styles to San Francisco audiences. Larry Kassin has been running SF Live Arts as Noe Valley Music Series, and is excited about moving the beloved series to St. Cyprian’s church space to feature his musical guests. The acoustics are impressive due to the wood ceiling and furniture and carpeted floors, and the space itself can welcome 250 audience members to enjoy the music.
Over the past 30 years, Kassin has introduced San Francisco music lovers to all kinds of different performers and is looking forward to doing the same at his new home. Musical guests in the past have included impressive A-list names such as Grammy winners Warren Zevon, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Bobby McFerrin, but Kassin strives to explore all acoustic musical sounds and as a result, has truly carved out a unique experience for his audiences. The performances at St. Cyprian’s will feature performances from both out-of-town and local, upcoming artists. What’s more, the shows are designed to welcome audiences of all ages, and St. Cyprian’s even offers a special discount for children, seniors and students who purchase tickets at the door.
Kassin, who plays flute in his jazz fusion group, could not be more pleased with the choice of location. He has developed a great rapport with the congregation’s priest Will Scott, and recently remarked on the parallels he sees between his original Noe Valley Ministry and St. Cyprian’s: “When I started that series, back in 1981,” he said, “the congregation had lost a lot of its membership and had been closed awhile. I mentioned music concerts to the minister and he didn’t think I was nuts–he wanted to do it. It helped to bring people back to that church. Will is really dynamic; he’s getting things going at Cyprian’s.”
For now, Kassin is looking forward to a successful launch with the Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival. Asked about the types of acts he hopes to bring over the upcoming year, Kassin replied that SF Live Arts is about all different kinds of music – tango groups, folk music, singer-songwriters, jazz, to name just a few genres. He referenced Duke Ellington’s well-known quote, “There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind,” and said that his goal is continue to share good music for all audiences. Kassin welcomes feedback and asks that those who come and enjoy the performances to spread the word! He expects North Panhandle residents to embrace the acoustic music series, as did those of Noe Valley. “When people see the quality of what we do, we’ll get the same positive feedback,” he said. More information on the upcoming concert and SF Live Arts can be found at noemusicvalleyseries.com or here, at liveatcyprians.blogspot.com. Concert tickets can be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets, www.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets are $18 in advance; $20 at the door, and discounted tickets for children, seniors and students can be purchased at the door.
