Peter Jaques

upcoming performances

Brass Menagerie

• New Years at Amnesia!

  Sunday, December 31

  Amnesia, 853 Valencia (at 20th St.), San Francisco.
  9pm, $15.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We’re so gonna rock the house. And Rube Waddell is playing before us & they’re so gonna rock the house too. And Arabesque Belly Dance is gonna, well, rock the house by kicking off the night!

  Sol expects the place to be utterly packed by 11pm, so show up early! We’re at 12:30am…

• Brass Menazeri at Make Out Room

  Thursday, January 11

  Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St. (at Mission), San Francisco.
  9pm, $7.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• Brass Menazeri at Cabrillo College

  Friday, January 19

  Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive , Aptos CA.
  8pm, cost TBA.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• ArtSF benefit with Brass Menazeri

  Saturday, February 3

  ArtSF, 110 Capp (at 16th) , San Francisco CA.
  8pm-1am, $8-15.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  KAFANA BALKAN

  Featuring the Brass Menazeri Balkan Brass Band & DJs Zarko & Zeljko.

  Come out and support a great cause and listen to some great music. A benefit for the Bread and Cheese circus that has been making free circus shows and workshops for refugee children in Kosovo for the past 4 years. The international troupe consists of members from Bosnia, Serbia, Canada, and the United States. You can view footage and find out more about the circus by visiting: www.myspace.com/humanitariancircus

  The night’s festivities will include:

  • BRASS MENAZERI-Live Balkan Gypsy Brass Orchestra (brass.menazeri.com)

  • DJ ZARKO - spinning Balkan dance tunes

  • DJ ZELJKO - mixing an assortment of Balkan music including Boban Markovic, Kocani Orchaestra, and Fanfare Ciorcalia

  • Clowning with members of the Bread and Cheese Circus Art from Balkan and Local artists

  More information at ArtSF.org

• Elbo Room with Rupa

  Friday, March 30

  Elbo Room, 647 Valencia, San Francisco.
  9pm, $10.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  The illustrious Rupa & the April Fishes have invited the Brass Menazeri to rock the Elbo Room with them!

• Brass Menazeri at the Spectra Ball

  Saturday, March 31

  Regency Center
  1290 Sutter (at Van Ness), San Francisco.
  8pm (we're at 10:25), $50/$100 VIP.
  NOTE: You can use the promo code ARTS for $35 tickets!!!
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  ArtSFest presents the 4th Annual Spectra Ball and Silent Auction on March 31st at the Regency Center. Spectra Ball is a creative spectacle that brings together the spectrum of the arts with dynamic multi-cultural performances of music, theater, dance, circus, spoken word, fashion and visual art installations, all on one glorious night with a crowd of thousands. See below for the list of over 50 individual and group performances.

  Proceeds benefit Artsfest to support Artsfest 2007, the Bay Area’s Fourth Annual Celebration of the Arts (May 3 – 28) which presents 100+ dazzling exhibits, performances and arts-related events throughout the Bay Area.

  Spectra Ball '07 Talent Line-Up Includes:

  • Akosua (Ghanaian-American Songwriter)
  • ALBINO! (12-piece AfroBeat Extravaganza)
  • Alex Theory Live! (Live Electronic Dance)
  • Allison Lovejoy (Accordion/Piano Starling)
  • Berkeley SLAM! Poets (Slam Poetry)
  • Blane Lyon (Funk, Soul and Conscious Groove)
  • Blue Bone Express (New Orleans Brass Band)
  • Brass Menazeri (Balkan Brass Band)
  • CaroLuna (Opera Diva)
  • Chief Sonne Reyna (Native Chant)
  • Circus Metropolus (Karnival Klown Show)
  • Cohen (GypsyPop)
  • Deborah Crooks (Intimate/Edgy Acoustic)
  • Debórah Eliezer (Grand Ballroom Emcee)
  • DJ Delachaux (Neo-Burlesque)
  • DJ Kashia (Infectious Urban Groove)
  • DJ Natural Sphere (World Breaks Techno)
  • El Papachango (Latin Breaks)
  • Eliyahu Sills & Qadim (Mystical Near-East Music)
  • Elizabeth Strong & Mira Betz (Bellydance)
  • Emeryville Taiko (Taiko Drum ensemble)
  • Fou Fou Ha! (Cartoon Dance)
  • Geralyn Gendreau (Ecstatic Poetry)
  • Goddess Alchemy Project (Dub Hip Hop)
  • Hot Pink Feathers (Carnavale meets Cabaret)
  • J9 of Xeno (Trapeze)
  • Jamie "Sparkaluscious" Luv & Vikki "FireSpice" Friedman (Super Swingin Spectra Hoopers)
  • Jill Tracy (Sultry Piano Chanteuse)
  • Kevin O (Emcee)
  • Kingfish & Eddie's Hubba-Hubba Revue (Comedy & Burlesque)
  • Kwisp (Holographic Video Synthesizer)
  • Liberation Movement featuring Resurrector (Heavyweight Dub Champion) &
  • Jillian Ann (Primal Experimental Dubtronica)
  • Loyd Family Players (Sideways Samba Troupe)
  • Mark Growden (Avante Singer Songwriter)
  • Miranda Caroligne (Fashion)
  • Miss Rosie
  • Mythic System (A Harmonic Archtypal Metapoetic Experience)
  • MoRockin Project (Moroccan/Jazz/Funk)
  • Pele's Tears (Fusion, Poetry 'n Dance)
  • Shamanic Cheerleaders (Divine Pep)
  • Singing Bear (Acoustic Roots Music)
  • Soulati & Infinite (Tag-Team Beatbox)
  • Steve "Shea" Sisgold (Inspirational Singer/Songwriter/Emcee)
  • The Genie w/ Eah (Stratch Guitar)
  • The Human Revolution (Acoustic World Fusion)
  • The Nekyia (Sexy Sublime Dance & Music)
  • The Sonando Project (Afro-Cuban jazz)
  • Tim Fox (Guitarra Latinoamericana)
  • Tippy Canoe & Mikie Lee Prasad (Old-Timey Pop)
  • Vau de Vire Society (Avante Aerial Cabaret)
  • VonStilt Family

• Brass Menazeri at the Rock-it Room

  Wednesday, April 18

  Rock-it Room
  206 Clement, San Francisco.
  9pm, $6.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  The Rock-it Room is a new venue that’s really happening, and we’re excited to play there.

  With Zoyres Eastern European Wild Ferment!

• Brass Menazeri on KALX 90.7FM

  Saturday, April 21

  KALX Live
  90.7FM (Berkeley), or streaming online.
  9-10:30pm.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• Menaz CD Release at Amnesia!

  Sunday, April 29

  Amnesia
  853 Valencia (at 20th St.), San Francisco.
  9pm, $10.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We’re releasing our first cd! Come celebrate & you may be the first to buy one!

  The Disciples of Markos rebetika band will help us inaugurate our entry into the recording age!

• Menaz & Gamelan X CD release at Ashkenaz!

  Tuesday, May 1

  Ashkenaz
  1317 San Pablo (at Gilman), Berkeley.
  8pm, $10.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ Gamelan X ~ All More»

  The Brass Menazeri is releasing our first cd! And so is Gamelan X! Come rock out & pick up two count em of the best cds ever that I’m on!

• Brass Menazeri & Orkestar Sali at Herdeljezi

  Saturday, May 5

  Ives Park, South High St. at Burnett, Sebastopol.
  1-9pm, $18 ($12 kids/seniors, kids under 12 free).
  No one turned away.
  Categories: Balkan ~ Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Herdeljezi is a traditional Romani (Gypsy) neighborhood celebration announcing the end of the cold indoor season and the beginning of the warmer season of movement and outdoor life. Survival from the winter and the seasonal renewal of life is celebrated at Herdeljezi through the sharing of music, dance, food and community.

  Live Music & Dancing
  daytime and evening with:

  Amanet: Rom wedding-style band from NYC (4:50 & 11pm)

  Rumen Sali Shopov & Kitka (3:20 & 10:20)

  Brass Menazeri Balkan Brass Band (2:10 & 8:00)

  Vadim Kolpakov & Vasily Yankovich: Russian Roma musicians with dancing, from the "Romen" Moscow Roma theatre (6:40 & midnight)

  And more! There's a daytime program in Ives Park, and an evening program (additional fee) at the nearby French Garden Restaurant.

  See the full schedule here.

• The Brew with Gaucho

  Saturday, May 26

  Jewish Community Center of the East Bay
  1414 Walnut (at Rose), Berkeley.
  7pm, $8 JCC members/$10 general.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We’re kicking off a new concert/show series at the East Bay Jewish Community Center. We’ll be joined by the lovely Gaucho Gypsy Jazz Band.

• Brass Menazeri on KPFA's Music of the World

  Thursday, May 31

  KPFA Radio
  Streaming / 94.1FM in Oakland/San Francisco.
  10am-noon (Pacific Time).
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Stephen Kent will host the Brass Menazeri on his Music of the World show, in preparation for the Berkeley World Music Festival on June 2.

• Brass Menazeri at Berkeley World Music Festival

  Saturday, June 2

  People's Park, Dwight & Bowditch, Berkeley.
  1-2:30pm, free!
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  The Brass Menazeri will rock the People's Park stage at the Berkeley World Music Festival.

• Kafana Balkan!

  Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell (at Franklin), San Francisco.
  7pm, $10-25 sliding.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We're real excited to do another Kafana Balkan! Last time we did this there were folks dancing from the rafters. It's seriously the most fun thing ever.

• Brass Menazeri at Harmony Fest

  Saturday, June 9

  Sonoma County Fairgrounds
  1350 Bennett Valley Dr., Santa Rosa.
  7pm, Tickets start at $32; see here for options.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  The Brass Menazeri is honored to grace the Vaudeville Stage at the Harmony Festival this year. This is a huge festival with lots of amazing performances. See the Harmony Fest website for full details.

• Brass Menazeri at Solano Stroll

  Sunday, September 9

  Solano Stroll, 1335 Solano (next to China Garden), Berkeley.
  1 & 3pm, free!.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Website: www.solanoave.org/strol.htm

• Sol's Birthday at Amnesia!

  Amnesia, 853 Valencia (at 20th St.), San Francisco.
  9pm, cost TBA.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  So you probably know Sol. If you really know him, perhaps you were at his 30th birthday last year, wherein he married 30 brides, accompanied by the legendary Brass Menazeri!. If you really know him, perhaps you married him.

  Anyway this year he ain’t marrying anyone, if we have anything to do with it. He’ll be too drunk & dancey to say anything resembling “I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do I do.”

  Ha. Meddling kids unite!

• Brass Menazeri at Santa Rosa Glendi

  Saturday, September 15

  St. Seraphim Orthodox Church
  90 Mountain View Ave, (off Santa Rosa Ave.), Santa Rosa.
  3-9pm (fair opens 11am), $10/$7 seniors/free for kids under 12.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Website: www.glendi.net

• Brass Menazeri @ BottleCapp

  Saturday, September 22

  BottleCapp
  680 Capp (at 22nd St.), San Francisco.
  9pm, $8.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Apple Pie Hopes will open up around 9:45pm, then Oso will play til around 11pm and Brass Menazeri will rock until the floor falls out from under us all.

  PLEASE NOTE: the venue has changed! It is now 680 Capp, at 22nd St.

• Brass Menazeri at SF LoveFest Parade

  Saturday, September 29

  SF LoveFest Parade, Civic Center (Grove at Polk), San Francisco.
  4:15-5pm, free.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  80,000 people can't be wrong! Well actually they can. But not these ones! It's FINALLY time for Love in this world, and this Saturday marks the beginning of the new era, wherein compassion & service & big metallic playa boots will kick the forces of war & hate & meanness to the curb.

  And we'll be there.

  From 4:15-5 at least, on the (only) Live Performance Stage, across the street from the City Hall Rotunda.

• Brass Menazeri at Ashkenaz with Kaladrios

  Tuesday, October 2

  Ashkenaz
  1317 San Pablo (at Gilman), Berkeley.
  Dance lesson 7:30, music 8:30; $10.
  Categories: Balkan ~ Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Yeah, we know, it's hard being an East Bay Balkan music fanatic. We've tried it ourselves. It's always "Amnesia this" & "Ebonic Center that." What happened to all the Roma that used to live in the Berkeley flats anyway? (It's true!) I guess they had to move out of their chic 4th St. storefronts eventually.

  Well relief is nigh. Stalwart Ashkenaz, arguably the midwife of Bay Area the Balkan music & dance scene, is here to help: Balkan Tuesdays are back! & we intend to kick em off in style.

  Featuring Kaladrios (formerly known as the Greg & Aya band) playing beautiful traditional Greek music, and then, well, us. Come on down!
  

• Brass Menazeri on KKUP 91.5 radio

  Sunday, October 14

  KKUP 91.5FM
  Cupertino/Santa Clara.
  8-9pm.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• Brass Menazeri at Kafana Balkan!

  Saturday, November 10

  12 Galaxies
  2565 Mission (at 22nd), San Francisco.
  8pm; $10-25.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Still fresh off yet another journey to the Balkans, we're delighted to present you our third edition of Kafana Balkan!

  Come again, come for the first time, bring all the friends who are up to enthralling dancefloor abandon, some of your most favored local acts will greet you there:

  BRASS MENAZERI Live Balkan Brass band playing their brand new, shiny as brass, set of tunes we love to get seduced by.

  DJ ZELJKO-Enough said! His renewed repertoire will surely have you sweatin! Opa!
  www.piratecatradio.com (Wednesdays from noon-2PM)

  Kafana Balkan donates 10% of the proceeds to "Hleb i sir" ("Bread and cheese"), a circus troupe with performers from Bosnia, Serbia, Canada and the US who give free circus shows & workshops to refugee children in Kosovo.
  www.myspace.com/humanitariancircus

• Brass Menazeri at Sebastiani Theater with the Indigo

  Saturday, December 8

  Sebastiani Theater
  476 First St. E (at E Napa), Sonoma.
  2-5pm; $15 advance/$17 door/$10 kids.
  For advance tickets, call 707-996-9756 or drop by the theatre.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Hey all you North Bay Balkan Brass & Bellydance fans! This Saturday we’ve got a real exciting show for y’all! And you don’t even have to wait long: it’s this Saturday!

  First, start with the location location location: the Sebastiani Theater, one of the oldest & most purty movie houses in the country. Now, add one part unicycle & one part ukelele, and you’ve got Uni & her Ukelele!

  Now as if that weren’t already enough, why not add a dash of two of the world’s best (I’m not kidding (I’m really not (really))) bellydancers, Rachel Brice & Mardi Love of the Indigo, fresh off a tour with Bellydance Superstars. Of course that raises another question: what music will they dance to?

  A fine question indeed. And now a fine answer: the Brass Menazeri Balkan Brass Band will shake and stir and roll their booties & yours like you haven’t experienced since you half awoke drunk in that south Serbian Rom street wedding. Now THAT was embarrassing. This might be too but who cares?

  NOW stir. Garnish with the Ding String Trio of harp, violin & cello.

  Quel magnifique! I’m so excited for this show, I can’t wait to play with the Indigo, er, girls & all the others in this amazing space! Really really you don’t wanna miss it. Oh wait that’s me, I don’t wanna miss it. That would be embarrassing.

  Brass Menazeri: brassmenazeri.com The Indigo: rachelbrice.com Uni & her Ukelele: myspace.com/uniherukelele (Don’t have a link for Ding String Trio, sorry)

• Brass Menazeri at Amnesia with Indigo & Dan Cantrell

  Sunday, December 9

  Amnesia
  853 Valencia (at 19th St.), San Francisco.
  9pm; $6-8.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Oh yeah. You ain't gonna believe this.

  Sunday, a mere one day after we conquer Sonoma's Sebastiani Theatre, Sol's gonna let the Brass Menazeri come back to Amnesia, foolhardy so(u)l that he is. That's right, even after we blew up Amnesia's sound board last New Year's Eve, he thinks he can take us.

  But guess what: we've got reinforcements.

  Dan Cantrell's new Gigaband will really balk the house in an all-original way you ain't likely heard before. This all-star (if I say so myself) ensemble features Eric Perney on bass; Lila Sklar on violin; Sean Tergis, David Satori & Evan Frasier on percussion; Briget Boyle on vocals; Eric Oberthaler on trumpet; and Peter Jaques on clarinet.

  So yeah. Pretty much worth coming, pretty much a mortal danger to Amnesia's roof's ability to stay on. But guess what else?

  Amazing (as in, world-famous) bellydancers Rachel Brice & Mardi Love of the Indigo are gonna dance with both bands! And also members of Fou Fou Ha will debut an original choreography to the Brass Menazeri's version of Minderia! I've never seen it, but Dan Cantrell said it made him cry & a lot of other things all at once.

  And if you're early, you can catch Emily Anne with her lovely vocal stylings before the Apocalypse.

  Amnesia ain't never gonna be the same. Better, but not the same.

• Brass Menazeri & Aphrodesia at the Independent

  Saturday, December 22

  The Independent
  628 Divisadero (at Hayes), San Francisco.
  9pm, $12 advance/$14 door.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  

  Well the peace talks might, or might not, be sputtering in other parts of the world. It seems the smallest, minorest differences--Pope vs. Patriarch, Coke vs. Pepsiarch, Dope vs. Cokey narc--get people all riled up & ready to tussle. But there is hope, brothers & sisters & siblings of indeterminate gender. I'm here to tell you of an as yet unheard of conciliation, a collaboration between three such disparate (yet unified in bootyshakinness) groups that it would scarcely even occur to any rational mind! And just wait until all three join forces on a tune, it's like when Rick Moranis, Dan Aykroyd & Bill Murray crossed the streams in Ghostbusters.

  APHRODESIA afro-beat + highlife + dub + funk
  
  CD release party for Lagos by Bus!
  
  &
  
  BRASS MENAZERI balkan brass band
  
  +
  
  the INDIGO tribalfusion bellydance troupe
  
  y
  
  DJ Pleasuremaker

• Brass Menazeri & Gooferman at Amnesia

  Sunday, January 20

  Amnesia
  853 Valencia (at 19th St.), San Francisco.
  9pm; $8.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  This'll be a fun one: world renowned clown band Gooferman will take over Amnesia's stage. Not sure if they'll have tiny cars or seltzer water, but surely raucous fun & at least one rubber chicken.

  And then kick off your oversized shoes & rock out to the Brass Menazeri on our triumphant return (I know, I always say that about playing at Amnesia; it always feels like that!) to Sol's den of iquity (that's the opposite of iniquity, at least in my dictionary).

• Brass Menazeri & Gamelan X for GX CD release

  Friday, February 22

  Ashkenaz
  1317 San Pablo (at Gilman), Berkeley.
  8pm; $10.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ Gamelan X ~ All More»

  Gamelan X just released their first CD, Satu, and we're gonna help em ring it in!

• Slavic Soul Party & Brass Menazeri at Humanist Hall

  Saturday, March 1

  Humanist Hall
  390 27th St. (at Broadway), Oakland.
  8pm; $10.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Get ready for the sweatiest night yet of March 2008! Two of the most innovative & passionate proponents of Balkan Brass music come together for the first time for a dance party the likes of which the West Coast ain't never seen!

  Matt Moran's Slavic Soul Party! have melded fiery Balkan Brass, throbbing funk grooves, killer Gypsy accordion, and virtuoso jazz chops, to become NYC's official #1 brass band for Balkan Soul Gypsy Funk. SSP! makes new music out of the unplanned results of immigration, proximity, & globalization, pumping a strong Balkan brass sound through the filter of life in NYC's outer boroughs. SSP! celebrates the brand-new release of their fourth cd, Remixed, with an extensive US tour.

  Oakland-based Brass Menažeri performs rousing, soulful tunes from the living tradition of the great Rom ("Gypsy") brass bands of Serbia, Macedonia, Greece & India, as well as their own Balkan-inspired original compositions. Their first cd, Brazen, released in 2007, is a shining example of traditional repertoire combined with new sensibilities and innovative arrangements from the hands and lips of American devotees.

• Brass Menazeri at Ashland Community Center

  Saturday, March 22

  Ashland Community Center
  59 Winburn Way (by Lithia Park), Ashland OR.
  8pm; $12.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• Brass Menazeri at Art House, Olympia

  Sunday, March 23

  Art House Designs
  420B Franklin St. SE (at 4th Ave. E), Olympia WA.
  8pm; $12.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• Brass Menazeri at Upstage Restaurant, Port Townsend

  Monday, March 24

  Upstage Restaurant
  923 Washington (at Tyler), Port Townsend WA.
  8pm; $10.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All

• Brass Menazeri + Pangeo at Tractor Tavern

  Tuesday, March 25

  Tractor Tavern
  5213 Ballard Ave NW Seattle.
  8pm; $13-15 (Buy tickets here).
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  The Brass Menažeri (“Menagerie”) is the Bay Area’s premier Balkan Romani (“Gypsy”) powerhouse Brass Band, cascading through the wild rhythms, soulful vocals & hot improvisations of the music of the Serbian, Macedonian, Greek & Rajasthani Roma. The energy is infectious—toes tap, bodies slam, sweat flies as vital energy radiates from the dance floor. The Brass Menažeri is a shining example of traditional Balkan repertoire combined with new sensibilities, innovative arrangements & original compositions at the hands & lips of American devotees.

  The Brass Menažeri’s debut album Brazen showcases thrilling, inspiring Balkan Rom, Serbian & Greek Macedonian tunes with heartrending improvisations, lush vocals & all the infectious energy of our live performances. Brazen was produced by multiple Grammy winner Tim Boyle (Les Misérables; South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut; Team America).

  Website: brassmenazeri.com

  Pangéo is Seattle’s passionate ambassador of Greek & Southern Balkan music. With a taste for old-style dance music, its members are equally at home playing Epirot Greek mountain ballads & lively tunes from the Yugoslav & Albanian border areas. The rich, ethereal, driving sound of this virtuosic quartet, featuring clarinet, accordion, vocals, percussion & guitar, will transport you to another time & place.

  Website: kyklosmusic.com/PANGEO

• Brass Menazeri + Vagabond Opera at Someday Lounge

  Wednesday, March 26

  Someday Lounge
  125 NW 5th Ave. (at Couch), Portland OR.
  8pm; $10 advance/$12 at the door.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We’re coming to Portland for the first time, to welcome Vagabond Opera home from their European tour!

• Brass Menazeri + Eleven Eyes at Sam Bond's, Eugene OR

  Friday, March 28

  Sam Bond's Garage
  407 Blair Blvd. (at W 4th Ave.), Eugene OR.
  8pm; $7.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We’re honored to premier in Eugene with the indescribable & irresistible Eleven Eyes!

• Brass Menazeri at Redwood Raks with Rose Harden & Deb Rubin

  Saturday, March 29

  

  Redwood Raks
  824 L St.
  (at 8th), Arcata CA.
  8pm;
  $8 students/seniors; $10 general.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ Turkish & Bellydance ~ All More»

  We're ecstatic to rock Redwood Raqs with the able-bodied help of Ultragypsy alumni Rose Harden & Deb Rubin!

  Rose & Deb will also teach a workshop the next day; details are here.

• Brass Menazeri at Kafana Balkan

  Friday, June 27

  12 Galaxies
  2565 Mission (at 21st), San Francisco.
  8pm; $8-25 sliding scale.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Kafana Balkan returns! The Bay Area's best Balkan party is back for its summer blowout. Here's what the SF Weekly has to say in the 2008 BEST OF writeup:

  Best Crazed Gypsy Brass Band Dance Party (2008)

  Kafana Balkan

  Yes, this occasional Kafana Balkan party is pretty much the only crazed Gypsy brass band dance party in town, but that doesn't make it any less special. Where else can you find hundreds of swarthy men with dangling moustaches and pork-pie hats dancing with slinky ladies in diaphanous dresses and hot-pink hair? (Okay, besides a Joanna Newsom show.) Kafana Balkan also offers live, horn-driven mayhem from the likes of Brass Menazeri and Edessa, as well as everything from Balkan hip-hop to crazy Gypsy funk spun by DJ Zeljko. Plus, proceeds go to Hleb i Sir Cirkus, which puts on free circus workshops for refugee children in Kosovo. Seldom has getting drunk and being horny been so productive.

• Brass Menazeri outdoor concert in San Rafael

  Saturday, July 26

  Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts
  200 N. San Pedro Rd. (near Meriam), San Rafael.
  7pm; $20 pub/$15 mbr/$10 students.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Come Celebrate Music Outdoors Under Beautiful Marin Skies picnics encouraged, but please leave glass containers and alcohol at home.

  This is an outdoor, general admission event, with lawn seating at the front of the house, chairs set up in rear, and some picnic tables available. Children 6 and under are FREE, and there is a playground on site. These are family friendly events, and end no later than 10pm.

  Doors open 6:15 for the general public, and 6:00 for subscribers. Concessions including beer, wine, sweets, and savories available for purchase.

• Brass Menazeri CD Release with Aphrodesia

  Friday, September 12

  Great American Music Hall
  859 O'Farrell (at Larkin), San Francisco.
  Doors 8, show 9pm; $15 adv/$20 door.
  Order event tickets or festival ticket packages
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  The Hornucopia Festival & Kafana Balkan present

  

  Brass Menazeri's CD Release Extravaganza!

  with

  ~ Afro-beat funk powerhouse Aphrodesia ~
  ~ DJ Zeljko of Kafana Balkan ~
  ~ Brasshopper New Orleans brass ~
  ~ bellydance by Elizabeth Strong ~

  Come celebrate the fresh release of our second cd, Vranjski San: Vranje Dream! This is our blow-the-roof-off party of the year!

  We're honored to be part of the Hornucopia Festival produced by Amnesia's Sol Crawford. Co-sponored by Kafana Balkan.

• Brass Menazeri at Golden Fest, NYC

  Friday, January 16

  Good Shepherd School
  620 Isham (near 207th St & Broadway), New York.
  7:30pm dance lesson, 8:30 music; $20/$15 students/kids under 12 free!
  Categories: Balkan ~ Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  Golden Fest is is New York's largest Balkan music event, with multiple stages, Balkan and Middle Eastern refreshments, Balkan arts vendors, as well as beautiful Balkan textiles on display. From international stars to local musicians, modern Balkan stylists to folk traditionalists, over 40 bands provide hours of ecstatic listening, dancing and partying.

  We're playing both Friday & Saturday nights. Friday we'll have a full set (about an hour), and Saturday we (like all 40 bands) will play 25 minutes, starting at 1:20am.

  General info is here.

  The info posted above is for Friday night. The full Saturday schedule is here. Saturday's events run from 5:30pm to 4am, and cost $40/$30 students/kids free.

• Brass Menazeri + Brasshopper at Yoshi's SF

  Monday, February 16

  Yoshi's San Francisco
  1333 Fillmore (at Eddy), San Francisco.
  8pm; $10. Tickets here.
  Categories: Brass Menagerie ~ All More»

  We're very honored & excited to play at the Bay Area's most legendary jazz club, Yoshi's! We're sharing the evening with our friends Brasshopper, whom you may remember from our CD Release party at the Great American in September...

  If you plan to come, it'd be great for us (and encouraging to the club) if you'd like to buy tickets ahead of time. They're available from

  http://sfyoshis2.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=32044&sid=