This week, see legendary singer, poet, artist and activist Joan Baez in an event hosted by Kepler’s Books, catch the musical movie horror spoof “Young Frankenstein” (or should we say “Fronk-en-steen”?), celebrate Feldman’s Books 28th anniversary, kick off a summer of outdoor concerts with Redwood City’s Music on the Square, hear violinist Yoorhi Choi bring together Eastern and Western musical traditions in a free concert and go on a musical “American Journey” with Bay Choral Guild.
Joan Baez
The legendary – and local – Joan Baez, who graduated from Palo Alto High School back in the late 1950s, is well known for her music as well as her long commitment to social justice and activism, and for many she’s an icon of the 1960s folk scene. But in addition to her storied musical career, she’s also a visual artist (her book of drawings “Am I Pretty When I Fly?” was published last year) and a poet as well. “When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance,” a collection of Baez’s poems drawing on her personal experiences over the years, was published this April. Baez will discuss the new book in conversation with journalist Angie Coiro at an event hosted by Kepler’s Literary Foundation.
May 31, 7 p.m., Hillsdale High School, 3115 Del Monte St., San Mateo; $20-$65; keplers.org.
‘Young Frankenstein’
It’s alive! Live theater, that is. Los Altos Stage Company presents the stage musical adaptation of Mel Brook’s beloved comedy “Young Frankenstein” (which is itself, of course, a humorous sequel of sorts to Mary Shelley’s classic sci-fi story). When young Frederick Frankenstein (that’s pronounced “Fronk-en-steen,” by the way) inherits the estate of his infamous grandfather, he soon finds a penchant for mad science and making monsters may run in the family. Joey Dippel plays the title role in most performances, with a few starring understudy Ian Catindig (who plays other roles most of the time), while Bryan Moriarty plays The Monster.
May 30-June 23, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos; $22-$35; losaltosstage.org/young-frankenstein.
Feldman’s Books’ 28th Birthday Party
Feldman’s Books, Menlo Park’s venerable used-bookstore and community gathering place, is turning 28, and marking its “Saturn return” anniversary with a birthday bash. Performances by local musicians including Redtone Record’s Justin Phipps, Abshir Miller, Emma Catherine, Nitya Rajeshuni, Chandran Sankaran, Kyle Alden, Susie McKee, Rory McNamara and Effie Zilch are planned over the course of the evening’s celebration, along with artwork by Lasana.
May 31, 6-9 p.m., Feldman’s Books, 1075 Curtis St., Menlo Park; $5 donation suggested; feldmansbooks.net/events.
Music on the Square
Downtown Redwood City’s Music on the Square is back, so that must mean summer is nearly here. The series, now in its 18th year, according to the city’s website, brings live music to Courthouse Square on Friday evenings through the end of August. This week, Santana tribute band Carnaval will perform. In future weeks, reggae band Native Elements, Tom Petty tribute Petty Theft, R&B/soul group Patton Leatha, Latin jazz band Orquesta Dharma, Journey tribute Faithfully Live, Eagles tribute Boys of Summer, Fleetwood Mac tribute Fleetwood Macrame, Steely Dan/Chicago tribute Steel N’ Chicago, dance band Groove Ride, yacht rock favorites Mustache Harbor, Michael Jackson tribute Foreverland, 80s covers group Careless Whisper and soul/pop band Pride & Joy are lined up to play.
May 31 (and subsequent Fridays through Aug. 30), 6-8 p.m.; Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway St., Redwood City; free; redwoodcity.org.
Yoorhi Choi
Community School of Music and Arts faculty member Yoorhi Choi will perform a free community concert of violin compositions based on Korean folk music, as well as pieces by Brahms and Beethoven. The performance, titled “Yoorhi Choi: Harmony of East and West,” aims to showcase both Eastern and Western musical traditions. Choi, originally from South Korea, moved to the United States at age 15 to attend The Juilliard School (she also went on to receive degrees from Yale University and Northwestern University). In addition to her work as an educator, the award-winning artist performs as a soloist as well as with numerous ensembles and orchestras.
June 1, 7:30 p.m., Tateuchi Hall, Community School of Music and Arts, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View; free; arts4all.org.
Bay Choral Guild
What better way to kick off summer vacation time than with a musical trip? Bay Choral Guild closes out the 2023-24 season with “American Journey,” a program that travels through several centuries and numerous genres to explore the wide-ranging history of American music. According to his program notes, Artistic Director Sanford Dole drew on music from many different eras. The concert includes works by 18th-century New England composers; African American spirituals that may have roots in the Underground Railroad and were later popularized by composers such as Moses Hogan; music that chronicles the 19th-century Western migration; plus an array of 20th-century works, from art songs to jazz. The 20th-century portion of the program includes pieces by the “Dean of Black Women Composers” Undine Smith Moore, Norman Dello Joio and others plus a variety of music by well-known composers Samuel Barber and Randall Thompson, George and Ira Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein.
June 2, 4:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church, 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto, $10-$30, baychoralguild.org.
