Rock on RC!: Redwood City’s free summer events series, which is truly packed, is in full swing. Celebrating 19 years of live music downtown, Music on the Square (from 6 to 8 p.m. on Fridays in Courthouse Square at 2200 Broadway) continues through Aug. 29, offering rock, reggae, funk, Latin, soul and everything in between. This week, Foreigner tribute band Foreigner Unauthorized appears. At 10 a.m. Saturday morning, also in Courthouse Square, the Kids Rock series kicks off, with Redwood City-born “kindie-rock” artist Andy Z and his Andyland Band in the first of three shows; Lori & RJ play July 19 and James Henry’s House of Samba Kids appears Aug. 9. Also, on three Saturdays, there’s Sounds on the Shore, in Redwood Shores’ Marlin Park. This Saturday, the Cocktail Monkeys, playing classic rock, modern pop and R&B, appear from 5 to 7 p.m. Upcoming Redwood Shores shows feature the San Jose-based band PB&J playing classic and original rock on July 19, and the party band The Groove Doctors on Aug. 9. Other free weekly Redwood City programs include Music in the Park on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 20 in Stafford Park at King Street and Hopkins Avenue, and Movies on the Sqaure on Thursdays through Aug. 28 in Courthouse Square, starting with kids’ features at 6 p.m., followed by a selection for general audiences. For details on Redwood City’s multitude of free seasonal offerings, visit redwoodcity.org.
Freebie of the week: Opera San José, as it does annually, is bestowing largesse on fans with Opera in the Park, which takes place Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, at 21649 Naglee Ave. Gathering on the open-air stage (for a performance that gets underway at 6 p.m. after check-in) for a series of arias, ensembles and selections of popular music will be longtime Bay Area favorite, baritone Eugene Brancoveanu; tenor Nicolas Vasquez-Gerst; mezzo-soprano Courtney Miller; and soprano Mary Hangley. Their piano accompaniment will be provided by Veronika Agranov-Dafoe. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or low-backed chairs to enjoy the entertainment and a repast of their choice (sorry, no alcohol allowed in the park), and—bonus! —those who register in advance will receive a wristband upon check-in to redeem a complimentary shaved ice. Claim your frozen sweet treat at operasanjose.org.
Hearing voices: Two distinct elements distinguish the unique comedy of Maria Bamford. One is an extraordinarily versatile voice that, among other things, enables her to portray a wide variety of characters on sitcoms and animated shows ranging from “CatDog” to “American Dad!” to “BoJack Horseman.” The other is her long-running experience with mental health issues, which, along with descriptions of her dysfunctional family, form the foundation of much of her standup comedy. Depicting a number of characters and family members, Bamford’s comedy takes a self-deprecating, if occasionally surreal, look at her life and her struggles with anxiety and bipolar and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It’s an issue that’s been part of her professional life since she moved to Los Angeles to find work and experienced a series of nervous breakdowns. Still, she’s released comedy albums, including “Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome,” as well as the memoir, “Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult.” The 2016 Netflix comedy “Lady Dynamite,” in which she starred, is based on her life. She brings her standup tour to Livermore’s Bankhead Theater on Friday. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$70 at livermorearts.org.
What a drag: As the Trump administration continues to seek ways to punish and persecute the LGBTQ+ community, the Bay Area is busy celebrating Pride month. It continues this week with two events featuring the Bay Area’s wealth of talented drag performers. San Francisco’s Fridays on Front Street block party, between California and Sacramento streets in the city’s newly designated entertainment zone, hosts “Drag Me to Front Street” with appearances/performances by Bobby Friday, Peaches Christ, Major Hammy and more. The event includes food and drinks (and in accordance with entertainment zone standards, cocktails can be consumed outside). The party, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, is free. More information is at downtownsf.org. Meanwhile, the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on Saturday serves up two hours of drag, circus and musical entertainment from such artists as Rahni NothingMore (the MC), Tyson Check-In , Helixir, Tila Pia, Sassi Fran, Starya, Miss Viva La Glam, Juliano Wade and more. “Pride in Yerba Buena” runs from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Yerba Buena Gardens Lawn, on Mission between Third and Fourth streets. A preshow DJ set kicks things off at 1:30 p.m. More information is at ybgfestival.org.
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