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This weekend, the Peninsula International Dance Festival highlights dance from around the world; Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson plays at Sound Union; Anat Cohen and her Quartetinho perform an intimate concert with Brazilian influences at Stanford Jazz Festival; long-running alt-country and pop-rock group Old 97’s perform at The Guild; the Obon Festival takes place at Mountain View Buddhist Temple; and Djerassi hosts an open studios day at its secluded Woodside ranch.
Peninsula International Dance Festival
Catch more than 250 dancers and musicians, with guest artists representing more than 20 Bay Area dance companies, performing in Peninsula Lively Arts’ Peninsula International Dance Festival. Over the course of the weekend, audiences can view performances in a wide range of traditional styles from all across the globe (see online program for each day’s complete lineup), with participants including Antara Asthaayi Dance, Ballet Nlolo Kongo, The Minoan Dancers, Feng Ye Dance, Hālau O Keikiali’i / Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center, Peru Expressions, Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco, Peninsula Ballet Theatre and more, with an opening welcome from Association of Ramaytush Ohlone.
July 20 at 7 p.m. and July 21 at 2 p.m., San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 North Delaware St. San Mateo; $39-$69; .peninsulalivelyarts.org/pidf.
Leslie Mendelson
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson released her fourth studio album this summer: the rock, folk, Americana and pop-inflected “After The Party,” which includes the single “Other Girls.” Mendelson comes to Redwood City’s new social club, music studio and live venue Sound Union to perform this week, part of a run of several California shows in celebration of the new record. “Leslie is one of these very rare singers who can combine elegant precision with the soul and emotional resonance of a deeply moving writer and performer,” producer Peter Asher, who worked with her on “After The Party,” states on Mendelson’s website.
July 19, 8 p.m., Sound Union, 2625 Broadway St., Redwood City; $38.65; eventbrite.com.
Anat Cohen
Clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Anat Cohen has become a favorite at the Stanford Jazz Festival over the years for her joyful style, impressive skills and mix of global influences. This time around, she’s bringing her bass clarinet and her Quartetinho (featuring Vitor Gonçalves on piano and accordion, Tal Mashiach on bass and guitar and James Shipp on vibraphone and percussion) for an intimate, chamber-style concert with Brazilian jazz influences, including compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Egberto Gismonti. “Everyone contributes some original music, and everyone has an affinity for Brazilian music, but with open space for improvisation and more folkloric sounds,” she states on the festival’s website.
July 20, 7:30 p.m., Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Drive, Stanford; $12-$62 depending on membership and ticket type; stanfordjazz.org.
Old 97’s with Kimmi Bitter
Long-running (since 1992) alt-country and pop-rock group Old 97’s, headed by lead singer and primary songwriter Rhett Miller, may be best known for its 1999 hit “Murder (Or a Heart Attack)” and has released 13 albums including this year’s “American Primitive.” Opening for the band at its Menlo Park show will be San Diego’s Kimmi Bitter, whose style emulates classic country and retro, ’60s-style sounds and who’s drawn comparisons to Patsy Cline and Nancy Sinatra. Her album, the nostalgic “Old School” was also released in 2024.
July 20, 8 p.m., The Guild Theatre, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; $39-$93;.guildtheatre.com.
Obon Festival
Enjoy live music and dance performances, food and games at this favorite summer festival hosted by Mountain View Buddhist Temple. The Obon Festival is to “honor loved ones who have passed before us and celebrate their ongoing influence in our lives,” as the temple’s website says. Festival-goers can take in performances from taiko drumming groups, including Mountain View-based ensemble Jun Daiko. The festivities conclude each evening with the Odori dancing, performed in a large group by community members.
July 20-, 4-9 p.m., and July 21, noon-8 p.m., at Mountain View Buddhist Temple, 575 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. obon.mvbuddhisttemple.org.
Leonardo@Djerassi open studios
The Djerassi Program and Leonardo/ISAST (International Society for Arts, Sciences and Technology) each year bring together artists and scientists to collaborate, exchange ideas and push boundaries in their fields. Participants in this year’s open studios event – the 10th anniversary of the Leonardo@Djerassi partnership – are invited to hear artist talks and readings, visit studios and installations, feast on a meal from the Djerassi Program chef and hike around the scenic landscape. This year’s residents include Anthony Acciavatti, Coral Pereda, Dan Paz, Julie Zhu, Ranran Fan, Rob Jackson, Sanna Fogelvik, Sue Huang and Zander Porter.
July 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Djerassi, 2325 Bear Gulch Road, Woodside; ticket prices vary; djerassi.org/events/openstudios/.