By now we’ve all had an unbearable amount of the doom-loop conversation and want to move beyond it; Some people are now releasing love letters to San Francisco while others declare it’s our best summer ever. The Bold Italic agrees.
We experienced joy recently at San Francisco’s Embarcadero rave and now again at Stern Grove Festival, where lots of families enjoyed music instead of scrolling on tiny phone screens. Service was shitty anyway, and we think attendees wanted to experience the moment of being enveloped in a forest.
It was a chill Sunday in the avenues at Stern Grove, our annual festival that offers free outdoor concerts every summer inside a natural amphitheater. Since its inception in 1938, the festival has brought pretty much every kind of musical talent from classical symphonies and jazz ensembles, to contemporary pop and world music.
The latest concert we saw Franc Moody, a newcomer London duo that specializes in a disco-funk sound infused with vibrant dance-pop elements, drawing inspiration from Daft Punk’s classic disco and funk revival in “Random Access Memories.”
Their production style is distinctly DIY, with creative methods like achieving the ideal handclap by using three pairs of hands and a pair of Marigold gloves.
There was a lot of love on Sunday; maybe it was drugs, the environment, the crowd, or a combination of the three, but we definitely saw more romance and PDA than normal. Obviously there’s a lot to get frisky about:
The warm summer breeze, the shared picnic blankets, and the joyous atmosphere certainly played their parts as well. Perhaps it was the sense of community, the freeing spirit of dancing under the open sky, or the simple magic of a perfect San Francisco day that brought people closer together.
We spoke to Brittany Sookikian and Kristin Chan, the latter who said you gotta “do Stern Grove right” — come at 10 a.m., bring your friends, picnic, and get in a solid three hours of hanging out. Then you’re home in time for dinner.
“It’s the perfect way to end the weekend,” said Sookikan while pouring another glass of boxed red wine.
Of course Sunday held no shortage of free fun in San Francisco, with Dore Alley serving us its typical displays of sex, kink, BDSM, fetish, love and equality. From furries to fishnets, strap-ons to angel wings; There was something for everyone. Friends reconnected, strangers became friends, and the celebration of diversity was evident in every corner.
If you missed this Stern Grove concert, fear not, there are a number of shows coming up. Here’s a rundown:
August 4: Alex G with opener Fake Fruit
Alex G, known for his intimate lo-fi pop and strong melodic sensibilities, will be performing with Fake Fruit, adding an indie rock flair to the lineup.
August 11: Herbie Hancock with opener SFJAZZ Collective
Legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock will grace the stage, accompanied by the renowned SFJAZZ Collective, bringing a night of sophisticated jazz to Stern Grove.
August 18: Lucinda Williams with opener Jobi Riccio
Americana icon Lucinda Williams will be performing, supported by Jobi Riccio, promising a soulful blend of blues, rock, and country music.
August 24: Sylvan Esso with opener Poolside
As part of the two-day Big Picnic fundraiser, indie-electronic duo Sylvan Esso will perform, with Poolside kicking off the event with their signature “daytime disco” sound.
August 25: Chaka Khan
The festival will close with a powerful performance by the iconic Chaka Khan, celebrating her 50 years in the music industry, ensuring a grand finale to the season.
Each concert begins at 2 PM, and reservations are required to attend. Tickets are free and can be acquired online, typically one month in advance of each performance. For more information and to secure your tickets, visit the Stern Grove Festival website.
Courtney Muro is a San Francisco-based content strategist, producer, designer, and creator. She took all photos for this story. Saul Sugarman contributed words.
The Bold Italic is a non-profit media organization, and we publish first-person perspectives about San Francisco and the Bay Area. Donate to us today.
More photos from Stern Grove Festival on July 28, 2024
Photos by Courtney Muro for The Bold Italic.
