Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-04-20
Matt Lazarus & Friends (Joe Marcinek, Danny Eisenberg, Anna Elva, Burt Lewis, Jenifer Freebairn & Stephanie Salva) take over Ashkenaz’s Grateful Dead Nights on Friday, May 8th.
Few rooms in the Bay Area carry the spirit of community gathering quite like Ashkenaz. Since 1973, the Berkeley institution has served as a nonprofit live music venue and dance hall where roots traditions, global rhythms, jam culture, and neighborhood connection all meet under one roof.
This latest run of programming once again offers something for everyone, but Deadheads should circle several standout nights first. Ashkenaz has long been a trusted home for Grateful Dead-inspired music, where dancers, tie-dyes, and seekers gather for midweek communion.
On Wednesday, April 22, Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz welcomes Anna Elva & Friends featuring Reed Mathis. Mathis, known for his adventurous bass work and fearless improvisational spirit, brings added gravity to a night built around the timeless Grateful Dead songbook.
Then on Wednesday, April 29, another can’t-miss chapter arrives with Stu Allen & Reflections. Allen remains one of the Bay Area’s most respected torchbearers of Jerry Garcia’s musical vocabulary, blending authenticity with fresh spontaneity every time he steps onstage.
Later in the run, Friday, May 8 delivers another Grateful Dead Night with Matt Lazarus And Friends, continuing Ashkenaz’s tradition of keeping the catalog alive through musicians who understand both the songs and the spirit behind them.
Beyond the Dead-centric offerings, Ashkenaz continues to prove why it remains one of Northern California’s most eclectic calendars.
Bluegrass fans can head out for the Berkeley Bluegrass Barn Jam on Tuesday, April 28, hosted by Spencer Krenz, or catch Norway’s seven-piece Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra on Wednesday, May 6, blending Nordic folk traditions with acoustic string-band fire.
Dance devotees have multiple reasons to celebrate, including recurring zydeco nights with Ruben Moreno on April 23 and Blackcat Zydeco on April 30, plus Tango, Balkan folk dance, and bachata socials throughout the calendar.
World music remains central to the Ashkenaz identity, with highlights including the 25th Herdeljezi Romani Festival on May 2, a full-day celebration of Balkan Romani culture featuring workshops, live music, and dancing. Other global standouts include The Island Music of Madeira, Namaskar by Sameer Gupta, and Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Khalifa do Accordion.
Families can bring the kids for the Sunday Sunshine Series with Asheba on May 3, while roots music lovers can also catch Mitch Polzak bringing country, rockabilly, and honky-tonk energy on May 16.
Whether you come for Jerry tunes, Balkan brass, bluegrass picking, or dance-floor joy, Ashkenaz continues to embody the kind of cultural crossroad that fewer venues manage to sustain. It’s all ages, deeply Berkeley, and still doing the real work of live music.
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 525-5099
Deadhead Highlights:
April 22
Anna Elva & Friends featuring Reed Mathis
Grateful Dead Night
April 29
Stu Allen & Reflections
Grateful Dead Night
May 8
Matt Lazarus And Friends
Grateful Dead Night
Additional Listings Include:
April 23 – Ruben Moreno
April 24 – Sabor Tradicional Bachata Social
April 25 – Kevin Carducci with ISMAY & Margo Cilker
April 26 – Balkan Sundays Jam
April 28 – Berkeley Bluegrass Barn Jam
April 30 – Blackcat Zydeco
May 1 – Persian Classical & Spiritual Music Night
May 2 – 25th Herdeljezi Romani Festival
May 3 – Asheba / Island Music of Madeira
May 6 – Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra
May 9 – Mortified
May 13 – Balkan Folk Dance
May 16 – Mitch Polzak
May 17 – Bishop O’Dowd High School Jazz Bands
May 21 – Third Thursday Tango
May 23 – Namaskar by Sameer Gupta
May 30 – Khalifa do Accordion
For tickets and the most current calendar, visit Ashkenaz.com.
