Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-06-04
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel - Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
Ashkenaz, the longtime Berkeley nonprofit live music venue and dance space, has a busy June and early July calendar ahead, with a strong run of Grateful Dead-related nights, roots music, dance events, and community gatherings at 1317 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley, CA.
Established in 1973, Ashkenaz has long been dedicated to hosting a diverse lineup of local and international performing artists. The venue is always all ages, and its Café opens when doors open, 30 minutes before show time, offering draft and bottled beer, wine, kombucha, juices, sodas, coffee, tea, snacks, and light meals that are vegetarian and mostly organic.
For Grateful Dead fans, the month brings several strong nights on the calendar. Eric Thompson & Dead Roots Revival play Friday, June 12, featuring Sam Reider, Corbin Pagter, Keith Terry, Paul Kotapish, Mark Schatz, and Suzy Thompson. Stu Allen & Mars Hotel bring Grateful Dead Night to Ashkenaz on Wednesday, June 17. The Bay Area’s longest-running Grateful Dead tribute band, The China Cats, arrive Wednesday, June 24. Dead Roses continue the Dead nights on Wednesday, July 1, and Afro Dead re-imagines the music of the Grateful Dead in Afro-Pop styles on Saturday, July 11.
The lineup also includes a Bob Dylan after-party on Sunday, June 14, featuring Chip Godwin's Long Time Curse playing an acoustic and electric Dylan set with a few friends sitting in. Other June highlights include zydeco, Balkan folk dance, AfroFest, flamenco, tango, Arabic music, comedy, and world music.
ASHKENAZ UPCOMING LISTINGS
Thursday, June 4
Kathy Reyes presents the Bachata Nightz class and social dance party
Bachata Nightz, featuring DJ Ron in the mix, plus performances by KRD - Desde Hoy Challenge, E.V.A Dance Studios, and Inlakech Cumbia Quebradita Team directed by Mireille Ruiz.
8 pm – Beginner-friendly Bachata Lesson with Kathy Reyes and Xavier Stefano at 8 pm
$16 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Friday, June 5
Mark St. Mary's Louisiana Blues & Zydeco Band
Dubbed the "Delta King" and awarded the "Best Zydeco Band" in 2007 by Bay Area Blues Society
8 pm – Beginner-friendly dance lesson at 7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $10 Students with ID, door only
Saturday, June 6
AfroFest featuring live African music with Brotha Peace, traditional drumming, traditional & cultural dance, fashion show, authentic African cuisine with local vendors
8 pm – All-access tickets $30 for one / $50 for two
Sunday, June 7
Ashkenaz Open House featuring a diverse lineup of favorites TBA
12 pm – Free / No Cover
Wednesday, June 10
2nd Wednesday Balkan Folk Dance
An Ashkenaz tradition since 1973
7 pm – Balkan dance lesson by Nadav Nur and Susie Shoaf
Social dancing at 7:30 pm
$10 Advance
Thursday, June 11
Iko Ya Ya
Cajun/Zydeco “Swamp n’ Roll”
8 pm – Beginner-friendly Zydeco dance lesson at 7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Friday, June 12
Eric Thompson & Dead Roots Revival
Featuring Sam Reider, Corbin Pagter, Keith Terry, Paul Kotapish, Mark Schatz, and Suzy Thompson
Grateful Dead / Rock
8 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Saturday, June 13
Mortified presents MORTI-PRIDE! Our all-LGTBQ+ show
Comedy / Storytelling
8 pm
$25 Advance / $35 Door / $25 Students with ID, door only
Sunday, June 14
Bob Dylan After-party
Featuring Chip Godwin's Long Time Curse playing an acoustic and electric Dylan set, with a few friends sitting in. Presented by Shelby Ash.
10 pm
$15 Advance / $20 Door / $10 Students with ID, door only
Wednesday, June 17
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz
8 pm
$30 Advance / $35 Door / $20 Students with ID, door only
Thursday, June 18
Third Thursday Tango with Sascha Jacobsen & Friends
7:30 pm – Beginner-friendly tango dance lesson
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Friday, June 19
Tablao Flamenco with Marina Elana, Melissa Cruz, Fanny Ara, Jesse Torre, Marlon Aldana, and Cachito Diaz
Experience the energy of Andalucía’s Flamenco Tablaos: intimate, direct, and alive.
8 pm
$25 Advance / $30 Door / $20 Students with ID, door only
Saturday, June 20
Zaghareet: Wedding Songs of the Arab World with Aswat Women's Ensemble, Salma El Assal & Nicole Maria
The Bay Area’s only exclusively-female Arab music ensemble
8 pm
$25 Advance / $30 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Wednesday, June 24
The China Cats featuring Jerry Saracini, with Matt Hartle, Scott Cooper, Steve Sofranko, Roger Sideman, and Michael Owens
The Bay Area's longest-running Grateful Dead tribute band
8 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Thursday, June 25
The Back Dimples
An electrifying new Zydeco band based in Oakland, CA
7:30 pm - Beginner-friendly dance lesson at 7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Saturday, June 27
Trikaya
Indo-African world music trio that weaves the ancient and the contemporary
8 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Wednesday, July 1
Dead Roses
Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz
7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Saturday, July 11
Afro Dead
Re-imagining the music of the Grateful Dead in Afro-Pop styles
8 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students with ID, door only
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 525-5099
www.ashkenaz.com
