Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-08-17
Ashkenaz in Berkeley has another busy stretch of music, dance and community events on the calendar, with several dates standing out for Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia fans.
Grateful Dead Night returns on Wednesday, August 19 with Stu Allen & Reflections, followed one week later by Very Jerry 14 on August 26. The annual celebration of Jerry Garcia’s birthday brings together a large cast of Bay Area musicians for a night devoted to Garcia’s music and spirit, with all proceeds from the auction and show directly benefiting Ashkenaz.
Very Jerry 14 will feature Yerba Buena Orchestra with David Gans, Joshua Raoul Brody, Dave Jess and Joe Burke; Maurice Tani; Pamela Brandon; James Nash; Wicked Messengers with Jay Wilcox and Pat Nevins; Alex Jordan and Mark Karan; Paige Clem, Matt Lazarus and James Nash; Reed Mathis and James Nash; Jody Salino; Bernie Bauer and Friends; Alamo Mission Band with Joe Balestreri; Dead Roses; and Jenerator.
The Dead-centered run continues September 2 when Stu Allen returns with Mars Hotel for another Grateful Dead Night.
Beyond the Dead family shows, Ashkenaz continues its long tradition of presenting an eclectic mix of roots, world music, dance and community programming, including Zydeco, Cajun music, traditional Bachata, Persian and Kurdish music, Americana, old-time music and Latin dance nights.
Established in 1973, Ashkenaz is a nonprofit live music venue and dance space located at 1317 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, California. The venue is always all ages.
Upcoming Ashkenaz Listings
Wednesday, August 19
Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz
Stu Allen & Reflections
Grateful Dead
8 pm
$30 Advance / $35 Door / $20 Students
Thursday, August 20
MotorDude Zydeco
Zydeco/Funk
7:30 pm
Beginner-friendly Zydeco dance lesson at 7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Friday, August 21
Morchestra Big Band, featuring Nicolas Bearde
Big Band
8 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Saturday, August 22
Bululú presents “DOMÉSTICO: From the Border of Home” Album Release Party, plus DJ Agana
Salsa/Merengue/Cumbia/Soca
7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Wednesday, August 26
Very Jerry 14: A joyful celebration of the music and spirit of Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia/Grateful Dead
Featuring Yerba Buena Orchestra, Maurice Tani, Pamela Brandon, James Nash, Wicked Messengers, Alex Jordan/Mark Karan, Paige Clem/Matt Lazarus/James Nash, Reed Mathis/James Nash, Jody Salino, Bernie Bauer and Friends, Alamo Mission Band, Dead Roses, Jenerator and more
7:30 pm
$25 Advance / $30 Door / $20 Students
All proceeds from the auction and show directly benefit Ashkenaz
Thursday, August 27
Attila Viola and The Bakersfield Boys
Honky Tonk/Country
8 pm
Beginner-friendly dance lesson TBA
$15 Advance / $20 Door / $15 Students
Friday, August 28
Sabor Tradicional Bachata Social with DJ Ron in the mix
Traditional Bachata
8 pm
Traditional Bachata lesson with guest instructor Ismael Otero at 8 pm
$16 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Saturday, August 29
Beyond Borders Ensemble, featuring Aryan Rahmanian, Ashkan Ghafouri, Raman Osman, Amirabbas Etemadzadeh and Khatchadour Khatchadourian
Classical Persian/Kurdish/Armenian Folk Music
8 pm
$20-$30 Advance / $25-$35 Door / $15 Students
Sunday, August 30
Gillian Grogan & Friends Tour and Kickstarter Finale
Avant-Folk/Singer-Songwriter/Americana
7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Wednesday, September 2
Grateful Dead Night at Ashkenaz
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel
Grateful Dead
8 pm
$30 Advance / $35 Door / $20 Students
Thursday, September 3
Bachata Nightz, featuring DJ Ron in the mix
Bachata/Latin/Dance
8 pm
Beginner-friendly Bachata lesson with Kathy Reyes and Xavier Stefano at 8 pm
$16 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Friday, September 4
Aux Cajunals
Cajun
8 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Wednesday, September 9
2nd Wednesday Balkan Folk Dance
Balkan Dance
7 pm
Balkan dance lesson at 7 pm by Nadav Nur and Susie Shoaf; social dancing at 7:30 pm
$10
Thursday, September 10
Ann Savoy & The Magnolia Sisters
Cajun
7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Saturday, September 12
Mortified
Comedy/Storytelling
8 pm
$25 Advance
Wednesday, September 16
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Welcome Party Square Dance
Featuring Forty Drop Few and The Canote Brothers, plus jamming in the back studio
Old-Time Jam
7:30 pm
$20 Advance
Friday, September 18
Carlos y Charlos
Traditional Norteño Music
8 pm
$20 Advance / $30 Door / $20 Students
Saturday, September 19
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Square Dance Party
Hosted by Mark Olson & Penny Critchlow, followed by an Old Time Jam led by Forty Drop Few; also featuring Joseph Decosimo, Stephanie Coleman & Friends, Justin Robinson & Aaron Cooper, Skillet Licorice, Janine Smith and Evie Ladin
Old-Time Jam/Square Dance
7:30 pm
Clogging workshop with Evie Ladin at 7:30 pm
$20 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
Sunday, September 20
Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Family Dance
Featuring The Manning Mud Stompers and The Janine Smith Experience
Old-Time Jam/Square Dance
11 am
Free / No Cover
Friday, September 25
Rico Fridays: Latin dance with DJ Ron, presented by Kathy Reyes
Latin/Salsa/Bachata/Timba
8 pm
Beginner-friendly salsa lesson with Kathy Reyes and Xavier at 8 pm
$16 Advance / $25 Door / $15 Students
For more information, visit www.ashkenaz.com.
