Welcome To The Oracle OpenWorld Music Festival
Oracle Brings You The Music
Oracle presents the first annual Oracle OpenWorld Music Festival, featuring some of today’s breakthrough musicians from around the country and the world. It’s five nights of back-to-back performances in the heart of San Francisco. Registered Oracle conference attendees get free admission, so remember your badge when you head to a show. With limited space at some venues, these concerts are first-come, first-served. So mark your calendars and get ready for the music to begin. See you there!
*Note: The music is free to registered Oracle conference attendees, however the venue bars are no-host, and Oracle Square is cash-only.
2012 Festival Performances
Macy Gray
Sunday, September 30 | 8:30 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
A gifted songwriter and dazzlingly singular singer, Macy Gray has been overturning fan expectation and industry formula since kicking off her music career in 2000. The single "I Try," and the CD were massive global hits. They kicked off a career ride that includes multiple Grammys and MTV awards, over 25 million units sold, and a thriving acting career.
Joss Stone
Tuesday, October 2 | 8:30 p.m. Oracle Square (Union Square)
Joss Stone began pursuing a singing career at 13, securing a record deal at 15, and recording her star-making debut album in 2003. Ten years on, Joss has decided to bring things full circle and revisit where it all began. The Soul Sessions Volume 2 is a stunning exercise in vocal poise, passion and power, showcasing some great songs and an artist at the peak of her powers.
Jimmy Cliff
Monday, October 1 | 8:30 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
With a legacy stretching back nearly 50 years, the Honourable Jimmy Cliff is still standing as one of the prime movers and continuing shapers of modern music. With a catalog that ranks among the most influential in global culture, Cliff remains a forceful voice of power and conscience, creating new music as vital and vibrant as ever.
The Hives
Thursday, October 4 | 5:00 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
Born almost two decades ago in Fagersta, Sweden, The Hives have long been a rock 'n' roll force to be reckoned with. Louder. Bolder. More convinced than ever. The Hives are finally out of the dark ages and steering toward the light. This is THE LAW. The Law that is Hives. LEX HIVES! The laws of nature are pale in comparison and The Hives demand nothing but complete obedience.
Afrofunk Experience
Tuesday, October 2 | 10:00 p.m. Slim's
Chunky rhythms mixed with tasty funk-to-metal guitar grooves and blazing horns is the deep soul sound of the Afrofunk Experience: Every night the band delivers home grown ORIGINAL BAY AREA FUNK, AFROBEAT, REGGAE, AND MORE. Afrofunk Experience is a Funk music powerhouse that now tours the West Coast of the United States.
American Steel
Sunday, September 30 | 9:00 p.m. Mezzanine
After initially disbanding in 2002, no-one has been more surprised by the recent return of American Steel than the band itself. Digital music's rise has made it easier than ever to find bands to like, and harder to find bands to love. Whatever the case, American Steel is back, and their release Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts is their powerful and focused re-entry into the fray.
Astral
Sunday, September 30 | 8:30 p.m. Mezzanine
San Francisco-based Astral have deep rooted influences in Joy Division and My Bloody Valentine, as proven by their full-length debut, Orchids. Astral could easily fit onto a Merge, Matador, or 4AD roster, because they're the essence of dream rock, stuck in the lates and playing their reverbed hearts out.
BluesMix
Tuesday, October 2 | 8:00 p.m. Slim's
BluesMix, from London, is one of England's leading blues/funk bands. BluesMix blends vintage funk sounds with soulful groove-oriented blues to produce original music with broad appeal. The band has opened for many leading artists, including Amy Winehouse. In previous years they've played leading blues clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Candelaria
Monday, October 1 | 7:00 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
Candelaria is a true independent band. Their main focus is always on keeping the dance floor hot and the party moving. Candelaria is at the forefront of the global cumbia movement. With present and past members from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, El Salvador, Canada, Malaysia, and Peru, Candelaria reflects the multi-cultural world we live in and the diversity of the Bay Area.
The Crystal Method
Sunday, September 30 | 10:00 p.m. Ruby Skye
Heralded by the Village Voice as "one of the best live dance acts on Earth," The Crystal Method—Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland—have been known over the last ten-plus years for their enduring dance floor anthems, airwave smashes, and a willingness to collaborate with an array of talent. The duo has dominated the remix, film soundtrack, television, gaming and advertising worlds.
Death Valley High
Tuesday, October 2 | 9:00 p.m. Mezzanine
Death Valley High is where gnashing hard rock and death pop converge. On its second album—Doom, In Full Bloom—the San Francisco quartet unleashes a torrent of monstrous riffs and infectious hooks. Death Valley High—Reyka Osburn (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Adam Bannister (Drums), Chris Sanders (Guitar), and Huffy Hafera (Bass, Backing Vocals)—is about to rip through psyches everywhere.
Dirty Ghosts
Sunday, September 30 | 10:30 p.m. Mezzanine
Allyson Baker has a white-hot record—Metal Moon—and a fully functioning band—the Dirty Ghosts—that's already got a west coast tour and South by Southwest appearances under its belt. And, as this dead-cool debut ultimately proves, good things happen when you refuse to give up the ghost.
The Dodos
Monday, October 1 | 10:30 p.m. Mezzanine
The drums hit you in the chest, spraying your speakers like gunshots. But then Meric Long's finger-picked chords kick in, cascading across Logan Kroeber's brass knuckle beats like only the best Dodos songs can. This feeling has driven the duo since 2005. The main focus of their latest album No Color was to bottle the frenzied folk approach that's been there since the beginning.
The English Beat
Tuesday, October 2 | 8:00 p.m. Minna Alley
Hailing from working-class Birmingham, England, Dave Wakeling and The English Beat entered the music scene in the troubled times of 1979. Since then, while Dave has been the nucleus, the band has formed and re-formed with a number of world-renown musicians. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be blown away by the ever-changing King of Ska and The English Beat!
Fierce Creatures
Monday, October 1 | 7:30 p.m. Mezzanine
Fierce Creatures emerged from the scorching Fresno summer of 2009. They came together to build a fresh identity free of limitations focused on the joy of undiluted music, and drew inspiration from the heritage of classic rock and pop. By reinterpreting musical conventions and pursuing a song wherever it leads, Fierce Creatures has created something new and altogether enchanting.
The Five Hundreds
Thursday, October 4 | 3:30 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
The Five Hundreds are a San Francisco-based band specializing in high energy, guitar-driven rock 'n' roll. Their live shows feature a mix of well-crafted originals and crowd-pleasing covers from the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Ramones, and Tom Petty. The Five Hundreds turn any gig into a rollicking good time!
Golden State
Tuesday, October 2 | 10:30 p.m. Mezzanine
James Grundler discovered his Golden State. "I paid attention to my surroundings and the media—it was about the relationship between you and the powers that be." Golden State are a thrilling summation of the gamut of modern rock and the consolidation of James' lifelong obsession with aspirational music. Golden State's ultimate mission is to make their listeners sit up and think.
Low Flying Owls
Tuesday, October 2 | 7:30 p.m. Mezzanine
Low Flying Owls had quite the hiatus, but we're back. After touring behind our first official release, Elixir Vitae, and supporting noteworthy luminaries The Fall, Clinic, and Blonde Redhead, we disbanded in the latter part of 2005. Seven years forward, we have a new album on the musical horizon, Lovevolve. It's a stripped down melodic sound, without much fussing around.
Magic Wands
Sunday, September 30 | 8:45 p.m. Ruby Skye
Indie duo Magic Wands have a classic story: Boy meets girl on MySpace; girl gives boy a luminescent heart lamp; boy and girl start a band and score opening slots for the Kills and the Horrors. Magic Wands is Chris and Dexy Valentine, a husband and wife to-be who make sparkling, psychedelic-pop gems. Their anticipated full-length debut, Aloha Moon, was recently released.
Old 97's
Tuesday, October 2 | 8:30 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
Since the Old 97's roared out of Dallas more than fifteen years ago, they have blazed a trail through alt-country and power-pop, led by the piercingly observant lyrics of lead singer Rhett Miller. Each new Old 97's record is hotly anticipated, and rightfully so. Miller's portraits of love and loneliness are paired with some of the sharpest music the band has ever produced.
Red Meat
Monday, October 1 | 8:00 p.m. Minna Alley
Red Meat began in a Mission District garage in 1993. After hundreds of gigs, four albums, sharing the stage with their idol Buck Owens and many others, and movie and television soundtracks, Red Meat has found its place as one of the pre-eminent honky tonk bands in California. It's a lot of progress for five expatriate Midwesterners who found their muse in San Francisco so long ago.
Those Darlins
Tuesday, October 2 | 7:00 p.m. Yerba Buena Gardens
2012 is shaping up to be the biggest year for Those Darlins, who have just returned from their first European tour. The band is now recording an album with acclaimed producer Scott Litt (REM, Nirvana, Patti Smith), then headed out for Summer fun on the road. "Those Darlins deliver thrilling songs that'll have you hyping them to all your rock & roll friends ..." ALL MUSIC GUIDE
The Velvet Teen
Sunday, September 30 | 7:15 p.m. Mezzanine
In one form or another, The Velvet Teen has been making music since 1999. Founder Judah Nagler, along with current band members Casey Deitz and Josh Staples, have been playing some gigs—including this year's SXSW!—and recording some music. Nearly all of the tracking is finished for their upcoming full length disc. "11 songs. All new material. Oh, and it RULES."
Young Prisms
Monday, October 1 | 9:00 p.m. Mezzanine
This past year, a handful of eye-opening events paved the way for what would be the Young Prisms' most prolific songwriting output to date. Their sophomore LP In Between was released in March 2012 by Kanine Records. Still a five-piece band, the Young Prisms' latest music captures the astonishing highs and painful lows of the last year
2012 Festival DJs
DJ Blondie K.
Sunday, September 30 | 7:00 p.m. Ruby Skye
DJs Blondie K & subOctave spin music videos from the best of indie rock, electro pop and anything else that sounds interesting in the music underground. They are best known for spinning their own video edits of the latest remixes causing a buzz on the dance floor. As local DJs in San Francisco, they throw San Francisco's monthly indie music video dance party, Fringe, every 3rd Saturday at Madrone Art Bar.
DJ CAMS
Monday, October 1 | 7:00 p.m. John Colins
Bay Area native DJ CAMS has come a long way from from playing the principal cello in his high school orchestra. A classically trained musician, CAMS brings an ear for mixing that is often lost in today's world of DJing. He is a true music evangelist of all genres. His versatility, creativity, and crowd sense have made CAMS one of the West Coast's most sought after DJs.
DJ Don Lynch
Tuesday, October 2 | 7:00 p.m. John Colins
Regarded as a local favorite and trendsetter, San Francisco resident and former radio DJ Don Lynch is tearing up the US club circuit in cities like Las Vegas, Chicago, and New Orleans. He is quickly gaining recognition as one of the nation's most exciting DJs. With unparalleled video content and original remixes, Don Lynch has emerged as a favorite with crowds and club owners alike.
DJ Mei-Lwun
Monday, October 1 | 10:00 p.m. 111 Minna
Take a look back over the last 20 years of San Francisco DJ culture and Mei-Lwun's name pops up at the forefront of many music movements. From humble early '90s Santa Cruz beach raves and SF warehouse parties to today's technologically advanced live remixing style, Mei-Lwun has managed to not only stay relevant but is pushing the envelope of DJing, dance music, and technology.
DJ Panic City
Thursday, October 4 | 7:00 p.m. John Colins
Panic City is one of dance music's fastest rising DJs and producers. The 26-year-old San Francisco native has built a reputation with his technically skilled, high-energy sets. Combined with his trademark production world-class DJs are vouching for, Panic City is making waves on the Internet and nightclubs all over the world.
DJ ZAQ
Sunday, September 30 | 7:00 p.m. John Colins
ZAQ has joined the ranks of San Francisco's most in-demand and elite DJs. He orchestrates upbeat and high-energy sets from a range of genres by utilizing solid technique, creative instinct, and a largely customized song library. His unique sound and talents have earned him regular appearances at the most trendy night clubs and popular events in the Bay Area.
Oracle OpenWorld Music Festival Venues
How do you like your live music? In an intimate bar, an energized club, a laid-back gallery, jamming outdoors? The Oracle OpenWorld Music Festival has them all, so take your pick and enjoy the shows.
- 111 Minna
- John Colins
- Mezzanine
- Minna Alley
- Oracle Square (Union Square)
- Ruby Skye
- Slim's
- Yerba Buena Gardens
*Note: The music is free to registered Oracle conference attendees, however the venue bars are no-host, and Oracle Square is cash-only.
