World Folk Jam
Experience the heartbeat of global folk culture in the heart of San Francisco. World Folk Jam returns with two floors of live music, dance, tea, and cross-cultural connection.
From Afrobeat by Fela Kuti’s lead guitarist Soji Sai, Tuvan throat singing by Soriah, Sacred Dance by Miriam Peretz, global folk by Banda Sin Nombre, Flamenco Dance by Mizuho Sato, Latin Rumba Soul Jazz by Cariberico, Turkish & Mediterranean by Duygu & Friends, Chinese Pipa by Xiao Zhang, and Syrian Kurdish music by Raman Osman.
Free tea lounges, acoustic jams, and two unique stages create a night where music, tradition, and community meet .
All ages. Kids Free.
Some areas shoe-free.
Wheelchair Accessible with Elevator.
THE DANCEHALL (2nd Floor)
8:00 PM | Soji Sai (Nigerian Afrobeat/Highlife)
9:45 PM | Miriam Peretz (Sacred Dance)
10:00 PM | Banda Sin Nombre (Global Folk)
11:30 PM | Mizuho Sato (Flamenco Dance)
12:00 AM | Cariberico (Latin/Flamenco Rumba/Soul)
1:30 AM | Mystery DJ (Folktronica)
Healthy Food & Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Free Gongfu Tea Lounges
LISTENING LOUNGE (6th Floor)
7:30 PM | Duygu & Friends (Turkish/Medit.)
9:30 PM | Xiao Zhang (Chinese Pipa)
11:00 PM | Soriah (Throat Singing)
12:30 AM | Raman Osman (Syrian Kurdish)
Free Gongfu Tea Lounges
SIDE ROOMS, STAIRWELLS & HALLWAYS
Open Acoustic Jams (World Folk)
Low-income musicians can apply for free tickets to come jam using this Guest Musician Application.
PARKING & TRANSIT
Plentiful parking garages, lots & street parking nearby
Powell St BART is 1 block away. Last EB train is 12:29am.
PARTICIPATE
Volunteer: If you'd like to volunteer, apply here.
Vend: If you're interested in vending at our event, please contact us here.
PERFORMERS
Soji Sai (Nigerian Afrobeat / Highlife by Fela Kuti's Lead Guitarist)
Nigeria’s legendary guitar master and singer Adesoji “Soji” Odukogbe was, among other things, the lead guitarist for Fela Kuti for five years. Odukogbe draws on an extensive background in Nigerian Afrobeat, highlife, and spiritual music, bringing a unique sensibility to his highlife guitar interpretations.
More Info
Miriam Peretz (Sacred Dance)
Miriam Peretz weaves movement and ritual together to create safe, communal spaces for healing and empowered embodiment. She is a life-long dancer who has immersed herself in the study of dance forms and sacred movement practices from around the world, focusing on Central Asian dance, contemporary dance and the mystical practices of Sufi whirling. Miriam sees dance as a uniquely powerful means of expressing deep emotion and spiritual yearning, and therefore the perfect embodiment of prayer.
More Info
Soriah (Tuvan Throat Singing)
“The Tuvan throat singing phenomenon that is SORIAH will take you to that holy place whenever you lend an ear to his music.”
– David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, Night Crickets)
Soriah is the stage persona of Enrique Ugalde, currently the most decorated non-Tuvan throat singer in the world, and a ritual artist who generates experimental soundscapes where ancient traditions are revealed through the lens of modern experience. Tuvan throat singing is a musical sound like no other. Mysterious, primordial and awash in a deeply visceral drone, it invokes the full range of the natural world – from deep mountain roots to the whistle of birds in flight. Soriah weaves Tuvan throat singing, pre-Columbian sounds, classical Indian raga, and modern Western styles, looping and processing his voice and traditional instruments into lush sonic tapestries. His lyrics are often written in Nahuatl (Mexica/Aztec) or Tuvan, preserving and expressing cultural mysteries with reverence and wonder.
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Mizuho Sato (Flamenco Dance)
Award-winning Flamenco Artist Mizuho Sato was born in Iwate, Japan and started classical ballet at the age of three. She later developed a love for flamenco, the art form from Andalucía, Spain. Focusing on flamenco’s intricate and complex rhythms, she will play live percussion, showcase her “taconeo” (footwork) talents, and move with the fluidity of upper body expression using “braceo” (arm movements) and “floreo” (hand movements).
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Banda Sin Nombre (Global Folk)
Banda Sin Nombre combines irresistible rhythms of folk music from around the world with original songs, drag, and performance art. Music from the past & present becomes an invitation to release rage alongside community, move with joy, and unite people in the pursuit of a better world. The band features rich vocal harmonies and acoustic instruments including guitar, fiddle, accordion, cajon, charango, jarana, and upright bass.
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Xiao Zhang (Chinese Pipa)
Immerse yourself in the captivating Pipa artistry of Xiao Zhang as she shares the profound beauty of this ancient instrument. Prepare to be captivated by the unique sounds that emanate from the Pipa, as Xiao’s heartfelt performance blends tradition and innovation. Let the tranquil melodies transport you to a place of serenity.
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Cariberico (Global Soul)
Cariberico's global soul weaves Latin, Afro-Latin, Flamenco Rumba, Soul, and Jazz into a vibrant live experience. Their modern fusions are rooted in ancestral heritage, bridging timeless rhythms with contemporary expression. Each performance radiates joyful energy and the spirit of cultural unity through music.
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Raman Osman & Faisal Zedan (Syrian/Kurdish/Arabic)
A mixture of Syrian, Kurdish, and Arabic music. This band includes Raman Osman, Kurdish composer and master tembûr/tambour (saz) musician from Al-Hasaka, Syria, and Faisal Zedan, Syrian virtuoso percussionist.
Duygu & Friends (Turkish/Mediterranean)
Duygu & Friends is a dynamic ensemble celebrating Turkish and Mediterranean folk music. With its evolving lineup and creative collaborations, the group brings fresh energy to traditional sounds. Duygu will be joined by Peter Bonos.
More Info
World Folk Jam events celebrate diversity and ancient traditions through world-renowned folk music and performance arts, nurturing the Bay Area’s world folk communities and fostering collaboration, friendship, and cross-cultural understanding.
Join our World Folk FB Group. Sign up for our events list.
This event is hosted at the Frontier Tower:
We are transforming a 16-floor tower in San Francisco into a self-governed vertical village—a hub for frontier technologies and creative arts. Tier-one labs presenting AI, Ethereum, biotech, neuroscience, longevity, robotics, human flourishing, and arts & music. These floors will house innovators and creators pushing the boundaries of human potential in a post-AI-singularity world.
Apply here for founding citizenship: https://frontiertower.io/apply
Why should I become a citizen?
Be part of creating the first self-governed vertical village
Connect with the most creative people in the city
Get access to all floors, free event space & movement floor
Website: https://frontiertower.io/
Need more reading? Visit https://frontiertower.notion.site/