One of the reasons I love June is because it’s my birthday month, and that’s when it feels like more and more events are popping up all over town. This week, don’t miss your chance to check out Michael Wayne Turner III’s new one-man show, Ghost of King. I recently had the chance to check out his work as part of the Throughline exhibit and was blown away by his talent. Also, if you love Halloween as much as I do, you don’t have to wait till October to get in the spooky mood. A live rendition of the Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming to the Grand Lake Theater.
If there’s something you’d like me to consider for this weekly list, email me at azucena@oaklandside.org. And if you want to promote something on our calendar, you can use the self-submission form on our events page.
Michael Wayne Turner III’s One Man Show ‘Ghost of King’
Following the sold-out run of Hat Matter: Thoughts of a Black Mad Hatter in 2022, classically-trained thespian and poet Michael Wayne Turner III is back with another one-man theatrical production run called Ghost of King. In it, Wayne Turner revisits the words from Dr. Martin Luther King’s last speech the night before he died, titled I’ve Been to the Mountaintop, incorporating poetry and spoken word for a captivating performance. As part of the Activate Oakland programming, free tickets are available for the opening weekend between June 6 and June 8.
Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 23, $10-$60, Oakland Theater Project at FLAX Art and Design, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Oakland Black Music Week
Starting on Saturday, June 8, and through Sunday, June 16, the inaugural Oakland Black Music Week takes over different venues all across the Town with events to highlight and uplift Black musicians, creatives, and entrepreneurs. The week-long festivities start with the HiiiWAV FEST featuring The Pharcyde, a concert at Yoshi’s with Kev Choice and friends, and conclude with the Oakland Black Music Legacy Jam at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle. Check out the website for a complete calendar of events.
Saturday, June 8, through Sunday, June 16, see website for complete list of events
Opening reception: Postcards from “La Pulga”
El Tímpano is a publication that “informs, engages, and amplifies the voices of the Bay Area’s Latino and Mayan immigrant communities.” The team led by Mayra Sierra, visual photojournalist Hiram Durán, and Katherine Nagasawa worked on a month-long pop-up photo booth at Oakland Coliseum Swamp Meet, also called “La Pulga.” The team photographed and interviewed approximately 75 patrons and vendors at the swamp meet. The project is now an art installation at the Oakland Lowdown in conjunction with El Tímpano and Catchlight, which Hiram Durán is part of. The exhibit is on display through Friday, Aug. 2.
Saturday, June 8, 1-4 p.m., free to attend, RSVP online, Oakland Lowdown, 300 14th St
Rocky Horror “Barely Legal” Picture live show at Grand Lake
The title is derived from the phrase “so much fun it’s barely legal.” The cast is performing a live show at the Grand Lake Theater, one of several shows the group will perform throughout the Bay Area, culminating with a Halloween show at The UC Theatre in Berkeley. Don’t miss out on a live rendition of this cult classic.
Saturday, June 8, 10 p.m., $18.50, 3200 Grand Ave.
East Oakland Futures Fest
Launched in 2022, the East Oakland Futures Fest celebrates life in deep East Oakland along Scraperbike Way, a nearly mile-long section of road and bike path stretching between MacArthur and International boulevards designed by OakDOT in collaboration with the Scraper Bike Team. The festival includes food, arts, tech, culture, local vendors, and catered zones dedicated to health and healing, building prosperity, arts and culture, and more.
Saturday, June 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., free to attend, RSVP online, 90th Avenue from Holly Street to Birch Street
Hot tickets in the Town this week: Francis Cabrel at the Fox Theater
French singer-songwriter Francis Cabrel, whose music has been translated into several languages and with 14 studio albums to his name, will be playing at the Fox Theater this Thursday.
Thursday, June 6, 7 p.m., $59-$99, 1807 Telegraph Ave.
Coming Soon to the Town:
Comedian Kevin Hart recently received the 25th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at The Kennedy Center. The award recognizes his contributions to the comedy genre and achievements in film and television. On June 22, the comedian is embarking on the Acting My Age tour which will bring to the Paramount Theatre on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26. Tickets for both shows are almost sold out.
Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, $86-$506, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway
