EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY, AUGUST 12 AT 12:00 PM
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Livermore Valley Arts Announces Sensational Spring 2025 Season,
Full of Family Fare and More, at The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (August 12, 2024) – Livermore Valley Arts is overjoyed to announce its fantastic 2025 spring season in Downtown Livermore, full of fare for all ages in the Tri-Valley, and more. Livermore Valley Arts has already announced the 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents season through February 28th, which kicks off next month with the organization’s Brilliance at The Bankhead gala fundraiser starring Katharine McPhee, star of Broadway’s Waitress, TV’s Smash, and runner-up on the fifth season of American Idol, and continues into 2025 with hit performances by talents like Forever Motown, Karla Bonoff and JD Souther, John Cleese, Colin Hay, and Syncopated Ladies. Among the varied performers in the remainder of the Bankhead Presents series will be returning family favorites DLUX Puppets and Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience, choreographic delights iLuminate and Leela Dance Collective, comedic treats Best of SF Comedy Competition and Second City, and world wonders from around the globe such as Téada, Yamato—The Drummers of Japan, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and Mariachi Herencia de México. Livermore Valley Arts Members have exclusive presale access to the newly-announced 2025 performances beginning this Friday, August 16 at noon, with general public on-sale set for Friday, August 23 at 12 pm. The 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents series will be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
There is something for everyone, with more star artists and performers up close and personal right here at the beautiful Bankhead, an intimate space that performers and audiences both treasure. Kicking off the newly announced performances is a special addition to an already exciting day at Livermore Valley Arts: something new for 2024, after our free community ArtWalk event on October 12, ArtWalk After Dark will be a reason to keep the party going in Downtown Livermore, with Dustbowl Revival providing the music and celebration to a liquid
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light show provided by Mad Alchemy all taking place on the Bankhead Plaza. Pushing the boundaries of what American roots music can be after over a decade and thousands of shows, Dustbowl Revival continues making their joyful, booty-shaking soul songs and cut-to-heart folk-rock ballads that lift up their transcendent live shows. Mad Alchemy will provide a mesmerizing one-of-a-kind visual experience that fuses light and art with the music of Dustbowl Revival into a psychedelic extravaganza. Mad Alchemy Liquid Light Show, led by renowned light artist Lance Gordon, revives the iconic 1960s liquid light shows, offering a stunning display of swirling colors and organic patterns projected live onto The Bankhead and surrounding Bankhead Plaza during the Dustbowl Revival concert on the Shea Stage. ArtWalk After Dark is sponsored in part by UNCLE Credit Union. Another special addition, local favorite Andrew Molina will be returning to Livermore in early 2025, this time to the Stage Door Lounge, for an intimate concert on the Bankhead Stage filled with longtime Hawaiian musical roots, infused with contemporary ukulele.
Moving into the spring, there is a thrilling range of events being announced. Tri-Valley audiences can take a journey across the globe from the comfort of their favorite seat at The Bankhead. A traditional band with a truly worldwide reach, Téada has appeared as a frequent headliner at major music festivals around the world and will be bringing the spirit on Saint Patrick’s Day to Livermore. YAMATO, the Japanese Taiko drumming group, has given more than 4,500 shows across 54 countries around the world since 1993, and will also be performing live at The Bankhead in Downtown Livermore. On stage, this dynamic and passionate spectacle has more than 40 Taiko drums, each with different characters, and the members of the group have trained their bodies to the limit to beat these massive Taiko drums, far surpassing what one could imagine. Audiences of all ages can expect to be engulfed in the sound of the Taiko, becoming one with the performers.
Traveling back West, the new performances also include bagpipes with attitude. Drums with a Scottish accent. A blazing rock band and show so hot, it carries its own health warning! It’s The Red Hot Chilli PIPERS – (NOT the Peppers!) – a 9-piece ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers, who have been rocking the world with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave one breathless. The band has four music
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degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bagpiping, many holding World Champion titles with impressive credentials and qualifications. It’s Bagpipes. It’s Rock. It’s Bagrock. LVA is ecstatic to bring the very best musicians from Scotland and across the globe right to The Bankhead so audiences can ‘feel the Chilli heat: It’s time to come closer to the fire!’
In time for a Cinco de Mayo weekend celebration, born and raised East of the Los Angeles River, genre-crossers Las Cafeteras will play The Bankhead, remixing roots music as modern-day troubadours. They are a sonic explosion of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes that document stories of a community seeking to ‘build a world where many would fit.’ From Afro-Mexican to Americana, from Soul to Son Jarocho, from Roots to Rock and Hip Hop, Las Cafeteras take folk music to the future. The next night, the new generation of Mariachi will take the Bankhead Stage for an electrifying evening of Mexican music with 2x Latin GRAMMY®-nominee Mariachi Herencia de México, who pushes the boundaries of traditional mariachi music. Simultaneously honoring the past, celebrating the present, and creating the future of mariachi music, Mariachi Herencia de México presents an electrifying and unforgettable night of Mexican music and culture.
Knockout music acts will also be making stops at The Bankhead, starting with Daniel Ho Quintet. A six-time GRAMMY Award winner and multi-instrumentalist, Daniel’s collaborations transcend genres – from Hawaiian Regional Roots to World Music with Mongolian nomads, to duets with Pepe Romero the maestro of classical guitar, to jazz and rock with Tak Matsumoto of the Japanese supergroup, B’z. Silkroad Ensemble and their Uplifted Voices program will also be dropping by The Bankhead in Downtown Livermore. Conceived by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, recognizing the historical Silk Road as a model for radical cultural collaboration—for the exchange of ideas, tradition, and innovation across borders, he brought together musicians from the lands of the Silk Road to co-create a musical language founded in difference. As a social-impact organization and home to a GRAMMY Award-winning musical ensemble, Silkroad works to inspire collaboration in innovative ways that add more equity and justice into the world through the power of the arts. In Uplifted Voices, Silkroad shines a light on previously under-recognized voices from across the globe to change our perspective of the history and
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migration of music. Through a stunning collaboration of global instrumentation and strings, Silkroad’s newest project champions women and non-binary members of the Silkroad Ensemble to tell a musical journey that connects the music of indigenous North America to the World within a contemporary musical tapestry. The Silkroad Ensemble performance at The Bankhead is sponsored in part by Bell Investment Advisors. The legendary Sons of the Pioneers will also be popping over to Downtown Livermore, famous the world over for their unique cowboy harmonies and musicianship which earned them the designation “National Treasure” by the Smithsonian Institute. The gold standard of Western music, their timeless classics “Cool Water”, “Tumbling Tumbleweed” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky” are entwined into the very fabric of the American West after decades of popularity and numerous prestigious awards.
Dance enthusiasts will also have performances to get excited about: iLuminate has been a household name since they were called “The BEST NEW ACT in America!” on America’s Got Talent in 2011. A company based on the fusion of technology and dance, iLuminate provides a distinct intermix that reawakens one’s senses and imagination, creating a visual experience unlike anything audiences have ever seen. The brainchild of Miral Kotb, a woman whose true passions in life are dance and software engineering, audiences will see dancers in electrified glow-in-the-dark suits performing dynamic routines and illusions on a darkened stage. It is an extraordinary show that is completely unique and incomparable to any other dance performance. From the spectacular to the powerful, Leela Dance Collective, through traditional works and cross-genre collaborations, brings the richness and depth of kathak, classical dance from North India, to contemporary audiences worldwide. Based in Los Angeles, Leela has garnered critical acclaim under the artistic direction of Rukhmani Mehta, Seibi Lee, and Rachna Nivas, creating groundbreaking productions including a world premiere at The Bankhead, Encounters with Beauty, which takes its inspiration from the mystical poetry tradition of 16th-Century India, a movement of love and devotion that unified people across religion, caste, class, and ethnicity. A cross-genre work that brings this poetry to life through kathak dance, contemporary chamber music, and North Indian classical vocals and percussion, Encounters with Beauty creates a visceral and transcendent experience for audiences.
A thriving community that likes to laugh, comedy offerings will also continue in the spring 2025 2025 Bankhead Presents Spring Season Page 4 of 7
season in Livermore, including returns from Bankhead favorites the Best of SF Comedy Competition, and the world’s most influential name in comedy, Second City, celebrating 65 years of legendary laughs by showcasing some audience favorite songs, sketches, and characters written on Second City stages by some of their illustrious alumni, including Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Steven Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Joan Rivers, Eugene Levy, and many more, with material handpicked from their iconic comedy archive and brought to life by an all-star ensemble. Both Best of SF Comedy Competition and Second City are sponsored in part by Fremont Bank.
For family time at the theater, DLUX Puppets will present their updated adaptation of Peter Pan, Neverland. Using state-of-the-art digitally projected scenery, high-quality life-sized puppetry, actors, and popular songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, the nationally recognized Las Vegas-based theatrical company will visually stun and entertain families of all ages in this brand-new production. The Bankhead will have another sensational show for all ages with Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience, which is plain “Dog Gone Fun” for the entire family. With appearances on The Tonight Show, Animal Planet’s Pet Stars, David Letterman, and Oprah Winfrey, this “troupe” is made up of all former rescues, and adorable animal athletes that thrill with their delightful antics. Offering the world’s first and original “stunt dog show,” Stunt Dog Productions teams up with only the most humane and talented dog trainers and performers in the country, utilizing each dog’s individual ability, athleticism, and intelligence. With amazing tricks, big-air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs, and athletic feats, it is the most entertaining show of its kind, a high-energy treat from some of the most talented dogs in the world.
Members of Livermore Valley Arts have exclusive priority ticket presale access for these just-announced shows beginning Friday, August 16 at 12 pm and receive a discount on Bankhead Presents shows year-round, as well as other benefits such as presale access. General public on-sale begins Friday, August 23 at noon. To become a Member, contact 925-583-2313 or visit LivermoreArts.org. Tickets for all shows in the 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows Wednesday through Saturday from 12 pm noon to 6 pm at 2400 First Street in Livermore. For a complete list of events, visit LivermoreArts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to nine resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: Dustbowl Revival ArtWalk After Dark
Date/Time: Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $140 per table of 4
Show: Andrew Molina at the Stage Door Lounge
Date/Time: Friday, January 3, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $35 General / $90 per table of 2
Show: Téada
Date/Time: Monday, March 17, 2025, at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25—$60 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Yamato—The Drummers of Japan
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25—$85 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: iLuminate
Date/Time: Friday, March 28, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$100 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Daniel Ho Quintet
Date/Time: Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$80 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Silkroad Ensemble: Uplifted Voices
Date/Time: Friday, April 4, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$90 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: DLUX Puppets’ Neverland
Date/Time: Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 3:00pm
Tickets: $25—$55 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Second City
Date/Time: Friday, April 11, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$80 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Sons of the Pioneers
Date/Time: Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 3:00pm
Tickets: $25—$55 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% 2025 Bankhead Presents Spring Season Page 6 of 7
Show: Best of SF Comedy
Date/Time: Friday, April 18, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$55 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Leela Dance Collective
Date/Time: Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$75 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Las Cafeteras
Date/Time: Friday, May 2, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$65 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Mariachi Herencia de México
Date/Time: Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$90 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Date/Time: Friday, May 9, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$80 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience
Date/Time: Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 3:00pm
Tickets: $25—$65 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
