EMBARGOED UNTIL JULY 30, 2025 AT NOON PACIFIC TIME
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
The First Star-Studded Additions to the 2025—2026 Bankhead Presents Season
Livermore, CA – (July 30, 2025) – Just two months after announcing its 2025—2026 season, LVA is ecstatic to announce a handful of additional performances in late 2025, two Bankhead returns always in high demand, and two starry Bankhead debuts, making for four very exciting additions to an already dynamic season at Livermore Valley Arts. The newly announced shows kick off with forever Bankhead favorite, the aloha ambassador and ‘ukulele virtuoso himself, at An Evening with Jake Shimabukuro, who will be making a triumphant Tri-Valley return on Thursday, October 2, followed by another iconic return at Debbie Gibson’s Newstalgia Live Greatest Hits & Beyond on Friday, October 3. An intimate vaudeville show, John C. Reilly is Mister Romantic is the Academy Award-nominee’s most personal and highly anticipated 2025 project, making a stop in Livermore on Monday, October 13, and New Year’s Eve at The Bankhead will also be a special time, as Tuesday Tunes and Bankhead Plaza favorite Matt Axton & Badmoon will be making a Bankhead stage debut on Wednesday, December 31. Livermore Valley Arts Members have exclusive presale access to these not-to-be-missed stars beginning this Wednesday, July 30 at noon, with general public on-sale set for Wednesday, August 6 at 12 pm. The 2025—2026 Bankhead Presents series will be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
‘Ukulele genius and ambassador of aloha Jake Shimabukuro will proudly return to the Tri-Valley with his highly anticipated An Evening with Jake Shimabukuro on October 2. Over the past two decades, Jake has proved that there isn’t a style of music he can’t play. While versatility for any musician is impressive, what’s remarkable about Jake’s transcendent skills is how he explores his seemingly limitless vocabulary – whether it’s jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk, or even classical – on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments: the ‘ukulele. Jake has taken the ‘ukulele to points previously thought impossible, and in the process, he’s reinvented the applications for this tiny, heretofore underappreciated four-string instrument, causing many to
call him “the Jimi Hendrix of the ‘ukulele.” Jake’s incredible journey has taken him from local phenom to YouTube sensation, from playing tiny clubs to headlining the world’s most prestigious concert venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He’s performed on the biggest TV shows and has released a string of award-winning, chart-topping albums. Just recently, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a Member of the National Council on the Arts. It’s fair to say that Jake has picked up more than a few admirers – millions of them, actually – but it wasn’t until he began his recent album, Jake & Friends, that he discovered how many of his fans were, in fact, his very own musical heroes. This 2021 album is his most creatively ambitious project to date, featuring collaborations with a who’s who of music legends and royalty, from Willie Nelson and Bette Midler to Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Loggins. This Hawaiian native will bring the islands to the Tri-Valley once again this fall. Jake Shimabukuro’s performances at The Bankhead always sell out; patrons are advised to purchase early if they would like to catch Mr. Shimabukuro in Downtown Livermore.
The next day, after a sold-out performance in the summer of 2023, the iconic pop star herself will be back on October 3 at Debbie Gibson’s Newstalgia Live Greatest Hits & Beyond. Debbie Gibson burst onto the scene at just 16, making history with her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Foolish Beat”—a record that still stands, making her the youngest female artist to write, produce, and perform a No. 1 hit. Her extraordinary talent has led to over 16 million in album sales and a prolific theatrical career spanning 17 musicals, including Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, Grease on the West End, and Cabaret. In 2021, Gibson released her first pop album in nearly two decades, The Body Remembers, which soared to No. 2 on the Apple Pop Sales Chart. In 2024, she celebrated the 35th anniversary of her iconic album Electric Youth with special performances worldwide. Gibson is set to release her upcoming memoir “Eternally Electric” through Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, this fall. Debbie Gibson had a record sell-out at The Bankhead in 2023; patrons are advised to purchase early if they would like to catch Ms. Gibson in Downtown Livermore.
John C. Reilly’s most personal and highly anticipated project in 2025 will be Mister Romantic, an intimate vaudeville show that has already garnered critical acclaim and captured the public’s imagination. Described by Vanity Fair as “fiercely funny” and hailed by Theaterly as one of the
best performances of 2024 following a one-night show in New York, Mister Romantic marks a new chapter in Reilly’s career. “I looked at our weary world a few years ago and tried to think of a way I could spread love and empathy,” said John C. Reilly. “I decided the most fun way to do that was through performing and singing and telling people I loved them. So the emotional vaudeville show Mister Romantic was born, out of both hope and despair. What’s Not To Love? is a collection of songs from the show with some cinematic audio woven in. They tell the story of an eternal optimist, Mister Romantic, as he looks for love. Each song moved me enough to want to share it with people and keep each one alive by passing it on like some of my favorite singers did in their time. The lyrics all have something deeply true about them. Someone once said, “‘It’s better to light one tiny candle than to curse the darkness.’Well, this is our little candle in the darkness. We hope it reminds people that it’s good to love. I figured it was worth a try.” Do not miss this incredible, unforgettable way to catch a beloved actor of our generation live and in person, gracing Downtown Livermore on October 13.
Matt Axton is pure legacy-driven Americana. This multi-talented songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and band leader’s music weaves perfectly into late-night honky-tonks, large festivals, or intimate theaters, and he will do so to ring in the new year on December 31 at Matt Axton & Badmoon. Matt’s sound is a “humble slice of Americana,” a guitar-driven driven earthy mix of folk, roots, country, blues, and rock. This balance of foot-tapping rhythm and lyrical depth makes Matt’s music stand out in a sea of safe pop tendencies. Matt’s calm yet commanding storytelling, combined with his rich baritone voice and finger-picking guitar style, connects with music lovers of almost any genre. Matt’s eclectic style was grown in the mountains of Tahoe and proudly honed in the heart of the Axton Musical Legacy. His grandmother, Mae Boren Axton, co-penned Elvis Presley’s first million-selling hit “Heartbreak Hotel” while his father, Hoyt Axton, was an entertainment powerhouse in the folk-country-rock scene, writing hits like “Joy to the World,” “Never Been to Spain,” and many more. Mixing legacy hits with over 300 original songs, multiple national tours, and opening slots for artists like Leftover Salmon, Nikki Lane, Midland, and Red Dirt Rangers, Matt has carved his own distinct path in the independent music scene. Proudly showcasing some of L.A.’s best players behind him, Matt continues to push the family mantra of JOY, while making each show a uniquely crafted musical experience for audiences of every size. This New Year’s Eve celebration will be a true pARTy at The Bankhead; stay tuned
for other surprises that are still in the works for this special evening.
There is truly something for everyone in these starry performances, with these world-renowned talents up close and personal right here at the intimate and beautiful Bankhead. Members of Livermore Valley Arts have exclusive priority ticket presale access for these just-announced shows beginning Wednesday, July 30 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 Wednesday, August 6, at noon. To become a Member, contact 925-583-2313 or visit LivermoreArts.org. Tickets for all shows in the 2025—2026 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows, Wednesday through Saturday from 12 pm 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 eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: An Evening with Jake Shimabukuro
Date/Time: Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25—$115 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Debbie Gibson’s Newstalgia Live Greatest Hits & Beyond Date/Time: Friday, October 3, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$95 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: John C. Reilly is Mister Romantic
Date/Time: Monday, October 13, 2025, at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25—$140 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Matt Axton & Badmoon
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 7:00pm
Tickets: $150 Special New Year’s Eve pARTy Event!
Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
