Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Bankhead Theater Announces 2026—2027 20th Bankhead Presents Season Spectacular Line-Up Includes Beloved Stars of Music, TV, Comedy, and More
LIVERMORE, CA – (April 22, 2026) – Livermore Valley Arts has announced the 2026—2027 Bankhead Presents season through February, which will start officially on August 29, 2026, with the new annual fundraiser Opening Night at the Bankhead starring four-time Grammy® Award winner Lyle Lovett, American country singer-songwriter icon, and actor. The more than three dozen events include live performances by international stars and local Tri-Valley favorites. Among the varied performers in the Bankhead Presents series will be concert do-not-misses Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane and Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band, comedy funnymakers Gabriel Rutledge and Paula Poundstone, nostalgic delights An Evening with Peter Billingsley and A Christmas Story and A Night with the Cast of The Sopranos, returning favorites Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and The Wailin’ Jennys, treats for the season Charo in Concert and Holiday Swingin’! A Kat Edmonson Christmas, and special one-of-a-kind family experiences at Masters of Illusion and Black Panther in Concert Live To Film. Bankhead Presents will also continue with unforgettable evenings through the Rae Dorough Speaker Series with guests such as B.J. Novak and Tara Lipinski, in addition to the new Club Bankhead Jazz Series which will have audience members sitting on stage with the performers, as LVA brings out an intimate club space inside The Bankhead in order to experience great jazz up close, the way it is meant to be, for artists such as Laura Anglade and Gabrielle Cavassa. Livermore Valley Arts Members have exclusive presale access to the new season from April 22 through April 29 at noon, with general public on-sale set for Wednesday, April 29 at 12 pm. The 2026—2027 Bankhead Presents series will be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
“As Livermore Valley Arts heads into its 20th Season of programming at The Bankhead, I wanted to bring forward that feeling of discovery. Art can bring that about, and Art will never let you down
as you search for it,” expressed LVA Chief Executive Officer Chris Carter. “LVA wants to be your
home for discovery. For example, as America heads towards its 250th birthday, we are bringing many distinctly American types of talent to The Bankhead stage. The new Club Bankhead Series will showcase Jazz, that distinctly American form, and talents like original Beach Boys member Al Jardine, along with The Pet Sounds Band, will bring Americana to life on the Bankhead Stage. We still have world offerings as well, such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and International Guitar night, and I encourage you to ‘discover’ new unforgettable moments through the Arts, and even step out of your comfort zone to catch a show or 5 that you would never see normally.” With celebrities popping up at The Bankhead from the worlds of TV and film, and plenty of holiday offerings as well during that special season, whatever the genre, there is something for everyone. From familiar ‘comfort food’ artists who return to Livermore every couple of seasons, to starry first debuts, this season is a perfect mix of genres that continues to bring only the highest-quality Arts programming to the Tri-Valley with a spirit of discovery abounding as LVA heads into its 20th Season. Carter and the entire staff at The Bankhead are thrilled to share this star-filled season with the Tri-Valley and the greater Bay Area, continuing to bring even greater star artists and performers up close and personal right here to the beautiful Bankhead, an intimate space that performers and audiences both treasure dearly.
The range of events for the new season is truly varied, covering musical genres, nostalgia, comedy, holiday shows, and more—there is something for everyone. As is tradition, music will take center stage in the new season. Kicking things off with a bang, September will bring that vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and dixieland, with the energy and spirit of contemporary culture, as the incredible Big Bad Voodoo Daddy once again sets foot on the Bankhead Stage. More music heavy hitters, September 2026 also marks the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth, and to honor the enduring legacy of one of jazz’s most transcendent voices, Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane will also be stopping by Downtown Livermore this fall in a much-anticipated concert performance, a once-in-a-lifetime tribute in honor of John Coltrane’s 100th Birthday. John Ondrasik—the songwriter and performer known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Five For Fighting; it has been two decades since his first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere—will be showing his incredible music virtuosity at Five For Fighting With Strings in the upcoming season. After a nearly sold-out introduction during the 2024 holiday season, dynamic and soothing four-piece vocal group Kings Return is back (rescheduled performance) at The Bankhead with their diverse yet supremely cohesive a cappella sound. Three distinct voices that together make an achingly perfect vocal sound, The Wailin’ Jennys, one of the most beloved international folk acts, will also be gracing the Bankhead Stage in the coming months, thrilling Livermore audiences in their first Tri-Valley visit in over 5 years.
Nostalgia lovers will be able to get their fill in 2026 and 2027. Neon Nostalgic presents 80s Music Television Hosted by Original MTV VJs Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter, will be a totally tubular love letter of a concert for the MTV generation, while that non-stop, high-energy trip down memory lane featuring the songs America grew up with, Forever Motown, is returning once again after a sold-out Bankhead debut performance a few seasons ago. Founding member of The Beach Boys, Al Jardine is currently touring with The Pet Sounds Band, whose talented and seasoned members were handpicked by Brian Wilson, and together they will be bringing to life many Beach Boys’ hits (“California Girls,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Surfin’ USA,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” to name a few), plus songs from the critically acclaimed Love You album and other rarities from the 70’s. Speaking of that decade, at the dawn of the 70’s, high above the glittering streets of Hollywood, a community of musicians was crafting the sound of a generation. Sounds of Laurel Canyon: A Back To The Garden Story Concert celebrates the singer-songwriters and rock supergroups who emerged from this creative enclave, delivering the unforgettable soundtrack to lives everywhere. This incredible evening of storytelling from some absolute musical top guns will feature songs by The Doors, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Buffalo Springfield, James Taylor, The Byrds, Mamas & Papas, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, and more. The Carole King Tribute: Home Again will also play The Bankhead, a true celebration of Carole King’s anthology that captures the “Beautiful” spirit of a unique time in music history!
Comedy offerings in the 2026—2027 season will also abound: Emmy Award-winner Jane Lynch and the hilariously charming Kate Flannery (of The Office fame) will be coming with their (rescheduled) show, The Trouble with Angels, an evening of mischief and music from two very familiar faces. ‘It’s like the Rat Pack… but with a couple of broads!’ Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone, known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend, will once again be dropping by Downtown Livermore, as will the always-favorite San Francisco Comedy Competition. An exciting Bankhead debut, having made numerous television appearances, including Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Nickelodeon’s Nickmom Night Out, Laughs on FOX, and Inside Joke streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Gabriel Rutledge: Don’t Read the Comments will also be on the calendar in the upcoming season. Additionally, The Bankhead is excited to continue its new event series for the Tri-Valley, expanding the kinds of programming and shows that LVA offers: Livermore will get a chance to spend A Night with the Cast of The Sopranos! It is a fascinating on-stage panel discussion of what is arguably the best TV series of all time—starring four cast members and an emcee from the cast of the show, including: host Matt Servitto aka “Agent Harris,” Jason Cerbone aka “Jackie Aprile Jr.,” Dan Grimaldi aka “Patsy & Philly Parisi,” and Robert Funaro aka “Eugene Pontecorvo,” plus a “SURPRISE MYSTERY GUEST” from The Sopranos cast on the panel. This will truly be an unforgettable live event.
From around the globe, making return visits to Downtown Livermore, Bankhead favorite Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno, acclaimed in both the United States and México, will enchant the Tri-Valley once again during the Día de los Muertos season, as will the world’s most famous brass group, the charming and delightful Canadian Brass. A group that would not only conquer all of South Africa, but would become a worldwide phenomenon, winning more
GRAMMY Awards (Five), and receiving more GRAMMY Award nominations (Nineteen), than any World Music group in the history of recorded music, the inspiring, the incredible Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be making their Bankhead debut in 2027. Brought to the global stage in the mid-1980s by American singer/songwriter Paul Simon, this amazing group has a global musical career that shows no sign of ending. Annual Bankhead favorite performance and Tri-Valley staple, International Guitar Night, will return on its 27th Anniversary tour, this time bringing global guitar stars Roxane Elfasci (France), Luca Stricagnoli (Italy), Jim Kimo West (USA—Hawaii), and Minnie Marks (Australia) direct to Livermore to wow audiences at this yearly tradition.
Theatre and dance enthusiasts can also relish in offerings in the new line up of shows, as the return of the star of Broadway’s Hairspray and TV’s Glee himself, Matthew Morrison Presents Show Up will be coming (rescheduled performance) to the Bankhead Stage, as well as Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, bringing its internationally beloved troupe of male dancers to perform a brilliant combination of skillful pointe work and hilarious parodying of classical ballet favorites like Swan Lake. Charming audiences around the globe for over 50 years, the ‘Trocks’ are “a guaranteed hoot for people who know nothing of ballet and an absolute must for those who think they know the originals” (Sydney Star Observer). For family time at the theater, starring the world’s greatest award-winning magicians, Masters of Illusion is a 21st-century magic show unlike anything you have seen before, filled with modern illusions and arts of deception, performed live on stage. Following in the footsteps of LVA’s popular Coco in Concert and Moana Live-To-Film Concert, the North American Tour of Black Panther in Concert Live To Film will be dropping by the Tri-Valley, featuring the iconic Marvel film audiences and families fell in love with in 2018, accompanied by a symphony orchestra performing Ludwig Göransson’s Academy Award®-winning score live-to-picture. This show will be perfect for all ages.
In looking at the season of joy at The Bankhead, the 2026 holiday season is filled-to-the-brim with music and dance, tradition and family, returning favorites and Livermore debuts: kicking things off after a sold out performance last season, a powerhouse in jazz and beyond and Bay Area fave, known for his electrifying performances and ability to connect with audiences through music, Jeff Bordes: A New Orleans Christmas is back to kick off the celebration after Thanksgiving. Only a few people in show business are recognized by just one name. Charo is one of them, one of the few whose name brings a smile to everyone’s face. She is one of the few who deserve to be called a Master Performer, and she will be back at The Bankhead with just a touch of holiday flair at Charo in Concert: A Music Sensation. Mostly Kosher, the acclaimed Klezmer/Rock band who radically reconstructs Judaic and American cultural music through ravenous klezmer beats and arresting Yiddish refrains, will be back in Livermore for a Hanukkah celebration, and one of the most exciting artists of her generation, Holiday Swingin’! A Kat Edmonson Christmas will showcase the award-winning songwriter and singer “with an equal foothold in jazz, cabaret and vintage cosmopolitanism pop” (The New York Times). Having been featured on Austin City Limits, Tiny Desk Concerts, A Prairie Home Companion, and The Late Show with David Letterman, this will be a do-not-miss holiday concert from this incredible songbird. A full movie screening with a lively conversation and Q&A, celebrate the holiday season with an unforgettable evening featuring a screening of the beloved classic “A Christmas Story,” followed by a moderated interview and audience Q&A with its iconic star, Peter Billingsley, a.k.a. Ralphie. Indeed, An Evening with Peter Billingsley will be one nostalgic night for Christmas movie lovers of all ages! A much-demanded return, Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in México is a vibrant show that weaves cherished Mexican traditions into a magical story of the season, and will bring to life on the Bankhead Stage yet again an unforgettable program where every note and dance step embodies the rich cultural tapestry of Christmas in México.
Rounding out this star-filled season, The Bankhead will again be presenting the Rae Dorough Speaker Series (RDSS) as part of its Bankhead Presents lineup, filled with stars from a variety of fields. The speaker series honors the late Rae Dorough, a respected Livermore resident and strong supporter of cultural events. Members of her family and friends were the initiating sponsors in 2008. The series features provocative, entertaining, and enlightening presentations on a wide variety of topics. Past speakers have included engineers, scientists, fiction and non-fiction writers and historians, entrepreneurs, comedians and entertainers, diplomats, astronauts, journalists, and even a former Secretary of Defense. LVA began presenting the RDSS Series in the fall of 2023. The new 2026—2027 RDSS Bankhead Presents series hits the ground running with Explorer Albert Lin, Ph.D in Exploring Human Frontiers. A National Geographic Explorer, Dr. Albert Lin has explored the farther reaches of the Earth, yet his most profound journeys have come from within, as he turned to a mix of ancient wisdom, modern science, and the magic of neuroplasticity to heal from traumatic injuries. The season continues with The Ghosts of Pompeii: Thousands of years after the Roman Empire’s fall, dig into the new stories emerging from the ash-preserved neighborhoods of Pompeii with archaeologist and National Geographic speaker Caitie Barrett. Since achieving mainstream success as an Executive Producer, Writer, and Star of NBC’s The Office, B.J. Novak has done anything but rest on his laurels. In the years since, Novak, who began his career as a stand-up comedian, has added Best-Selling Author and App Developer to his résumé, cementing himself as a multi-talented pioneer and authority on turning raw creativity into bona fide success. A Conversation with B.J. Novak will certainly be a do-not-miss RDSS event in the upcoming season. From the life cycle of a honeybee to the lightning-fast hummingbird, discover the hidden worlds just beyond our perception. Step into a world of wonder with biologist turned nature photographer Anand Varma as he unlocks the mysteries of nature through cutting-edge photography techniques in Exploring Nature’s Hidden Worlds. The RDSS season will close out on a high note with A Conversation with Tara Lipinski, U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famer and the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games (15 years old at the 1998 Nagano Olympics). From the far reaches of the Earth to our world so close it is beyond our perception, from sports and entertainment to the ancient world, it will be another impressive year for the Rae Dorough Speaker Series, whose guests at The Bankhead will regale, inspire, and enchant Tri-Valley audiences. The Rae Dorough Speaker Series is sponsored in part by Jean King.
One final, thrilling new series, a huge metaphorical checkbox on ‘discovery’ this season, audiences are invited to join us for our inaugural Club Bankhead Jazz Series featuring national and local jazz artists on prime weekend nights. As a member of the audience, one will be sitting on the stage with the performers as we recreate an intimate club space inside The Bankhead. This exciting series kicks off with Marty Isenberg’s Wes Anderson Playlist, where audiences will have the chance to experience the music of Wes Anderson’s films like never before, a vibrant, jazz-infused tribute reimagining classic songs from Anderson’s beloved films, blending nostalgia with fresh, inventive arrangements. Sinatra Saloon: A Tale & A Tune will feature songs that you know and stories that you don’t, a musical and storytelling tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra with a little bit of Dean Martin. A show that presents both the bright accolades and the dark sins of a nuanced artist while showcasing the songs that make him undeniable for any generation. Brooklyn-based Jazz chanteuse Laura Anglade, originally from the village of Brousse-le-Château in the south of France, and Gabrielle Cavassa, recognized by her distinctive voice and intimate expression, and among the few new artists recently signed to Blue Note Records, will round out the fall at Club Bankhead. Mads Tolling & John R. Burr Ramblin’ and Matt Finders & Friends will be a sensational double billing to kick off the new year in this Jazz Series. Renowned jazz, blues, and gospel singer Leonard Patton teamed up with the critically acclaimed Danny Green Trio to form LP And The Vinyl, whose wide array of influences includes everything from jazz, R&B, and rock, to 80’s and 90’s hits, Brazilian music, and classical music. Closing out this full Jazz Series, the captivating and youthful Skylar Tang is a multidisciplinary musician from the San Francisco Bay Area known for her dynamic trumpet playing and profound compositions, having shared the stage with world-renowned artists such as Sean Jones, DeeDee Bridgewater, and Rufus Reid, and with melancholy wit and a cockeyed worldview, the cheekily named Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra is a quartet that has been playing a singular brand of jazz/folk/alternative nosh with a chewy singer-songwriter center for almost two decades. Tickets for all eight shows in this exciting series will be very limited. Do not miss your chance to experience great jazz up close, the way it’s meant to be!
In addition to Bankhead Presents shows, the Resident Companies of The Bankhead — CYT Tri-Valley, Del Valle Fine Arts, Livermore-Amador Symphony, Livermore Valley Opera, Pacific Chamber Orchestra, Tri-Valley Theatre Company, and Valley Dance Theatre — will offer dozens of events of their own during the season.
Of note, Fremont Bank has joined Livermore Valley Arts as a Leading Sponsor in the upcoming season, sponsoring 10 2026—2027 Bankhead Presents performances (and 2 rescheduled performances). The full list of shows Fremont Bank is sponsoring in part includes Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Neon Nostalgic Presents 80’s Music Television, Matthew Morrison, Forever Motown, Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane, Gabriel Rutledge, Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band, Charo in Concert: A Music Sensation, An Evening with Peter Billingsley and A Christmas Story, The Carole King Tribute: Home Again, and The Wailin’ Jennys. Members of Livermore Valley Arts have exclusive priority ticket presale access now and receive a discount on Bankhead Presents shows year-round, in addition to other benefits. To become a Member, contact 925-373-2305 or visit LivermoreArts.org. Tickets for all shows in the 2026—2027 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 Downtown 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 of ering 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 and over 40 studio artists and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
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LIVERMORE VALLEY ARTS
2026—2027 BANKHEAD PRESENTS SEASON
AUGUST
7 Club Bankhead: Marty Isenberg’s Wes Anderson Playlist
21 Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery
The Trouble with Angels
22 Masters of Illusion
29 Opening Night at The Bankhead
starring Lyle Lovett
SEPTEMBER
4 Club Bankhead: Sinatra Saloon— A Tale & A Tune
5 Paula Poundstone
10 RDSS: Albert Lin: Exploring Human Frontiers
11 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
12 Neon Nostalgic Presents 80s Music Television Hosted by Original MTV VJs
Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter
17 Matthew Morrison Presents Show Up
18 San Francisco Comedy Competition
19 Forever Motown
OCTOBER
2 Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane
17 Gabriel Rutledge: Don’t Read the Comments
24 Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band
25 Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno
30 Club Bankhead: Laura Anglade
NOVEMBER
19 RDSS: The Ghosts of Pompeii with Caitie Barrett
20 Club Bankhead: Gabrielle Cavassa
21 Sounds of Laurel Canyon: A Back To The Garden Story Concert
22 Canadian Brass
28 Jeff Bordes: A New Orleans Christmas
DECEMBER
4 Charo in Concert: A Music Sensation
6 RDSS: A Conversation with B.J. Novak
7 Mostly Kosher
16 Holiday Swingin’! A Kat Edmonson Christmas
21 An Evening with Peter Billingsley and A Christmas Story
22 Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in México
JANUARY
2 Club Bankhead: Mads Tolling & John R. Burr Ramblin and Matt Finders & Friends
8 A Night with the Cast of The Sopranos
9 The Carole King Tribute: Home Again
21 RDSS: Anand Varma: Exploring Nature’s Hidden Worlds
22 Five For Fighting With Strings
30 Kings Return
FEBRUARY
4 Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
5 Black Panther in Concert Live To Film
6 Club Bankhead: LP And The Vinyl
12 Ladysmith Black Mambazo
19 International Guitar Night
26 The Wailin’ Jennys
MARCH
18 RDSS: A Conversation with Tara Lipinski
APRIL
2 Club Bankhead: Skylar Tang
MAY
14 Club Bankhead: Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra
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BUY TICKETS
Online: LivermoreArts.org or Call: 925-373-6800
