FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Travel Around the Globe this February at The Bankhead
with Three Nearly Sold-Out Performances
Livermore, CA – (January 23, 2026) – The Bankhead is set to take its audiences on a thrilling journey around the world this upcoming month, with everything from acrobatics to vocals to guitar. From The Peking Acrobats and their awe-inspiring technical prowess on Monday, February 2, to The Ten Tenors—the Vocal Wonder from Down Under—on Thursday, February 5, to the annual Livermore Sellout, the 26th Anniversary International Guitar Night on Friday, February 20, The Bankhead is celebrating talents from nearly every continent this February. All of these international performances will be right in the Tri-Valley at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
For the last thirty-two years, The Peking Acrobats® have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs and display their technical prowess at such arts as trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. They push the limits of human ability, defying gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. The Peking Acrobats are often accompanied by live musicians who skillfully play traditional Chinese instruments; the time-honored Chinese music coalesces with high-tech special effects and awe-inspiring acrobatic feats, creating an exuberant entertainment event with the festive pageantry of a Chinese Carnival. Since their founding in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have been featured on numerous television shows and celebrity-studded TV specials, including Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous, The Wayne Brady Show, That’s Incredible, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, and NBC’s Ring In The New Year Holiday Special. The Peking Acrobats set the world record for the Human Chair Stack on FOX Network’s Guinness Book Primetime television show in 1999: they balanced six people precariously atop six chairs, twenty-one feet up in the air without safety lines, astounding audiences with their bravery and dexterity. The Peking Acrobats have also made their way onto
the silver screen – company members were featured in Steven Soderbergh’s hit film Ocean’s Eleven playing alongside Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney. Alumnus Shaobo Qin also appeared in that film’s two sequels, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen. The Peking Acrobats achieved another milestone in the fall of 2003, when they made their orchestral debut at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA. They performed as part of the Hollywood Bowl’s Fireworks Season Finale, where the company blended their unique brand of acrobatics with the majestic sound of the 100-piece Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by John Mauceri. Since their Hollywood Bowl debut, The Peking Acrobats have performed with many of the most prestigious Symphony Orchestras in North America today, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, featuring members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; the San Diego Symphony Orchestra; the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The Peking Acrobats return often to the Hollywood Bowl, where they perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as Special Guest Artists. The Bankhead is ecstatic to be able to present talents of this nature right in Downtown Livermore on February 2; see what Clive Davis meant in The New York Post when he said “THE PEKING ACROBATS [are] pushing the envelope of human possibility. Pure artistry!” (Tickets are almost sold out for The Peking Acrobats in Livermore. Interested patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets sooner rather than later.)
Travelling south to Down Under, Tri-Valley audiences will be treated to The Ten Tenors, an Australian music ensemble that has toured extensively nationally and internationally and released 15 albums and 4 DVDs, recording numerous albums over the years, many of which have achieved platinum and gold status. Since The Ten Tenors was formed in 1995, the group has performed extensively in Australia and overseas, on television, and their signature brand of music featuring 10-part harmonies has been enjoyed by more than 90 million people. They have headlined more than 2,000 concerts around the world, sold more than 3.5 million concert tickets, and become renowned for their dynamic, choreographed performances and skillful ability to seamlessly transition from operatic arias to soulful ballads through to chart-topping pop and rock songs. They have also shared the stage with artists including Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart, Andrea Boccelli, Willie Nelson, Alanis Morissette, and Christina Aguilera, and have also appeared extensively on TV, including The Today Show, Oprah’s Australian Adventure, and Extreme
Makeover: Home Edition, as well as the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for an audience of 32 million viewers and the 2012 UEFA Cup in Warsaw, Poland. The current lineup of The Ten Tenors is: JD Smith, Adrian Li Donni, Cameron Barclay, Ammon Bennett, Boyd Owen, Sam Ward, Jared Newall, Michael Edwards, Riley Sutton, and Daniel Belle. A powerful mix of Classical Crossover, Neapolitan Classics, and Classic Rock Anthems, all delivered with trademark Aussie charm and vocal brilliance, on February 5, Livermore audiences will not want to miss the chance to see why The Ten Tenors have cemented their place as Australia’s premier classical-crossover group with their unmistakable charm, camaraderie, and vocal power.
At the end of the month, The Bankhead will be presenting International Guitar Night. For over two decades, IGN has been the world’s premier touring guitar festival, bringing together diverse master guitar musicians from around the world to play together. Each year, International Guitar Night brings together the most innovative players from across the globe—each with a distinctive voice and deep roots in their musical traditions—showing how diverse cultures and styles can harmonize. For their 26th year of touring, International Guitar Night founder Brian Gore has assembled the most virtuosic and fiery lineup in IGN’s 26-year history, featuring exquisite classical, lightning-fast flamenco, mind-bending fingerstyle, and their first-ever ukulele player. These impressive musicians will be at The Bankhead on February 20; their full bios are as follows:
Taimane (Hawaii) is a groundbreaking ukulele virtuoso known for her high-voltage, mesmerizing performances and genre-bending creativity. By perpetually upending the potential of the ukulele, she has become one of the instrument’s most influential ambassadors. Her concerts take audiences from Bach to Led Zeppelin, all powered by a magnetic stage presence. As IGN’s first ukulele artist, Taimane expands the festival’s sonic palette with passion, precision, and fearless imagination.
Alexandr Misko (Russia) is a modern fingerstyle trailblazer whose inventive technique and imaginative arrangements have earned him a global following. Rising to prominence through widely shared videos, he now tours internationally, records prolifically, and performs worldwide.
The first-ever left-handed player to join IGN, his custom guitar enables drumming and on-the-fly retuning. His music is a fusion of percussive innovation and deeply melodic storytelling.
Lucas Imbiriba (Brazil) is an internationally recognized virtuosic guitarist celebrated for his dynamic fusion of flamenco speed, Latin American rhythms, classical lyricism, and rock intensity. After earning top prizes in multiple European competitions, he embarked on an eclectic creative path that has earned him viral acclaim and tours worldwide. His electrifying solo arrangements of classic rock and cinematic themes have captivated millions online.
Thu Le (Vietnam) is a true prodigy, having entered the National Conservatory of Music in Hanoi at just seven years old, becoming its youngest student ever. A favorite among IGN audiences, she’s celebrated for her distinctive style and impeccable technique. Her repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary works, complemented by Latin American and other global influences that showcase her broad artistic vision while also drawing on her cultural roots in Vietnam.
(Tickets are almost sold out for International Guitar Night in Livermore. Interested patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets sooner rather than later.)
Tickets for shows in the 2025—2026 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. 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 and over 40 studio artists and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: The Peking Acrobats
Date/Time: Monday, February 2, 2026, at 7:00pm Almost Sold Out
Tickets: $45—$75 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: The Ten Tenors
Date/Time: Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 7:30pm Selling Fast
Tickets: $70—$100 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: International Guitar Night
Date/Time: Friday, February 20, 2026, at 8:00pm Almost Sold Out
Tickets: $25—$70 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
