Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2024 w/ Supergroup “QWANQWA” (SF)

YBGF

A supergroup bringing together leading Ethiopian musicians from Addis Ababa’s fervently creative music scene, QWANQWA features Endris Hassen on the bowed, one-string masinko, Bubu Teklemariam on groove-driving bass krar, Misale Legesse on goat-skin kebero drum and incantatory vocals by Selamnesh Zemene.

QWANQWA
Thursday, May 16, 2024 | 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Yerba Buena Gardens | Mission St. & 3rd St., SF
FREE

The group was convened by Santa Cruz violinist Kaethe Hostetter, a founding member of the popular Boston-based Debo Band, which has introduced many American audiences to Ethiopia’s enthralling music. Looking to forge deeper ties with the Ethiopian scene, Hostetter moved to Addis Ababa and sought out the city’s best players, resulting in QWANQWA. The band’s experimental sound has continued to evolve since the 2022 debut US tour dazzled audiences at jazz joints, rock clubs, folk festivals, performing arts centers, universities and opera houses.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2024

May 4 – November 2, 2024
Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission btwn Third and Fourth, SoMa, SF
FREE

Directions & Parking | Admission-Free Seating | Performance Times | See the Full Calendar

2024 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Programming Highlights

All events are free and take place outdoors in Yerba Buena Gardens, off Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, and the Yerba Buena Children’s Garden located at Howard & Fourth Street.

APRIL 2024 – Pre Festival Events

• Earth Day 2024 – April 20
• Bay Area Dance Week Kickoff – April 27

MAY 2024

• 2024 Official Season Kickoff w/ Pedrito Martinez – May 4
• Balaklava Blues & Kitka: Songs for Ukraine – May 11
• CAAMFest – May 18
• Islands by the Bay Festival – May 19

JUNE 2024

• Native Contemporary Arts Festival – June 16
• RAWdance: Drawing on a Decade – June 14-15
• Circus Bella – June 21-22
• SF Uke Jam – June 29

JULY 2024

• Get Free Festival – July 6
• Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest – July 13 & July 20
• Color Your Mind Festival – July 27

AUGUST 2024

• San Francisco Mime Troupe – August 4
• Pistahan – August 10-11
• Brazil in the Gardens – August 15

SEPTEMBER 2024

• 5th Annual African Arts Festival – September 7
• YBG Dance Day – September 28

OCTOBER 2024

• San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day – October 14

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.