Friday Nights at OMCA with ROJAI IN THE POCKET
Live Music by ROJAI IN THE POCKET, Reggaeton Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton, DJ Set by Yuca Frita, and Gallery Chats
July 25 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday Nights at OMCA is bringing the heat with a night full of raw soul, global rhythms, and nonstop movement! Get ready for an electrifying live performance by ROJAI IN THE POCKET, where funk meets soul and passion meets rhythm. Led by powerhouse vocalist Jairo Vargas, aka Rojai, this genre-blending band brings a sound as unique as the San Francisco streets that shaped it.
Kick things off with a Reggaetón Dance Lesson led by the dynamic Sara Templeton! This high-energy class blends the rhythmic influence of Hip-Hop, dancehall, and salsa for a sensual, urban style that’s all about confidence and fun. From warmup to choreography, Sara’s routine breaks it all down so dancers of all levels can get in the groove. ¡Bailemos!
As the evening rolls on, Yuca Frita keeps the dancefloor lit with a DJ set packed with bass-heavy beats and global club sounds. Her high-octane mixes span reggaetón, dembow, baile funk, and dancehall, creating a percussive soundscape that pays homage to the Global South while keeping the energy sky-high. Expect a sonic journey that’s loud, proud, and made for movement.
Friday Nights at OMCA also offer a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike traditional museum tours, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators, who combine deep content knowledge with lived experience to encourage fresh interpretations of the museum’s exhibitions.
Program Schedule:
5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket
5:30–6:30 pm Reggaeton Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton | Amphitheater
5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries
6:45–8:50 pm DJ Music Set by Yuca Frita | Amphitheater
7–8:15 pm Live Music by ROJAI IN THE POCKET | OMCA Garden
Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!
About Friday Nights:
Join us for Friday Nights at OMCA, where Oakland comes together! Every Friday from April to October, bring your crew for an unforgettable night of free live music and activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket and settle down on the lawn, or take advantage of exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions (Museum ticket needed for gallery access).
Hungry? Grab a bite from any of the ten Off the Grid food trucks lining 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, offering a delicious mix of rotating flavors. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Once you’ve fueled up, head to the OMCA Garden, where picnic tables and blankets await you to enjoy your meal. With lawn games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories at one of Oakland’s most iconic spots.
OMCA also offers a $10 flat-rate parking in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted, and event details and performances are subject to change.
Accessibility
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email [email protected] at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.
Performers
Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup
Performer BIOS
Rojai is the leader and vocalist for the widely recognized and highly acclaimed San Francisco bands Bayonics, The Pocket (formerly Hot Pocket), and Starship Connection. Rojai, a seasoned artist, does what he does best by channeling a sixth sense that only he holds, to move crowds with consistent passion, energy, and emotion. Teaming up with some of the best producers locally and worldwide, Rojai puts forth melodies, lyrics, and compositions that carry inherent respect for the funk and soul greats that inspired his craft.
Sara is a San Francisco-based choreographer, teacher, and dancer. She started her professional career as a Hip-Hop dancer and later expanded her expertise to include modern, ballet, Dunham technique, and the dance forms associated with her Puerto Rican heritage. Sara has choreographed for both stage and film and currently teaches at studios around the Bay Area.
Yuca Frita is a Bay Area-born Peruvian American DJ whose high-energy and percussive genre-blending sets synthesize Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and club rhythms. Her sound has been described as a “rowdy, leftfield approach to reggaeton and dembow” (Resident Advisor). Mixing rambunctious edits with both well-known and deep cuts, she plays in service to the hype, with the intention to keep dancers moving and pay homage to the club sounds of the Global South. Since the onset of her DJing career in 2021, she has played several notable events including the Outside Lands Music Festival, and has opened for artists such as Tokischa, Ms Nina, MJ Nebreda, Rosa Pistola, Bianca Oblivion, and more.
Sponsors
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.
