OMCA is the place to be this July! Our July Friday Nights lineup kicks off with the New Orleans sound of CHELLE! & Friends that’s great for the whole family. Led by New Orleans-native Michelle Jacques and featuring some of the Bay Area’s most distinguished musicians, CHELLE! & Friends concocts a sweet and spicy musical gumbo incorporating the many flavors in the New Orleans music scene that is sure to get people of any age excited and moving. That beat will pair well with the Deep House and Disco DJ stylings from Yuka Yu. Drag storytime with Per Sia offers another moment of delight as she reads We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom. During all the excitement be sure to take a moment to create some nature-inspired clay art as a memento of another family fun-filled Friday Night at OMCA.

Switch it up this Friday night at OMCA as we welcome the innovative sounds of The Dogon Lights ft. Mamadou Sidibe to the Garden Stage. Self-described as “West Africa meets West Oakland,” this crew makes seriously danceable music with a mix of African vocals and instruments paired with Hip Hop and funk. Get further perspective with an immersive genre-defying sonic experience created and performed by Sami Freeman. Using a blend of deep bass, synth, and organic instrumentation, Freeman’s music moves the audience through a shifting cinematic soundscape. DJ Sizzle is sure to get you to shift your body and find new angles on the dance flow with an irresistible mix of Cumbia, Reggaeton, Salsa, Banda, Merengue, Hip Hop, RNB, Top 40’s, and more!

Celebrating 30 years since their debut album, The Souls of Mischief return to their hometown Oakland and take the Garden stage at Friday Nights at OMCA. After more than 150 shows worldwide, Souls of Mischief will perform a mix of tracks from their classic album, 93 Til Infinity, as well as other favorites. This will be a night full of great memories—both old and new. Prepare for high-energy, classic, homegrown Hip Hop!

This artist talk will showcase the art and practice of renowned artists Celia H. Rodriguez, Yreina D. Cervantez, and Cherrie Moraga featured in OMCA’s newest special exhibition, Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples. These seasoned Chicana artists will share their over forty years of public praxis, informed by feminism and Xicanx Indigenous perspectives. We are honored to host these celebrated womxn on our OMCA stage. Please join us for this important and lively conversation.

This Spotlight Sundays program is a part of our exhibition programming for Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples