Freebie of the week: It was 84 years ago Saturday that Jerome John Garcia—who eventually became known to the world as Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia—was born in the Excelsior District of San Francisco. Though he was drawn to music at an early age, it was arguably a single incident in 1961 that propelled him to fame as one of rock’s most famous and beloved musicians. It was when the budding musician and singer and three friends were in a car crash that left one dead and the others seriously injured. Garcia, who broke his collarbone, reportedly later recalled, “That was the slingshot for the rest of my life. It was like a second chance. Then I got serious.” The freewheeling, improvisational nature of the Grateful Dead’s music and the party, drug-fueled atmosphere that drew listeners sometimes disguised how gifted the musicians were and how hard they worked at their craft. Besides his technical abilities, Garcia was a master improviser, feeding off band members, especially Bob Weir, as the band developed its astonishing reputation of “never playing a song the same way twice.” On Saturday, Garcia’s music and life will be honored in San Francisco’s 24th annual Jerry Day from 11:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park in San Francisco. Keyboardist Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band will perform with members of Jazz Mafia band, along with Stu Allen and Mars Hotel. They’re all talented musicians with a deep knowledge of Garcia and Grateful Dead’s musical legacy, so fans of the iconic musician, who died in 1995, should have a blast. Admission is free, though there are reserved seating options for sale. More information is at www.jerryday.org.
Lion dance delight: Leung’s White Crane, a community organization and one of North America’s oldest and biggest traditional martial arts schools—perhaps best known for its colorful performers in grand finale of San Francisco’s popular annual Chinese New Year Parade—is celebrating its 55th anniversary with a grand public celebration and ceremony in San Francisco’s Chinatown this weekend. Founded in 1971 by brothers Kuen Leung, Kwan Leung and Allen Leung, the school has produced seven-time National Lion Dance Champions. The current troupe and guests from international martial arts schools will appear in a rarely performed traditional lion and dragon dance awakening ceremony, as well as a parade with dozens of lions and dragon and acrobatic high pole “jong” lion dancers in free festivities start starting at 11 a.m. Sunday at 705 Jackson St., San Francisco. Visit sfliondance.org.
Urgent sounds: The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, with the theme “We the Dreamers!” this year, its 64th season, includes world premieres, festival commissions and new works that “reflect the urgency and expansiveness of music today.” The opening concert at 8 p.m. Friday, “On Freedom!” features Cristian Măcelaru conducting the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra in Vivian Fung’s “America the Beautiful?” and Pedro Emanuel Pereira’s Clarinet Concerto featuring soloist Carlos Ferreira, both festival commissions, and the West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” featuring baritone Zachary James. A pre-concert picnic at 6:30 p.m. offers more performances, of Glass’ “Brass Sextet” and the world premiere of D. Riley Nicholson’s “Broken Anthem.” Tickets are $41-$96, youth tickets for under 35 are $26. Performances, there are six total continuing through Aug. 9, are in the Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. Find more details at cabrillomusic.org.
Wild and crazy music: The 23rd Outsound New Music Summit in Berkeley this weekend showcases local and national artists in world premieres and first-time collaborations, playing everything from “experimental pop to free improvisation to microtonal composition to experimental electronics to harsh noise.” There are four programs. At 8 p.m. Friday, “Fusion vs Fission” features jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer Sam Morrison and Farallon, a trio with bassist Keith Waters, keyboardist Ian McArdle and drummer Shawn Myers. The 2 p.m. Saturday “Avant Matinee” features Gino Robair’s Radical Divination, a structured improvisation for two papermakers and music ensemble of five players; Normalways, featuring Fred Frith, Sudhu Tewary and Jordan Glenn; Hook & Wire featuring Dana Jessen on bassoon Kyle Bruckmann on oboe, English horn and electronics, Danishta Rivera on vocals and electronics, Lisa Mezzacappa on bass and Jordan Glenn on percussion; and architectural woodworker and experimental musical instrument builder Sung Kim. Additional performances are “The Art of Rocks II” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and “Mountains of Sound” at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $16 to $25 for individual performances. They take place in Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. Visit outsound.org.
Menlo remembers: In 2006, Music@Menlo celebrated the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth by concluding every festival program with a work by the composer. This year, it presents “Returning to Mozart,” the sixth major program of the annual chamber music festival at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Spieker Center in Atherton. The concert includes two of his most soothing works. Violinist Arnaud Sussmann and pianist Gilbert Kalish collaborate on Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 32 in B-flat Major, followed by Even Ozel at the keyboard for his Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, with support from Nina Bernat on double bass, Sihao He on cello, James Thompson on viola and violinists Aaron Boyd and Danbi Um. Also on the program are Gustav Mahler’s only surviving piece of chamber music, his 1876 Piano Quartet in A minor, performed by pianist Chelsea Wang, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s anguished Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor from 1944. Find tickets at musicatmenlo.org for $25-$90, or $25 for the livestream.