On Saturday night, Frank Ogawa Plaza was packed with impeccably dressed partygoers dancing to the beats of South African superstar DJ Black Coffee. Swirling beams of multicolored lights flashed across the facade of Oakland’s 18-story City Hall while thousands shuffled and swayed across the crowded lawn below.
Around the corner on Clay Street, a second stage, constructed to look like a giant tree, featured DJs from Afrobeats Oakland blasting reggaeton and amapiano for a smaller but no less enthusiastic crowd. This joyous party in the heart of downtown stood in stark contrast to the endless barrage of negative headlines painting Oakland as a crime-ridden dystopia.
Tags:
Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more
J Boog
Tuesday, June 16 @ UC Theater, Berkeley
DaBoyDame w/ Keyshia Cole, Plies +more
Friday, June 19 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Buju Banton & Stephen Marley
Saturday, June 20 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Kev Choice Ensemble
Friday, June 26 @ Yoshi's, Oakland
Khalid
Friday, June 26 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Thee Sacred Souls
Saturday, Aug 15 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Jungle
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
© 2026 Created by Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist.
Powered by