Fans of music and literature are in luck in Oakland this week. Kev Choice, who blends classical music training with hip-hop, will hit the stage at Yoshi’s with an eclectic set of guest musicians. Millennials whose playlists still heavily feature music from the 1990s and 2000s may want to check out the So So Anxious dance party at Golden Ratio. Also, The Town is hosting conversations with the authors of new books on race, health care, and the world of James Baldwin. 

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Hot Ticket in The Town this week: Kev Choice Ensemble at Yoshi’s

The Oakland musician Kev Choice has toured with the likes of Lauryn Hill and Michael Franti and he recently served as a musical director for E-40’s NPR Tiny Desk performance. This weekend, he performs with the Kev Choice Ensemble, a cohort of guest vocalists and other musicians, in back-to-back shows at Yoshi’s. Expect his set to touch on themes such as personal accountability, transparency, and vulnerability.
🎹 Friday, June 26, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $35 to $69, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West. Use code SUMMER25 for a discount to the 9:30 p.m. show

Conversation with Cecil Brown about James Baldwin

Kingmakers of Oakland, a nonprofit that works to improve the academic outcomes for Black boys, is hosting a conversation with author and educator Cecil Brown about his new book “Baldwin’s World: A Memoir.” In the book, Brown writes about meeting Baldwin, how Brown was influenced by the prominent writer, what it was like to be a Black writer at a time of major social change, and the challenges Baldwin and other Black writers faced to get their work published.
📖 Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m., free, RSVP required, KOO Labs Design Center and Production House, 1035 7th St.

Old Oakland’s summer stroll

From now through October on the fourth Friday of the month, businesses in Old Oakland will be taking advantage of the sunny days and inviting residents to stop by 9th Street between Broadway and Washington Street to patronize the businesses in the neighborhood as well as vendors who will set up along Broadway. Plus, live music and activities for the whole family. 
☀️ Friday, June 26, 5 to 8 p.m., free, 9th Street between Broadway and Washington Street

The K-Pop band BIGBANG has sold out out world tours across North America, Europe, and Asia. Credit: courtesy of BIGBANG

So So Anxious party at Golden Ratio

If you’re into music from the 1990s and 2000s and want to dance the night away, look no further than the So So Anxious party, inspired by singer Ginuwine’s 1999 track of the same name. DJs Gold Gills and B-Style will be behind the turntables playing all the hits from that era. 
💿 Friday, June 26, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., 21 and up, free before 10 p.m., $5 after, Golden Ratio, 1517 Franklin St. 

Book chat with Nicole Carr about racism in health care

This weekend, former ProPublica journalist Nicole Carr will be discussing her new book “The Price of Exclusion: The Pursuit of Healthcare in a Segregated Nation.” A mix of investigative reporting and personal narrative, the book uncovers the systemic barriers faced by Black medical professionals and how those barriers have shaped healthcare inequities across the country.
📖 Saturday, June 27, 2 p.m., free, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, 659 14th St.

Coming soon to The Town: K-Pop band BIGBANG at the Oakland Arena

South Korean band BIGBANG helped to catapult K-Pop into an international phenomenon. The trio recently performed at Coachella and is embarking on a worldwide tour that will bring the band to Oakland in September. The presale begins on June 24, and the general sale on June 26. 
🎤 Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m., see website for tickets prices, Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way

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