North Beach Live

Industry Night Blues Jam
2025-12-28 20:00 - 2025-12-29 01:00, 2026-01-04 20:00 - 2026-01-05 01:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Swig, 561 Geary St, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Two blocks from Union Square. Every Sunday night is Swigs Industry Night Blues Jam with the Emma Jean Foster Blues Band.

THE San Francisco Invitational Jam
2025-12-29 21:00 - 2025-12-30 01:00 | Tupelo, 1337 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States
Step into the inner circle of the city’s music scene with THE San Francisco Invitational Jam at Tupelo. Held every Monday night from 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM, this is widely considered the definitive jam session for professional players and serious students of the craft. Hosted by the “nastiest rhythm section this side of South Dakota”—Andrew Coutti on drums and Young Blake on bass—the evening serves as a high-stakes proving ground where the Bay Area’s best talent comes to stretch their creative muscles.

The Sound: This isn’t your average open mic; it is a high-octane exploration of Roots, Soul, R&B, and Funk. The house band sets a blistering pace, and the music often leans into deep-pocket grooves and sophisticated jazz-fusion arrangements that demand technical precision and quick improvisational thinking.

The “Invitational” Edge: While the session is open to high-level guests, it maintains an “Invitational” spirit, meaning the stage is curated to ensure a top-tier musical experience for the audience. Each week features a different special guest vocalist, ensuring that the “soul” of the night is always fresh and evolving.

A Networking Hub: Monday nights at Tupelo act as the unofficial headquarters for off-duty working musicians. It’s a place where bandleaders scout for subs, songwriters find collaborators, and the community gathers to celebrate the raw, unscripted power of live music.

No Cover, All Access: Despite the world-class musicianship on display, there is no cover charge. It provides an accessible “masterclass” environment for fans who want to see how the city’s musical engine runs behind the scenes.

About the Invitational Jam
Founded on the belief that San Francisco needs a consistent home for professional musical dialogue, the Invitational Jam has outlasted countless other sessions in the city. Hosts Andrew Coutti and Young Blake are veteran players known for their “unprecedented chemistry” and ability to back any guest with a rock-solid, funky foundation. Over the years, the jam has hosted everyone from local legends to touring pros, cementing Tupelo’s reputation as a vital sanctuary for the preservation of San Francisco’s live R&B and Funk traditions.

The North Beach Django
2025-12-30 19:30 - 22:30 | Paris 75, 515 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, United States
Transport yourself to a 1930s sidewalk café in Montmartre as North Beach Django takes residency at Paris 75 every Tuesday. Located on the edge of the historic Broadway corridor, this charming French lounge provides the perfect backdrop for the “Hot Club” sound. With its selection of authentic French cocktails and wines, the venue feels less like a San Francisco bar and more like a secret sanctuary for lovers of European jazz and vintage aesthetics.
The Sound: North Beach Django delivers an authentic exploration of Jazz Manouche (Gypsy Jazz). Their sound is defined by the “pumping” rhythm of acoustic guitars and soaring, melodic solos. Expect a repertoire of high-speed swing, haunting French musette waltzes (like “L’Indifférence”), and soulful ballads that capture the bittersweet spirit of the early 20th century.
The Django Legacy: The group’s mission is to honor the revolutionary style of Django Reinhardt, the legendary Romani-French guitarist who pioneered this genre. Despite losing the use of two fingers in a fire, Reinhardt’s virtuosic speed and unique harmonic language changed jazz forever. The band keeps this fire alive, utilizing the same acoustic string-band format—no drums, just pure rhythmic drive.
The Players: The group is led by a core of the Bay Area’s finest “manouche” specialists, often featuring Ned Boynton on guitar, Eddie Scher on guitar, and Kenan O’Brien on bass. Their chemistry is a masterclass in the “interlocking” style of Gypsy Swing, where the lead and rhythm guitars work in a constant, high-speed dialogue.
The Community Jam: In the spirit of the Parisian cafés where this music was born, the evening often evolves into a welcoming session. After the first set, the band frequently opens the floor to “acoustic sitter-inners”—strings, accordions, and woodwinds—making it a vibrant hub for the local jazz community.

About Paris 75
Paris 75 is a sophisticated French cocktail lounge that serves as a cultural bridge between San Francisco and the “City of Light.” Named after the postal code for Paris, the bar specializes in regional French wines and signature cocktails like the “French 75.” The intimate, candlelit space is designed for conversation and attentive listening, making it the ideal home for the acoustic nuances of North Beach Django. It is a place where time slows down, and the legacy of the great European troubadours feels remarkably present.

Jazz Jam Session
2025-12-31 20:00 - 23:00 | Stookey’s Blue Room, 891 Bush St, San Francisco, CA, 94108, United States
This is a drop in jazz jam session, led by rotating musicians. Come catch the next generation of jazz cats and be transported back in time to the 1920’s.

Sunday Artist Series
2026-01-04 20:00 - 2026-01-05 00:00 | Tupelo, 1337 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA, United States
End your week with a rhythmic bang at the Sunday Artist Series, a weekly institution at Tupelo that transforms North Beach into a soulful dance party. Hosted by the versatile Shawn Stein, this residency is built around an “all-pro” house band that provides a world-class foundation for a rotating cast of the Bay Area’s most powerhouse vocalists. From 8:00 PM to midnight, the room sheds its weekday grit for a polished, high-fidelity exploration of funk, R&B, and soul, making it the definitive “musician’s hangout” in the neighborhood.
The magic of the series lies in its unpredictability and its caliber of talent. Because a different guest artist takes the lead each week, the sound can pivot from the brassy energy of a James Brown-style funk review to the smooth, sophisticated textures of modern neo-soul. It is a space where local legends and touring pros often drop in to sit with the band, creating a “who’s who” environment for the San Francisco music scene. The house band is known for their “deep pocket” and the ability to back any style with technical precision and infectious joy.
The atmosphere at Tupelo during the Artist Series is electric yet welcoming, drawing a diverse crowd of neighborhood regulars, off-duty musicians, and soul aficionados. Set against the venue’s classic red-lit stage and historic Grant Avenue backdrop, the event offers a rare opportunity to experience an elite, high-energy “dance party throw-down” with no cover charge. Whether you are there to dance off the weekend or simply to appreciate the highest level of local musicianship, the Sunday Artist Series ensures that the spirit of North Beach soul remains loud and alive.
