The second Uptown Stroll is happening on Thursday October 16! It is near and dear to our hearts as we helped organize this community-minded, family-friendly event. So join us outside on the streets and inside Bar Shiru, Gold Palm and all the other amazing small businesses in the neighborhood for drink specials and revelry.

Our second Selector Series session celebrating the artists behind the excellent new album Traveling Shoes features none other than activist, artist and wordsmith Tongo Eisen-Martin.

Tongo Eisen-Martin was born and raised in San Francisco. Martin was the city’s eighth Poet Laureate (2021–24). He is the author of three collections of poetry: Blood on the Fog (2021), selected by The New York Times as among the Best Poetry of 2021; Heaven Is All Goodbyes (2017); and Someone’s Dead Already (2015). Eisen-Martin fuses political interventions with an idiosyncratic pattern of logic to elucidate how one can find pockets of freedom even within a wider system of oppression. Describing Eisen-Martin’s poetry, famed writer Claudia Rankine says, “This is resistance as sound.” Yet Eisen-Martin’s poems are as personal as they are political. In Heaven Is All Goodbyes, for example, Eisen-Martin takes aim at incarceration-in-plain-sight with the following lines: “My dear, if it is not a city, it is a prison. If it has a prison, it is a prison. Not a city.” In addition to writing revolutionary poetry, Eisen-Martin is committed to raising political awareness through education. He has taught creative writing in prisons and is the author of We Charge Genocide Again, a series of lesson plans to support students and teachers in grappling with the state-sanctioned killing of Black people. A recipient of several awards including the American Book Award (2018), a California Book Award (2018), and the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award (2018), Eisen-Martin earned both his BA and MA from Columbia University.

Every Thursday, Bar Shiru resident selectors GAHR and LUCAS take us on a journey to the outer reaches of sound, curating an eclectic mix of electronic, ambient, experimental and psychedelic records.

Really excited for this week’s Selector Series, our first of two sessions this month celebrating the beautiful new album Traveling Shoes. This week we welcome Damani Rhodes and VADIA to the hi-fi to select some albums that inspired the new work.

VADIA is a native of Oakland, California, who teaches perseverance through art. She is a singer/songwriter who has shared many stages with local and international artists. Her vocal ability allows her to easily adapt to practically every style of music, be it jazz, show tunes, R & B, or pop music—with an unbridled spiritual power in the delivery of every song that she sings. In her writing, VADIA is very sensitive to the message she believes she was entrusted to spread about believing in your own ability to make an enormous impact on the entire world through various arts. She wrote a song entitled “No Graves” that has inspired a growing movement, which can be followed under the hashtag #NOGRAVES. Listen closely to her lyrics, and you will discover that she not only wants to share the beauty of her mind with others, but she invites you to experience the joy and pleasure she feels as she vocally creates an environment of openness, personal reflection, love, and empowerment of artists everywhere. 

Damani Rhodes is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and entrepreneur whose music blends jazz, gospel, hip hop, funk, and soul. He produced, arranged, and toured with hip hop/soul band SOL Development and founded the jazz fusion group Mino Yanci. His diverse body of work includes socially conscious releases with SOL Development, the fusion-driven explorations of Mino Yanci, and his debut solo project, R.E.A.C.H., recorded live during a residency at the Kennedy Center and released during the pandemic. Damani was the composer for the Emmy-winning documentary Dear Beloved and the Emmy-nominated When the Waters Get Deep. He is currently spearheading the musical foundation and direction of a new project featuring VADIA and Tongo, continuing his mission to create music that moves both hearts and minds.

No Room For Squares is a weekly showcase of classic jazz albums from the decade between 1955 - 1965, one of the most exciting eras in recorded music. No Room For Squares will feature iconic artists like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk on iconic labels like Blue Note, Impulse! and Prestige. Plus, we’ll have whisky specials each week, so you can sip on a delicious dram while taking in some of our favorite bebop, hard-bop and post-bop albums from the collection.

Atmospheres is our weekly excursion into the outer reaches of sound with resident selectors GAHR and LUCAS curating a mix of electronic, psychedelic, ambient and experimental records. Every Thursday starting at 9p.

Selector Series season 11 spins along with Jordan Kurland aka DJ Very Good Minusk stepping into the vaunted Shiru booth on Wednesday September 24 starting at 8p.

Jordan Kurland is a co-founder and partner at Brilliant Corners Artist Management, which has offices in San Francisco,  Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle. The company represents acts including Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, Toro Y Moi, Perfume Genius, Dan the Automator, Soccer Mommy, Real Estate, New Pornographers, and Pup. Kurland is also a partner in Noise Pop, which produces events throughout the Bay Area including the iconic small club festival of the same name. He was one of the founders of the groundbreaking boutique outdoor music festival Treasure Island, which ran from 2007-2018. 

Kurland is a staunch advocate for local arts and culture and currently serves on the board of non-commercial radio station KEXP, independent literary publisher McSweeney's, and the Stern Grove Festival. He has been collecting vinyl since age 6 and although his tastes have changed, his obsession has not. 

No Room For Squares is a weekly showcase of classic jazz albums from the decade between 1955 - 1965, one of the most exciting eras in recorded music. No Room For Squares will feature iconic artists like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk on iconic labels like Blue Note, Impulse! and Prestige. Plus, we’ll have whisky specials each week, so you can sip on a delicious dram while taking in some of our favorite bebop, hard-bop and post-bop albums from the collection.

Atmospheres is our weekly excursion into the outer reaches of sound with resident selectors GAHR and LUCAS curating a mix of electronic, ambient, psychedelic and experimental records. Every Thursday at 9p.

Thrilled to welcome Miami-based DJ and vinyl collector Lotusoph to the hi-fi for this week’s Selector Series. Lotusoph is a Brazilian/Cuban DJ born and based in Miami, FL. Inspired by Miami's cultural and urban characteristics and Florida's beachy and swampy habitats, Lotusoph spins records that take you on a sonic journey through melodic grooves, deep house, vibrant Salsa and Samba, and just about anything in between. 8p onward!

No Room For Squares is a weekly showcase of classic jazz albums from the decade between 1955 - 1965, one of the most exciting eras in recorded music. No Room For Squares will feature iconic artists like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk on iconic labels like Blue Note, Impulse! and Prestige. Plus, we’ll have whisky specials each week, so you can sip on a delicious dram while taking in some of our favorite bebop, hard-bop and post-bop albums from the collection.

For the next edition of Silent Sunday, happening on Sunday September 14, we are featuring Kadhja Bonet’s beautiful 2018 album Childqueen. Reserve your spot by tapping here.

We wanted to shine a light on Kadhja’s music because, not only is she one of our favorite creators who deserves a wider audience, but recently she’s been a very outspoken voice against the inequities of streaming. She’s been calling out the +ech giants, railing against their control over the streaming landscape, their exploitation of musicians/creators, their utilization of AI and they way many of them are using their wealth to fund the death and destruction of the environment and human lives.

So, Sunday we feature to a bright light in this dark world. For those who have joined us for a previous Silent Sunday, we’re doing things a little differently. Doors for anyone who reserved a Silent Sunday spot will be at 2:30p. We are only featuring one album, with playback beginning at 3p. At 4p, the doors will open to the public.

A night of strictly 45s spun by the one and only Mr Big Happy alongside classic cocktails featuring Makers Mark 46?! Sign us up.

Thursday 09.11 from 8p - 11p. Come through!

We are stoked to continue our collaboration with SMARTBOMB Oakland for this season of Selector Series. They have been trusted, value-aligned community partners, rocking with us for a long time and we couldn’t be happier to have them back in the mix.

For the first SMARTBOMB collab night of Season 11, we’re excited to welcome Soenido to the hi-fi for a night of deep selections on Wednesday September 10. 8p onward.

Local junglist sound purveyor Soeneido joins the selector series this time with an eclectic mix of atmospheric drum n bass, jazzy jungle, loungey downtempo, and much more.  Soen (for short) has been working persistently since 2021 upholding his all jungle and breakbeat-hardore driven clubnight LOTEK as well as a small label using the same name.   You can find notable releases of his on vinyl with Future Retro London, Ruff N' Tuff,

We are thrilled to open season 11 (!) of our beloved Selector Series with an Oakland musical powerhouse, conductor and music director of the Oakland Symphony, Kedrick Armstrong.

Come out and help us kick off this new season in style.

On Thursday August 21st, join us for an album listening party celebrating the release of {dakan} the brand new album by Bay Area afro-funk maestros Orchestra Gold.

This vinyl listening party is by reservation only, so tap here to snag your spot.

No Room For Squares is a weekly showcase of classic jazz albums from the decade between 1955 - 1965, one of the most exciting eras in recorded music. No Room For Squares will feature iconic artists like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk on iconic labels like Blue Note, Impulse! and Prestige. Plus, we’ll have whisky specials each week, so you can sip on a delicious dram while taking in some of our favorite bebop, hard-bop and post-bop albums from the collection.

On Thursday, August 14th, join us for an album listening party for the recently released record “These Things Take Time” by Brooklyn-born, Oakland-based rapper Fresh Daily and French producer Parental.

This vinyl listening party is by reservation only, so tap here to reserve your spot.

No Room For Squares is a weekly showcase of classic jazz albums from the decade between 1955 - 1965, one of the most exciting eras in recorded music. No Room For Squares will feature iconic artists like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk on iconic labels like Blue Note, Impulse! and Prestige. Plus, we’ll have whisky specials each week, so you can sip on a delicious dram while taking in some of our favorite bebop, hard-bop and post-bop albums from the collection.

Join us next Monday night for a Labels We Love edition of HFLS  as we hear the global rhythms and melodies of Analog Africa (curated by @lucas.on.wax).

Analog Africa was established in 2006 by Tunisian-born Samy Ben Redjeb, who began collecting records from all corners of the African continent while working as a flight attendant in the 1990s. A few years later, he was the resident DJ at a hotel in Senegal when his affection for African records bloomed into a dedicated passion.

We’ve selected four compilations from various stops along the label’s musical journey, showcasing the wide range of artistry that Analog Africa has put on the global stage: “Senegal 70” (Senegal), “Jambú E Os Míticos Sons Da Amazônia” (Northern Brazil), “Dur Dur of Somalia: Volume 1 / Volume 2” (Somalia), and “African Scream Contest 2” (Benin).

8p Monday 08.11, low speaking voices required.

On Sunday August 10th we are pleased to present another Silent Sunday deep listening session featuring two instrumental hip hop classics: DJ Shadow’s seminal 1996 release Endtroducing alongside RJD2’s 2002 Def Jux classic Deadringer.

RSVP required, tap here to reserve your spot today. And remember, once the needle drops, the talking stops.

No Room For Squares is a weekly showcase of classic jazz albums from the decade between 1955 - 1965, one of the most exciting eras in recorded music. No Room For Squares will feature iconic artists like Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk on iconic labels like Blue Note, Impulse! and Prestige. Plus, we’ll have whisky specials each week, so you can sip on a delicious dram while taking in some of our favorite bebop, hard-bop and post-bop albums from the collection.

On Monday 08.04 we are proud to present an album listening party for the forthcoming collaborative album by Bay Area legends Headnodic + Jazz Mafia.

This vinyl listening party is by reservation only, so tap here to snag your spot.

Industry Grooves, our Selector Series Summer Takeover, is a way for us to shine a light on some of our beloved friends across the hospitality industry. It’s all about celebrating the beauty of music, the art of a stiff, well-crafted drink and showing love to the incredibly resilient and inspiring Oakland food and beverage community.

On July 30th we welcome GM/beverage director Sequoya Lee to Shiru for a night of soulful selections and tasty, creative drink specials. Sequoya is not only our neighbor, Night Heron is situated smack-dab in between Bar Shiru and Gold Palm, but a Shiru alumni and just overall amazing person/badass.

8p onward to catch a vibe and close out this incredible inaugural run of Industry Grooves!

Winners of our Summer Raffle announced on July 25th! Enter now for a shot at some great prizes!!

Industry Grooves, our Selector Series Summer Takeover, is a way for us to shine a light on some of our beloved friends across the hospitality industry. It’s all about celebrating the beauty of music, the art of a stiff, well-crafted drink and showing love to the incredibly resilient and inspiring Oakland food and beverage community.

On July 23 we feature music and beverages from Blake Cole, the owner of Friends and Family in Oakland, the queer and women-owned and operated restaurant and cocktail bar that serves subtle variations on cocktail classics with an incredible food program from celebrated queer chef Gaby Maeda.

8p onward. Don’t miss it!

This week’s HFLS, curated by Shiru Resident Selector Pam Torrno, is a salute to the late, great vibraphonist and bandleader Cal Tjader, on the centennial of arguably the greatest non-Latin musician in Latin jazz history. 

Callen Radcliffe Tjader, Jr. was the son of vaudeville performers, born July 16, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, but raised in San Mateo, California. As a student at San Francisco State, Tjader met Dave Brubeck and went on to play drums in Brubeck’s original trio. But it was his stint as a percussionist for George Shearing during the 50s mambo craze in New York that inspired him to lead his own bands, fusing his deep love for Afro-Cuban rhythms with West Coast cool jazz.This week’s HFLS, curated by Shiru Resident Selector @pamchop, is a salute to the late, great vibraphonist and bandleader Cal Tjader, on the centennial of arguably the greatest non-Latin musician in Latin jazz history. 

8p Monday 07.21. Early arrival recommended, low speaking voices required.

Industry Grooves, our Selector Series Summer Takeover, is a way for us to shine a light on some of our beloved friends across the hospitality industry. It’s all about celebrating the beauty of music, the art of a stiff, well-crafted drink and showing love to the incredibly resilient and inspiring Oakland food and beverage community.

On Wednesday July 16, we’ll be featuring some friends and a drink or two from The Cat House, the women-owned neighborhood cocktail joint that’s been holding down on Lakeshore Ave since 2016. Ricky will be spinning records and Hana and crew are going to have a special cocktail or two in the mix as well.

8p onward.

If you thought we were done with 2015… think again friends! It was just a phenomenal year for music. For this week’s Monday night High Fidelity Listening Session we’ll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Tame Impala’s Currents.

Kevin Parker’s two previous albums Innerspeaker and Lonerism established him (and the band) as the preeminent purveyors of modern psychedelia, but it was Currents that shot Parker and his Tame Impala project into the stratosphere. He added dancier drums and a more polished pop sheen to the angsty psychedelic grooves and unlocked a new sound that would land him on some of the biggest stages in the world. Hell, Rihanna even covered album closer “New Person, Same Old Mistakes”.

We’ll be spinning this sonic gem at 9p on Monday July 14. Early arrival recommended, low speaking voices required.

For Silent Sunday 022 we are taking it back to 1970 to present two iconic jazz masterpieces: Dorothy Ashby’s sublime, soulful Afro-Harping and Ahmad Jamal’s career-defining “deep trio” album The Awakening.

Silent Sunday deep listening sessions are by reservation only. Secure your spot today and enjoy these two gems on our 100% analog hi-fi with zero talking. Once the needle drops, the talking stops.