Arts & Events Saturday, January 10, 7 pm Kyle Alden Trio
vermiculture and soil fertility, he has worked in China with the prestigious National Tea Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Department of Agriculture to help them implement organic and sus- tainable tea farming practices. Several Tibetan monks contributed to the con- struction and creation of Hoffman’s eastern-inspired sustainable research center in Lagunitas, California, which he calls “The Last Resort”. In 2004, Hoffman sold Silk Road Tea company and now runs The Last Resort and The Phoenix Collection.
We are thrilled to kick off our 2026 Event Season on Saturday, January 10, 2026 with the Kyle Alden Trio. Kyle is a familiar face around the Community Center having played at Kate’s Cafe and for our Senior Lunch Bread and Roses concerts, so we are very excited to bring him back for a full evening performance with his Trio. The Kyle Alden Trio is a collaboration between three talented Bay Area musi- cians—Singer/Songwriter Kyle Alden (guitar and vocals), Paul Eastburn (bass), and Leslie Jackson (vocals, percussion, mandolin). Kyle and Paul have performed and recorded together for nearly ten years, and are perfectly complemented by newcomer multi-instrumentalist Leslie Jackson. The trio’s music travels the highways and byways of folk and Americana music, presenting original and folk songs from the American and Irish traditions. Their engaging live show features rich musical interplay, vocal harmony and fine guitar picking. Singer/songwriter and folk musician Kyle Alden is recognized for his award- winning folk songs based on the poems of Irish poet W.B. Yeats. He supported Irish music legend Paul Brady on his last West coast tour, playing the Napa Opera
Saturday, February 7, 7 pm Poetic Ruckus
Saturday, February 7, 2026 marks the 4th Annual Poetic Ruckus concert at the Community Center. It has become a beloved tradition here that began as a way for Julie Egger (violinist) to honor her mother who passed just before/just after the first Poetic Ruckus show in 2023. This quartet has captured our audience every year by showcasing their incredible musicianship and playful dynamics with each song, whether it be one of their original compositions or when they dig deep into the songbook of the songs that have inspired them along their journey as musicians. They come from a milieu of musical backgrounds, weaving together Klezmer, Blues, Jazz, Improvisation, Classical, Folk, Rock and Roll, Baroque. Poetic Ruckus, a collaboration since 2017, takes listeners on a transformational journey.
House and Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage. Kyle is also a member of trad Irish band The Gas Men, where he sings and plays guitar and fiddle. Recordings include Hello Again Kind Stranger (2008), Tangletown (2008), Songs From Yeats’ Bee-Loud Glade (2011), Down In The West, Volume 1 (2013) , Down In the West, Volume 2 (2017), Fables (2020), Triple Fox (2022) and Golden Hour (2024).
Sunday, January 18 McQs Birthday Bash
Rancho Nicasio
Come celebrate the McQuilkin family birthdays at Marin’s legendary Rancho Nicasio nightclub on Sunday, January 18th. . Alexander McQuilkin turns 35 on the 17th and his Mom, Grandpa Wally, and Cousin Nolan all have their birth- days the same week. This special show will benefit the San Geronimo Valley
4th Friday of Each Month 7:00 - 9:30 pm Kates Cafe Open Mic - Ongoing Series
Community Center’s Arts and Events programs which features Michael McQuilkin’s annual Family Music Hour show. Enjoy great music, food, and dancing to the sounds of the West Marin’s All-Stars Featuring Michael McQuilkin, Tealy Gapinski, Kevin Frazier, Michael Pinkham, John Cunningham, Jerome Bohlman, and Katherine Wethington. Reserve tables and come early for this 5pm show – birthday cake included! Tickets $20 Sunday, January 11, 4-7 pm David Hoffman Residency Events
Jan 23, Feb 27, Mar 27
Each month, Paul and Juliette Valente host Kate’s Café Open Mic , a beloved local tradition. The event draws a loyal crowd and features a fresh, curated lineup of performers every time. Over the past few months, audiences have enjoyed a great mix—familiar Kate’s regulars alongside new faces making their debut on the scene. Named in honor of folk legend and one time Community Center Board Member Kate Wolf , Kate’s Café welcomes all kinds of performers: musicians, poets, writers, comedians, and singer-songwriters of all levels. You never know what you’ll get—
maybe a returning favorite with new material, a first-time performer with a standout song, or a writer who steals the show with a poignant story. It’s the kind of night that captures the heart of small-town creativity: friendly, unpredictable, and full of talent. Come early, grab a seat, and enjoy the mix of art, community, and connection that makes Kate’s Café such a special part of the Valley. If you’re interested in playing at Kate’s contact Juliette Valente - j.valente@com- cast.net or 415-488-9074. Each month the show is curated and set before the show date, so get on the list to perform at a future Kate’s Cafe.
Art Reception
The month of January will see a series of events with self prescribed “Tea Guru” and Valley legend David Hoffman. This month-long “residency series” kicks off with the Art Reception on Sunday, January 11, from 4-7 pm , featuring photo- graphs from his 1971 trek to remote villages in Nepal. In conjunction with his art show, Hoffman will host several related events, all hosted in the West Room. There will also be a slide show and discussion on a date to be confirmed. David Lee Hoffman has been traveling the remote back country of Asia for more than forty years seeking out the world’s finest rare, organic, and wild pure leaf teas. In the early 1970s, he began importing pu’er teas from Nepal, and eventually ven- tured into remote regions in China to seek out fine, rare, and wild teas. He is the first American to work directly with tea farmers in China and to engage in joint ventures with old, established tea gardens. With an extensive background in
Big Oak Trio
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