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San Francisco Chronicle
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Is SoSF the Bay Area's Fyre Festival?
What was supposed to be San Francisco's hottest new Pride Weekend celebration has devolved into confusion and controversy, leaving many ticket holders frustrated and struggling to secure refunds. SoSF, a waterfront concert scheduled for Saturday, June 28, with headliner Kehlani, faced backlash earlier this month after the Oakland R&B singer withdrew from the lineup. Her exit followed a string of concert cancellations due to her outspoken support for Palestinians. DJ Adam Kraft, founder of event company Fake and Gay, and drag queen Nicki Jizz, who created the 'Reparations' drag show, subsequently dropped out, citing disagreements with the festival's stance on the issue. Organizers offered refunds to ticket holders due to the lineup changes, but mere days before the outdoor event, many report they're struggling to get their money back as promised. 'It's pretty sketchy behavior,' Jackson Bowers, 29, told the Chronicle. In the weeks that followed the lineup changes, organizers changed the event's name, switched its venue and wiped its social media presence. 'I was excited that they offered refunds but now it seems like they're just totally ghosting us.' The Cole Valley resident said that organizers sent out an email on June 5 announcing the lineup change. The event, set to take place outdoors at 900 Marin St., across the street from Pier 80's warehouse where it was originally booked, is still set to feature 'Nasty' singer Tinashe and Grammy-winning pop star Kim Petras, among others. After consulting his friends who had also purchased tickets, Bowers decided to request a refund on Thursday, June 19, via the email address provided by organizers. He said he paid a little more than $100 for one ticket. The Chronicle has reached out to SoSF organizers for comment. 'I texted my friend and I asked him, 'If we were rich, would we have fallen for Fyre Festival?' because I kind of feel like I did,' said Manuel Gallardo, referencing the disastrous luxury music festival that was meant to take place in the Bahamas in 2017 but was quickly canceled after its initial attendees lacked basic amenities. The 32-year-old Mission District resident said that he spent more than $200 for two tickets after fees, but decided to request a refund after the lineup changed and the event rebranded to Pride 2025 Block Party, sparking confusion. Like Bowers, he is waiting for his SoSF ticket refund, despite having reached out to organizers several times since June 18. 'I don't have very strong feelings about the political arguments that are being made, but I think that the response to Kehlani's political stance was offputting to me,' he said. 'It's a bummer that the event didn't really seem that it had its attendees top of mind or made us feel very good about going.' Oakland resident Julie F. was similarly bothered by the way organizers responded to the 'After Hours' singer's politics, and said that she and her partner requested refunds to ensure that they're 'standing in solidarity with what we feel is the deplatforming of Kehlani.' She declined to share her full last name due to safety concerns regarding her political opinions. While Julie's partner reached out at the beginning of the month and received a refund on June 11, she is still awaiting a response after sending her own request on June 15, plus several follow-ups. Jeshua John, 31, also received a refund on June 11 after submitting his request on June 8. The Haight-Ashbury resident said he decided not to support the event because it didn't align with his values, and he wanted to respect the local artists who had voiced concerns. 'I think it's important to not just have your ear to the ground but also be able to take cues from local artists that we all know and respect,' he said. 'I just feel better about myself knowing where my dollars are going.' John said that he was already skeptical of organizers when they announced the lineup change on Instagram, and screenshotted the post in which they asserted that all ticket holders would be eligible for a refund. The post has since been deleted. 'It's been frustrating but not necessarily surprising,' Julie, 27, said. 'They haven't really been very forward about what to do, what the process is, and also applying an unfair standard for people based on when they had the capacity to process refunds.' She said she paid $95.61 for her ticket by using a discount code, and has attempted to cancel her transaction directly through her credit card, though the process typically takes a few weeks. Even if their refunds aren't issued before Saturday, Julie, Bowers and Gallardo all said that they don't plan to attend. Instead, Bowers plans to hang out in Dolores Park, while Gallardo says he'll check out a different event. Julie doesn't have anything lined up yet. Gallardo noted that he was particularly disappointed by the SoSF shakeup because he wanted to support the revitalization of San Francisco's party scene. 'I just feel like with nightlife kind of coming back in the city after the pandemic I was wanting to support something that was gonna be new,' he said. Bowers also noted he was looking forward to something different. 'It's a shame since everything has unfolded since then,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F.'s new Pride festival faces backlash over stance on war in Gaza
Two Bay Area artists have pulled out of SoSF, because of organizers' stance on the war in Gaza, and are instead planning their own competing Pride event. DJ Adam Kraft, founder of the event company Fake and Gay, and drag queen Nicki Jizz, who created the 'Reparations' drag show, opted to part ways with the outdoor music event scheduled for June 28 shortly after Oakland native Kehlani decided to drop off the lineup as SoSF's headliner last week. 'SoSF made a statement regarding Kehlani's stance and language being pro-Palestine, which resulted in a wave of comments asking them to clarify exactly what issues they had with Kehlani's position and language,' Kraft told the Chronicle on Monday, June 9. 'We, along with the majority of our community, stand with the Palestinian people, and felt that message should not be obfuscated.' The Chronicle has reached out to SoSF organizers for comment. The since-deleted statement by SoSF was posted to social media in May shortly after Kehlani faced concert cancellations by Cornell University and Central Park's SummerStage Pride concert over what the Ivy League deemed 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.' As first reported by the Standard, the statement noted that the festival's team 'fundamentally disagree' with Kehlani's language, and went on to explain they were seeking to 'engage with her team' instead of canceling her San Francisco appearance. A joint statement by Kehlani and the festival was also included in an effort to smooth over any new criticism. 'No person should ever fall casualty of a war they did not choose and do not support,' the statement read. 'This sentiment extends to Jewish people, the same way it extends to Palestinian people, the same way it extends to all people.' In April, Kehlani responded to her Cornell concert cancellation with an Instagram video clarifying that she is 'anti-genocide' and 'anti the actions of the Israeli government.' But she has continued to be criticized for her views. The singer has frequently used her platform to voice her opposition to Israel and Zionism, and included the phrase 'long live the intifada' in the music video for her 2024 song 'Next 2 U.' The phrase translates to 'uprising' or 'resistance' in Arabic, but is also considered by some as a call for violence against Jews. While announcing Kehlani severed ties with the event on Instagram, SoSF organizers revealed that the one-day celebration would no longer be at Pier 80's warehouse. Instead, it's set to take place as a block party across the street at 900 Marin St. That post has since been deleted, though this information is still on the event's website. It is still unclear why Kehlani, who identifies as a lesbian and uses she/they pronouns, withdrew from SoSF. But Kraft said that it did influence his and Nicki Jizz's plans to cancel their appearances. 'We pulled out of SoSF because we felt like our and our community's voices were not being heard or considered and for a Pride event, especially in this moment under the current administration, uplifting queer voices should be of the utmost importance,' Kraft said. 'I just couldn't bring myself to be a part of an event which started to feel more and more exploitative of pink dollars during such a crucial time.' 'This was an easy decision to make to stand up for what's right,' Nicki Jizz added. Looking ahead, Kraft and Nicki Jizz are determined to pull together their own Pride weekend event. 'We would love to be able to provide an alternative space where people feel more comfortable and excited to attend, and know that their money is not going to a cause or entity that is actively in opposition to their own views,' Kraft said. 'It is super last minute to attempt to do something, but we are trying our best.' Both Kraft and Nicki Jizz noted that the SoSF organizers they have worked with throughout the process have been 'understanding' and 'supportive.' But Kraft pointed out 'it feels like mixed messaging,' as the way in which organizers have continued to promote the event doesn't align with their behavior behind the scenes. One example he cited is that when SoSF shared its new flyer, sans Kehlani, they made no mention of his or Nicki Jizz's departure. 'To me that speaks volumes,' Kraft said. 'They were only using us for our local audience reach and did not value us as contributors to the event.'
San Francisco Chronicle
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
New S.F. Pride festival loses headliner weeks before event
Oakland R&B singer Kehlani has pulled out of the lineup for San Francisco's new Pride celebration, SoSF, leaving the event without a main headliner three weeks before it's scheduled to take place. The festival, a new one-day block party, announced that the 'After Hours' singer has decided to no longer be a part of the line-up' in an Instagram post shared on Thursday, June 5. Organizers also announced that the event, set for June 28, will no longer be held at Pier 80's warehouse. Instead, it will take place outdoors at 900 Marin Street, just across the street from the original location. The Chronicle has reached out to SoSF for more information. 'Nasty' singer Tinashe and Grammy-winning pop artist Kim Petras remain on the updated bill as headliners, and German DJ and Portola Festival alum Horsegirl has been added as a special guest. Still others on the festival's roster appear to be in flux. San Francisco DJ Adam Kraft, the 'Reparations' drag show and event company Fake and Gay have also dropped out of the lineup according to an Instagram story post from Kraft, which Fake and Gay then reposted. Kraft teased that a statement on the artists' decision to drop out would be 'prepared soon.' None of these acts are listed on the SoSF website anymore. Kehlani has been under fire recently for her stance on the war in Gaza. Her performance at Cornell University's end-of-school-year Slope Day was nixed by the school's president in April due to what he deemed 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments." The artist has frequently used her platform to speak out in opposition against Israel and Zionism. She included keffiyehs, traditional Arabic scarves often associated with Palestinian identity, in the music video for her 2024 song 'Next 2 U,' which also uses the phrase 'long live the intifada,' which translates to 'uprising' or 'resistance' in Arabic. The term is also considered, by some, as a call for violence against Jews. Though the Oakland School for the Arts alum quickly responded via an Instagram video, refuting accusations of antisemitism by clarifying that she is 'anti-genocide' and 'anti the actions of the Israeli government,' more concert cancellations followed.
San Francisco Chronicle
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Outside Lands 2025 announces Dolores' lineup featuring Rebecca Black, local legends
Rebecca Black, who shot to fame with her viral hit 'Friday,' is among the special guests at Outside Lands for the return of Dolores', its open-air dance club dedicated to celebrating the Bay Area's queer and trans communities. Set to take over the Polo Field during the festival's 17th edition, from Aug. 8-10 in Golden Gate Park, Dolores' marks its second year with a lineup that promises a high-energy blend of DJs, live performances and drag artistry curated by local nightlife staples Fake and Gay, Oasis Arts and Polyglamorous. Among the standouts joining Black over the weekend are DJs Father Figure and Chase Icon. Drag luminaries from Oasis, including D'Arcy Drollinger and Nicki Jizz, are also set to appear alongside collectives like Baloney & Friends and Reparations. 'Dolores' honors the extensive history of queer arts, events, and activism both in San Francisco and beyond,' organizers said. 'All are welcome at Dolores'!' In the lead-up to the festival, Outside Lands will also host a pre-party at the Independent on June 28 dubbed Bay Area Pride Amplified! The event will feature Bay Area queer talent and drag performers including Emily Afton, Pillowprince and Aurris X Lilith. This year's Outside Lands will be headlined by Tyler, the Creator (making up for his 2024 cancellation), Doja Cat and Hozier, alongside more than 100 acts, including Beck, Doechii, Anderson .Paak, Vampire Weekend and Ludacris. Single-day tickets begin at $199, while three-day passes start at $465. All ticket options are available online at Among other returning experiences at Outside Lands this year are City Hall, an exclusive outdoor wedding venue where festivalgoers can legally marry or renew their vows, and SOMA, the festival's open-air house and techno stage. The latter will feature a fresh redesign by Studio RRD with creative direction from Iron Bloom and performances by top artists like Black Coffee, Claude VonStroke and Floating Points.
