FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 13th, 2025
Contact: Hayden Anderson, hayden@gfpublicaffairs.com, 480.848.2946
***PRESS RELEASE***
GLOBAL VIBRATIONS ON A LOCAL STAGE: TENDERLOIN MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNS
The Tenderloin Music & Arts Festival returns with three powerful days of unapologetic creativity, radical self-expression, and unwavering local pride.
San Francisco, CA — The Tenderloin Music & Arts Festival will return to San Francisco on May 16–18, 2025, activating Civic Center Plaza and a dozen surrounding Tenderloin venues with a wide range of live performances and artistic programming. The free, all-ages, three-day festival is produced by Psyched! Radio San Francisco, with support from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), the Tenderloin Community Benefit District (TLCBD), Mid-Market Foundation, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, and the Transgender District.
This year’s festival will feature over 100 performers, including musicians, drag artists, poets, DJs, and experimental sound artists. In addition to live music, programming includes spoken word, immersive and sound-based installations, and site-specific performances across indoor and outdoor spaces. Performances will take place at Civic Center Plaza, where two outdoor stages will be constructed for the occasion, as well as venues including Dodge Alley, Edinburgh Castle, Emperor Norton’s Boozeland, HA-RA, Kozy Kar, and Shovels Bar.
“Every neighborhood in San Francisco deserves vibrant public spaces where families and neighbors can connect and thrive,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “The Tenderloin Music and Arts Festival brings that vision to life—celebrating local artists, energizing our streets, and providing opportunities to enjoy the best of what this neighborhood has to offer. Thank you to Psyched! Radio and all the organizers for filling spaces across the Tenderloin with music, poetry, drag, and so much more.”
“The Tenderloin Music & Arts Festival is a welcome example of how activations in our community bring people, art, and joy together while uplifting our local artists through its neighborhood-first approach,” said Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the Tenderloin neighborhood. “The Tenderloin is rich in culture and arts; I encourage all to join us for this free and fun event.”
Unlike many commercial music festivals, the Tenderloin Music & Arts Festival emphasizes a neighborhood-first approach, featuring underrepresented artists, grassroots production methods, and venues embedded in the local community. Performers range from internationally touring bands to independent Bay Area artists, offering a broad and eclectic lineup that intentionally avoids the traditional festival model.
The festival is organized by Psyched! Radio San Francisco, a 24/7 broadcast station that supports underground artists, hosts community programming, and produces the annual Psyched! Fest. In recent years, the organization has become a fixture in the Bay Area’s independent arts ecosystem, with a focus on DIY ethics, cultural accessibility, and platforming voices not often seen on mainstream stages.
“The Tenderloin has always been a place where creativity thrives,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “When we invest in hyperlocal arts, we’re also investing in small businesses, in foot traffic, in jobs, and in the identity that makes each neighborhood thrive. We’re proud to back events like this that let local artists take the lead and bring people together in ways that bring energy to our city.”
“We’re proud to support a festival that puts the Tenderloin’s creative identity front and center,” said Kate Robinson, Executive Director of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District. “This neighborhood has long been home to working artists, performers, and cultural organizers. Supporting an event that brings their work into public spaces—on their own terms—is exactly the kind of visibility and investment the Tenderloin deserves.”
Throughout the three days, audiences can expect performances from artists such as Son Rompe Pera, Fake Fruit, Juicebumps, Marina Fages, and others. The programming reflects a wide range of genres, languages, and mediums.
“We’re grateful that this festival gives us a chance to give back to a place that’s both historically significant and deeply in need of support,” said Guillermo Goyri, President of Psyched! Radio’s Board of Directors, and lead organizer for the Festival. “Our goal is to bring diversity to the forefront and support this incredible local talent that deserves space and recognition. And honestly, we love being in a position to help make that happen.”
Fake Fruit band member Hannah D’Amato stated, “It’s an honor for Fake Fruit to be a headliner on this festival lineup. I really feel like there’s something for everyone! Psyched has done a great job choosing partner organizations. The communities folks have built in the Tenderloin need to be protected, not swept away, and our trans community is very vulnerable right now too.”
The event is free to attend, open to all ages, and aims to highlight the cultural depth and creative infrastructure of the Tenderloin neighborhood through site-specific performances and public programming.
The full lineup, schedule, and venue map are available at PsychedRadioSF.com
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