Find a social dance venue in the North Bay. Updated weekly.
- Where to social dance in May 2022
SUN 5/8 2-5pm – Lonestar Retrobates at PYC Presidio Yacht Club, Travis Marina Bar. They’ll kick off the dust at 2 and delve right into a blend of sax, pedal steel, trumpet, fiddle, guitar, piano that meshes everything from cajun and honky tonk to big ballroom sounds into something that makes your feet bounce all over the floor like squishing heartbeats. There, in the romantic ocean mist under the Golden Gate Bridge, there’s dancers waiting. Inside. $10. It’s a holiday in itself.
WED 5/11 7:30-10pm – Return of the Ray Simpson Big Band ~ Corte Madera Community Center. 498 Tamalpais Drive. The 17-piece Ray Simpson Band plays the music of the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s- from swing to jazz. Dances begin at 7:30pm. For anyone unfamiliar with the venue, it has a very large 2000sf ‘glazed’ cement floor that is dance shoe friendly, is usually set up with round tables seating 8 or so, and has a parking lot to the right rear of the building, plus the bank lot and the street. In the past, a modest refreshment bar of veggies and dips was included / well, it was way modest, so feel free to try out your snacks on us. Even bag some bubbly. Admission is $10 at the door.
FRI 5/13 5-8pm – Dorian Mode ~ Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes Station. 50th Anniversary Celebration. Horse up the buggy, tie your sun hat on, and chill. We’ll have a lovely little drive through the country and meander past town around the corner to an unassuming schoolhouse looking building. You walk in past the kid art, sniff the cookie table, glance around at the dancers and wave at Dorian but she has her hands full of strings so you glance around again at aha, someone grabs your hand and, that’s all I remember…
“Please join us in honoring the Dance Palace founders with an elegant outdoor evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music by The doRiaN Mode. Ticket donation $125, deductible.
See the irresistible cuteness: https://dancepalace.orgFRI 5/13 8-11:30pm – Cosmo Alleycats ~ Local Edition. 691 Market Street SF. The Cosmo Alleycats are a spirited and dance band that brings to the stage a potent mix of vintage dance music with a dynamic, soulful delivery. They are, hands-down, the most talented group of individuals playing music in the Bay Area. Not only does Emily’s voice and style take you back to another era, but her band plays with an excitement and vigor that you don’t typically hear.” It’s worth the trip, Flip.
SAT 5/14 8-10pm – Dorian Mode ~ Reel & Brand. Dorian Bartley is a swing-rhythm-aholic, and her singing keeps you company like a slobbered-on teddy bear while the band massages your heart. You’ll smell your soles melting while dancing to great vintage jazz and swinging R&B. Dancehall dining with that old Sonoma feel. Reel & Brand is the bestest dance place, you’re on the acclaimed 1912 hand built oak parkay polka floor. Bestest ever. Inside, close to the band. Fast bar and great menu choices from under the sea to home on the range.
SAT 5/14 6pm – Verdi Club Dinner Dance ~ Vintage Jukebox crooning like a French Sinatra. For more than 100 years the Verdi Club Dinner Dance has endured as a classic San Francisco experience like no other. One of the few multi-generational affairs to be found throughout the city, the Verdi Club Dinner Dance keeps it simple with a focus on great food, live music, and dancing the night away.
Come celebrate Verdi Club’s 106th year with music by The Vintage Jukebox! Please email rsvp@verdiclub.net if you’d like to reserve a full table. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/verdi-club-anniverary-dinner-dance-tickets-323504609997SUN 5/15 4-6pm – Starduster Orchestra ~ Mill Valley Depot Plaza, Special edition. Outdoors! Oh sure, we can use all those waltz swing and foxtrot tricks we learned laughingly. Come on down and ballroom dance to the big band sounds of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Special Guests: Vocalist Noah Griffin & Sheilah Glover! Free, a 17 piece band, so tip like you’re a relative with 16 cousins to support.
SUN 5/15 6-9pm Donna Spitzer & Sweet City Blues ~ Mac’s Fairfax. Our honey throated nightingale Swing Nut sweetens the air with lilting poetry and warbling temptations. Full band, the musicians are flying, too. Inside.
FRI 5/20 5-10 Off The Grid Friday Night Food Truck Party ~ Fort Mason SF ~ Andre Thierry Zydeco at 8:00
Skip lunch, pause the diet, there is a special feast at every turn. Check it out at https://fortmason.org/event/off-grid-2022
The floor is asphalt, as we’ve all learned to cope with. Zydeco is swing-able, or you may want to gather around Joe when he’s showing some zydeco moves. Andre music, you may love it: https://www.andrethierry.com/musicFRI 5/20, 28 7-10pm Mitch Woods ~ Trattoria Ghiringhelli Pizza, Novato. 1535 South Novato Blvd. All rebuilt with a nice dance floor. Great pizza and other inspired stuff. Also on 5/28.
FRI 5/20 8-11:30pm – Cosmo Alleycats ~ Club DeLuxe in SF
SAT 5/21 8-11pm – Donna Spitzer & Sweet City Blues ~ Ghiringhelli’s Pizza Novato. Our honey throated nightingale Swing Nut sweetens the air with lilting poetry and warbling temptations. Full band, the musicians are pretty sweet, too, as the name says.
SAT 5/21 7-11 Void Where Prohibited ~ Trek Wines, Novato. Classic rock covers from the 60’s and 70’s, plus a few favorites from the 80’s and 90’s. $10
SAT 5/21 5-8pm – Miracle Mule @ Big Rock Deli. Lucas Valley Road. Mmm, good ribs ’n kickin chicken. Outside.
SUN 5/22 from 2-5pm – Manny Gutierrez Band plays at “B Street Ballroom” at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street. $15 per person. Plenty of parking. Great dance floor. Light refreshments.
SUN 5/22 6-9pm – David Sturdivant & Medicine Ball ~ Sausalito Cruising Club ~ An eclectic Bay Area ensemble featuring a revolving line-up of all star entertainers brought together by founder and bandleader David Sturdevant. Known for his unique pairings of award winning multi-instrumentalists and first class vocalists, David delivers danceable Americana, Jazz and R&B hits. Inside. Private club – call venue to get on the list. MON 5/23 7-10pm – Mitch Woods ~ Mac’s at 19 Broadway, Fairfax. Inside. Often jamming with the Boogie Woogie Drummer & the Boogie Woogie Bassist & or other Boogie Woogiers… and also often he’s all the one-man band you need. Every Monday through June. FRI 5/27 7-11pm – Terry Hanck ~ Nicks Rockaway in Pacifica. “Hanck is one of the most formidable saxophonists in the blues and soul business. He has a virile tone and attack and an uncanny command of upper-register notes.” Wave mist blowing in your face. Zing. Emotive musicians got the beat, you got the feet. Seafood, shells and stuff, you know.
SAT 5/28 7-9pm – Awesome Hotcakes ~ Reel & Brand, Sonoma. Spike Sikes wields a bravo saxophone!, among other instruments. Brass & Soul & A Lot Mo. A great strong sound, energy, originals and swing danceful tunes. The band will likely be inside, where you can dance on the 1912 hand crafted oak floor. Grand outdoor patio, too. Yes, the food rocks, too!
SAT 5/28 7-11pm – Void Where Prohibited ~ SCC Classic rock covers from the 60’s and 70’s, plus a few favorites from the 80’s and 90’s. All done very well and quick. Take an energy pill. Inside. SCC is a private club, If you are a non-member and want to attend, please send us your name and we’ll add you to the Guest List..
Email Eric at voidband1@gmail.com to get on their guest list for entry.SAT 5/28 8pm – The 7th Sons ~ Community Media Center. 819 A Street, San Rafael. Marin Artists Showcase. Gawsh, these guys have gotten so good! I’m not sure why they are here, but it seems they are doing a live tv show. You might be the star you are. CMCM-MARIN TV | 819 A Street, San Rafael CA 94901 | 415 721-0636 | info@cmcm.tv
SUN 5/29 6-9pm – Donna Spitzer & Sweet City Blues ~ SCC. Our honey throated nightingale Swing Nut sweetens the air with lilting poetry and warbling temptations. Full band, the musicians are pretty sweet, too, as the name says. Inside. SCC is a private club. Email Donna to get on her guest list for entry. donnaspitzer@comcast.net
FRI 6/3 8-10pm – Eldon Brown Band ~ Trattoria Ghiringhelli Pizza, Novato. 1535 South Novato Blvd. This hot hot band swings like they invented it. Original blues oriented with some boogie woogie/swing. Great singing and sax by Eldon and a killer repertoire that keeps us enthralled. Dance love!
FRI 6/3 5-7:30pm Dorian Mode ~ William Tell House. Tomales.
SUN 6/12 4-8pm – Daisy’s Dinner Dance ~ Art Deco Society ~ Maple Lawn at San Rafael Elks Lodge 1312 Mission Ave San Rafael. The Art Deco Society of California and the Elks Lodge of San Rafael present a new event: Daisy’s Dinner Dance. Enjoy supper with no host cocktails and live music by Sweden’s Queen of Swing: Gunhild Carling! For all you well heeled dancers.
Tix $95-160