Author: Alfredo Casuso

SF Leonard Cohen Festival Returns November 7 & 8 at YBCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2025 

CONTACT: Clay Eugene Smith 
sfleonardcohenfest@gmail.com 
510-213-2226 

2025 SAN FRANCISCO LEONARD COHEN FESTIVAL RETURNS NOVEMBER 3RD, 5TH, 7TH, AND 8TH WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY GRAMMY-NOMINATED SINGER-SONGWRITER PERLA BATALLA 

SAN FRANCISCO (October 2, 2025) – The annual celebration of the work of the late troubadour, Leonard Cohen, returns to San Francisco November 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th. Conspiracy of Beards, the San Francisco-based Leonard Cohen tribute choir, will present the festival’s four evenings of programming, which includes performances by Perla Batalla, Genny Lim, Conspiracy of Beards, The Crux, Conspiracy of Venus, The John Mackay Trio, and the Red Room Orchestra. Venues for the festival include Great American Music Hall, November 3rd; The Lost Church, November 5th; and Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), November 7th and 8th. 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, Great American Music Hall – 8:00 pm 

Red Room Orchestra, Conspiracy of Beards – A Tribute to Leonard Cohen and the Music of the Film “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” 

The Red Room Orchestra presents an evening of music from filmmaker Robert Altman’s “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” plus other Leonard Cohen cinematic classics, featuring Tom Ayres, Marc Capelle, Karina Denike, Petra Haden, Jess Ivry, Dina Maccabee, Genarro Pocaro, Pete Straus, and Conspiracy of Beards. 

Formed by San Francisco producer and multi-instrumentalist Marc Capelle in 2017, the Red Room Orchestra is a collective of popular, jazz, classical, and electronic composers and performers who’ve played and recorded alongside the Bad Seeds, the Plastic Ono Band, Cibo Matto, Oingo Boingo, Sonic Youth, CAKE, American Music Club, Lou Harrison, the Steve Reich Ensemble, the Nels Cline Singers, Rodriguez, Iggy Pop, Tune-Yards, Bill Frisell, and more. They’ve offered live renderings of the music of David 

Lynch’s “Twin Peaks,” reinterpretations of the soundtracks of Wes Anderson’s “Rushmore” and “The Royal Tenenbaums,” the Coen Brothers’ “The Big Lebowski,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights,” Hal Ashby’s “Harold and Maude,” Joel Schumacher’s “The Lost Boys,” and Alex Cox’s “Repo Man.” At “Netflix is a Joke: The Festival,” they were the house band for Seth Rogen’s live reads of “Seinfeld,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and “Clueless” at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. For SFFILM they composed and performed original scores for the short films from Stephen Parr’s Oddball Films archive. They have performed at The Chapel and the Great American Music Hall for SF Sketchfest, at Outside Lands, Clusterfest, and at Symphony Space in NYC. The Red Room Orchestra projects are co-curated and produced by SF Sketchfest’s David Owen. 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5th, The Lost Church – 7:15 pm 

Conspiracy of Venus, The John Mackay Trio – To the End of Love: An Evening of Leonard Cohen Interpretations 

The San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival presents an evening of instrumental and vocal interpretations of Cohen’s work through arrangements by Conspiracy of Venus and The John Mackay Trio. 

Conspiracy of Venus is a San Francisco-based female ensemble of treble voices that sings contemporary music by icons of the singer-songwriter tradition, from artists such as Joni Mitchell to PJ Harvey. They also perform music by Duke Ellington, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, and original compositions by their arranger/director, Joyce Todd McBride. Recent projects include a series of arrangements of local singer-songwriters, including Brian Belknap, Rhys, and Paul Pot. They will be performing Joyce’s settings of the poetry of Bertolt Brecht at the SF International Arts Festival in 2026. Established in 2007, the group has performed at many of the Bay Area’s finest venues and has toured New York City twice. They are the sister choir to the men’s choir, Conspiracy of Beards. They are honored to present four pieces by Leonard Cohen for this program. Joyce Todd McBride’s arrangements celebrate the richness of the song texts, and her settings often play with the harmonic, rhythmic, and contrapuntal possibilities they conjure. The singers of Conspiracy of Venus come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds and bring considerable interpretive skill to these great songs. 

Originally hailing from Toronto, Canada, but now making his home in the Bay Area, John Mackay has had a long career in the music business as an award-winning performer, composer/arranger, and recording artist. He has performed around the world to rave reviews, playing both his own music and the works of well-known composers and songwriters. John’s latest album, released earlier this year, features his trio performing original, highly energetic jazz arrangements of Leonard Cohen’s music. 

KCSM, the Bay Area’s main jazz radio station, has given the recording steady airplay since its release last February. 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) – 7:30 pm 

Conspiracy of Beards, The Crux, San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim – The Unified Heart of Leonard Cohen 

San Francisco’s Conspiracy of Beards perform their new show, “The Unified Heart of Leonard Cohen” celebrating Cohen’s words, music, and contemplations on “The Order of the Unified Heart,” the symbol of two hearts intertwined that appears on the cover of the 1984 poetry collection, “Book of Mercy.” This book is said to have inspired the 1985 album, “Various Positions,” which includes some of Cohen’s most iconic songs, including “If It Be Your Will,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah.” 

The Crux is a mad scientist’s music laboratory, where songs are presented as theatrical experiments with an odd and beautiful intensity…Lullabies to drink your morning coffee to. Gospel songs for the faithless. Pirate shanties for people who get seasick. Swing music for the graceless. 

The Crux has appeared as chain-rattling klezmer folk punks, an unhinged revival service, a theatrical film-noir jazz combo, and more.This band is a true North Bay institution with a revolving cast of musicians assembled and coaxed into action by regional impresario Josh Windmiller. The Crux will present Cohen’s “New Skin for the Old Ceremony” and other hits. San Francisco Poet Laureate, Genny Lim will open the evening with an original work inspired by the Buddhism reflected in Leonard Cohen’s poetry and music. Leonard Cohen’s Buddhist name was Jikan. Ms. Lim will be performing Dharma poems in collaboration with cellist Kathryn Bates, in tribute to Jikan. 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) – 7:30 pm 

Perla Batalla – A Letter to Leonard Cohen: A Tribute to a Friend 

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Perla Batalla will bring her acclaimed show, “A Letter to Leonard Cohen: A Tribute to a Friend,” to the stage on Saturday, November 8th at the Blue Shield Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The program draws from Batalla’s recently released album and is a deeply personal and masterful homage to the legendary singer, songwriter, and poet, with whom she collaborated and toured for over a decade. 

Batalla’s tribute stands apart from other interpretations, enriched by her direct, personal connection to Cohen, who guided and encouraged her early career. Her powerful and emotive performances have earned her a reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after interpreters of Cohen’s timeless music. 

“Leonard was my dear friend and mentor,” says Batalla. “This project is a way to tell the story of my love and respect for him and to honor his legacy. When I perform his songs, I feel his presence, and I am reminded of his joyful and generous spirit.” 

The album “A Letter to Leonard Cohen: A Tribute to a Friend,” which forms the basis for the show, was released in September 2024 to coincide with Cohen’s 90th birthday. It features Batalla’s unique and innovative reinterpretation of Cohen’s classic works, alongside two original songs, including “The L of Your First Name,” which reflects on her intimate friendship with the artist. 

During the performance, Batalla weaves together Cohen’s iconic lyrics with her own distinct storytelling and musical arrangements. The production is dedicated to the late legendary music producer Hal Willner, who inspired Batalla’s collaborative approach. 

This show is an elegant intersection of deeply personal tribute and fearless originality, showcasing Batalla’s talent as both an artist and a storyteller. It is an essential event for Leonard Cohen fans and anyone who appreciates masterful and heartfelt music. 

“Battalla’s gorgeous, rich, contralto voice adds another layer of beauty to Cohen’s elegantly crafted songs.” – San Jose “Mercury News” 

“…Batalla is blessed with an assured and matured vocal instrument, rich, sonorous, and deep….” – Joe Woodard, “Santa Barbara Independent” 

About Perla Batalla: Perla Batalla is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter known for her powerful vocals and boundary-defying musical style. With a career spanning decades, she has performed in prestigious venues worldwide and released numerous critically acclaimed albums. Her deep friendship and artistic collaboration with Leonard Cohen have uniquely positioned her as a premier interpreter of his work. 

For media inquiries: CONTACT: Clay Eugene Smith 

510-213-2226 

sfleonardcohenfest@gmail.com 

https://conspiracyofbeards.com

The Conspiracy of Beards (COB) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that receives support from public and private funding sources. Donations/sponsorships to the 2025 SF Leonard Cohen Festival are gratefully accepted via this link https://conspiracyofbeards.com/donate/ 

Trump’s reversal on S.F. immigration surge shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s October, after all

San Francisco Chronicle
By Carl Nolte, Contributor Oct 25, 2025

Mayor Daniel Lurie’s cellphone rang a few nights ago. President Donald Trump was on the line, and after some discussion he agreed not to send federal forces to clean up what he’d called the mess in San Francisco. Talk about an October surprise!

That’s what I like about what the poets call “old October.” You never know what’s going to happen. October has both a bit of autumnal sadness mixed with a touch of spring optimism. And nearly every time something different.

Professional politicians are always wary of the days just before the November election when some event that could affect the election would happen — too late for a candidate to mount a response. Way back in 1980, William Casey, Ronald Reagan’s campaign manager, called it the “October Surprise.” 

I think it’s the season. The political ground shifts a bit in October. You can always tell by then who is going to win and who is going to lose. 

It’s not just the campaign rallies and the clever TV ads. It’s the shorter days, the dark mornings and the early sunsets that make people realize it is time to make up their minds. Time is moving on. You can feel it in the air. “All things on earth point home in old October,” Thomas Wolfe wrote.

I had a friend who told me over a drink one October day he was quitting his longtime job. “Why?” I asked. “It’s time,” he said.

Other people think October is the best of times, especially in sports. The best time, I’ve been told. Basketball is just starting up, football is in mid-stride, and October is the World Series, the Fall Classic. You will remember Reggie Jackson, the clutch hitter, “Mr. October” himself. 

I was lucky enough one year to see an October moment myself. I had been assigned a bit out of my league, to cover baseball, and was at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. It was the 1988 World Series, Dodgers vs. the Oakland Athletics, bottom of the ninth, two out. Dennis Eckersley, pitching for Oakland against Kirk Gibson, a surprise pinch hitter who was injured.

I remember the view from the stands: a night game; everything in the stands in shadow, the field all green, like the Emerald City in the “Wizard of Oz.” Gibson limped a bit at the plate, worked the count to three balls, two strikes. He was down to his last strike. Eckersley threw his last pitch. Gibson hit it over the fence. Vin Scully described it on TV: “The impossible has happened.” 

But the real impossible happened the next year, on Oct. 17, 1989, at Candlestick Park. Oakland was playing San Francisco this time, in the World Series. It had never happened before and will never happen again.

Maybe you were there that day, waiting for the game to start on that beautiful fall day. And then … an earthquake, the biggest in years. What were the odds of that? Only in October.

Mother Nature can turn on you in October. In the past few years October has been fire season with deadly wildfires. One of the worst was on Oct. 19, 1991, when a grass fire in the Berkeley hills set off a firestorm: 25 people died and nearly 3,000 home and apartment buildings were destroyed, a reminder that even a beautiful season can be a killer.

So it’s a mixture, a season for all seasons.

During another October some friends and I were camping on the north rim of Yosemite Valley, and at the end of the day we saw the fading sunset light the face of Half Dome just as a full moon rose, a sight I am still unable to describe properly.

There is something else this October — two green comets named Swan and Lemon are supposed to be visible in the western sky not long after sunset. They won’t be back for another thousand Octobers.

We had a touch of rain this month, a bit unusual for the season. I was checking the backyard to see if the rain had an effect and noticed that tiny green shoots of grass had sprung up, produced by a combination of rain and warm sun. So October is not just the end of a season but the start of a new one. A real October surprise.

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Carl Nolte is a fourth generation San Franciscan who has been with The Chronicle since 1961. He stepped back from daily journalism in 2019 after a long career as an editor and reporter including service as a war correspondent. He now writes a Sunday column, “Native Son.” He won several awards, including a distinguished career award from the Society of Professional Journalists, a maritime heritage award from the San Francisco Maritime Park Association, and holds honorary degrees from the University of San Francisco and the California State University Maritime Academy.

Tuesday, October 28 Unveiling for Rainbow Honor Walk Plaque for Roger Casement

Media contacts:
David Perry & Associates, Inc / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007
Elizabeth Creely, Cultural Officer, Consulate General of Ireland /Elizabeth.creely@dfa.ie / (415) 494-1487

Ireland’s LGBTQ+ Hero Roger Casement Honored
on San Francisco’s Rainbow Honor Walk
www.rainbowhonorwalk.org 

Plaque Unveiling Ceremony:
Tuesday, October 28 at 4pm at 501 Castro Street

24 October 2025 — San Francisco, CA: The Consulate General of Ireland and the Rainbow Honor Walk (www.rainbowhonorwalk.org) will commemorate the life and legacy of Roger Casement — Irish patriot, humanitarian, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer — with a bronze plaque installed on San Francisco’s world famous “Gay Main Street.” The plaque will be unveiled at 4pm on Tuesday, October 28, in the Bank of America Plaza at 501 Castro Street, joining 44 other permanent tributes to notable LGBTQ+ individuals who have shaped world history and culture.

“We are gratified to work with the Rainbow Honor Walk and the United Irish Societies to celebrate the life of Roger Casement, an Irish patriot and  peerless human rights campaigner,” said Micheál Smith, Consul General of Ireland to the Western United States. “He stood up for the oppressed across continents and ultimately for the freedom of his own country. He was a gay man, whose truth when spoken in his lifetime was used against him. His memory today reminds us that the cause of equality and human dignity is universal and enduring”.

The ceremony will feature remarks from Neale Richmond, TD, Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Consul General Smith and members of the Rainbow Honor Walk Board. Representatives from Tourism Ireland, the United Irish Societies and community leaders will also attend.

“Never has it been more important than now to celebrate our LGBTQ heroes and heroines,” said Donna Sachet, President of the all-volunteer nonprofit Rainbow Honor Walk. “We are so honored and gratified that the Irish Consulate here in San Francisco is helping us lift up one such hero, Roger Casement.”

“The support we’ve received from the entire Irish and Irish American community has been extraordinary,” said Charlotte Ruffner, Vice President, Rainbow Honor Walk, noting the contributions of local Irish contractors to the effort. “Joe Whyte of LVI Engineering, and Mark Gorman of Gorman Pipeline, Inc., — Grand Marshal of San Francisco’s 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade —  have each donated their professional installation services. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

“The United Irish Societies of San Francisco are thrilled to have taken part in this Casement plaque installation- it is truly an honor to help commemorate such an important figure,” said Hilda Kissane, President, United Irish Societies. “ I am looking forward to seeing the plaque in place, and feel immense pride and excitement for how it will inspire others.”

Founder of the Rainbow Honor Walk, David Eugene Perry, also expressed his gratitude.

“30 years ago, my idea for paying tribute to our LGBTQ history has now, literally, spread across the ocean,” said Perry, who along with his husband, Alfredo Casuso, helped initiate the “Rainbow Cities” exchange between Cork, Ireland and San Francisco.  “I couldn’t be prouder that the rainbow torch has now been passed to a new generation of Honor Walk leadership.”

About Roger Casement (1864–1916):
A diplomat turned activist, Roger Casement remains one of Ireland’s most complex and inspiring historical figures — a man of profound moral conviction and compassion.  After joining the British Foreign Ministry in 1901 and serving as Consul at Boma in the Congo, Casement investigated and exposed human rights abuses under King Leopold II’s brutal regime. His groundbreaking “Casement Report” (1904) helped end a 23-year reign of terror in the so-called “Congo Free State,” forcing international reform.

Casement later turned his moral courage toward his homeland, becoming a fervent supporter of Irish independence. Arrested for his role in the Easter Rising of 1916, he was executed in London that same year. Only decades later did the world begin to acknowledge the injustice done to him — not only as a revolutionary, but as a gay man persecuted for his truth and identity.

About the Rainbow Honor Walk:
The Rainbow Honor Walk is a nonprofit organization that celebrates LGBTQ+ pioneers and trailblazers with bronze sidewalk plaques in San Francisco’s Castro District. Each plaque honors a historic figure who made a significant impact on history, culture, and civil rights. For more information, visit www.rainbowhonorwalk.org.