Ancient Future in Concert Fifth Decade (2018 => )

Alternate Reality Concert from the Ancient Future, June 12, 2021

"Ancient Future is a rare kind of band that might simultaneously aggravate purists, confound New Age dilettantes, seduce skeptics, and dazzle just about everybody else. Delicious compositions, intricate arrangements, crisp playing and impeccable production put these ambitious voyagers in a league of their own." –Derk Richardson, San Francisco Bay Guardian

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2023 Concert Dates

• Saturday, May 20, 2023, 4 PM, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Ferhan Qureshi (tabla), and Mariah Parker (santur), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Free to the public.
• Sunday, June 11, 2023, 3 PM, Mariah Parker (composition, piano, santur) and Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Fairfax Festival, Redwood Stage, Fairfax, CA 94930. Free.
• Sunday, September 10, 2023, 2 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Paul McCandless (sax), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Kash Killion (bass), and Brian Rice (percussion), Flower Piano, Zellerbach Stage, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94122. Buy Tix.
• Saturday, November 11, 7:00 PM, Meeting of Acoustic Minds with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Shenshen Zhang (pipa), and Mark Kostrzewa (acoustic guitar), Oddfellows Hall, Ocean View Lodge 143, 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Adm: $35 donation supports Youth Services and other programs of the Half Moon Bay Odd Fellows. Reservations available beginning Sept. 29.

2022 Concert Dates

• Saturday, May 21, 2022, 1:10 to 1:50 PM PST, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Vishal Nagar (tabla), Mariah Parker (santur), and Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri, sitting in on last tune), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Masks strongly recommended. Free to the public, but please donate to help save the fair as it was rained out in 2019, postponed due to COVID from May 2020 until October 2020, postponed again to October 2021, and then to May 2022.
• Saturday, June 18, 2022, 7:30 PM PST, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Mariah Parker (composition, piano, santur) Paul McCandless (woodwinds), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Kash Killion (bass), Ian Dogole (percussion), and special guest Mark Walker (Grammy winning percussionist), Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939. Adm: $30 ($27 for Lark Theater members). 45 minute concert is followed by a screening of Los Hermanos. Optimized HVAC system refreshing air up to 7 times per hour. Masks required.

2021 Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future

(1 MB JPEG of Matthew Montfort, Aditya Kalyanpur, Frank Martin)

Due to the pandemic, all of Ancient Future's in person public concerts in 2021 were cancelled.

While waiting for in person events to be safe and economically viable, Ancient Future embarked on a series of Alternate Reality Concerts announced in the Ancient Future Times. The very first Ancient Future Alternate Reality Concert with musicians performing together in real time occurred on June 12, 2021! We hope to add more shows as we raise funds through donations to pay for them.

• June 12, 2021, 3:30 PM PST/ 6:30 PM EST, Ancient Future Trio Live with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Frank Martin (keys), and Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), Zoom. Sponsored by Jhankar with the support of the Ohio Arts Council. Free!
• February 12, 2021, 7:30 PM PST, Matthew Montfort Online Birthday Concert, Zoom. Donations accepted. Facebook Event.

Virtual Music Workshops

• January 19 to February 23, 2021, Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM, Have Fun Learning to Read Music through Classical Guitar Technique, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Guitarists are often good at reading TAB, but poor at reading sheet music. This class by Matthew Montfort will get you started learning to read standard music notation, while at the same time introducing foundational classical guitar technique that you can also apply to other styles of playing. You'll learn simple etudes and classical pieces, great for boosting your fingerstyle skills while actually having fun learning to read music! Tuition: $180 for six weeks.
• January 20 to February 24, 2021, Wednesdays from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, World Beat Workshop, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Matthew Montfort’s Got Rhythm? workshop is presented in an easy to follow, entertaining, yet educational format for all music lovers. African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan and Indian classical music are presented because these traditions cover the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. This training from Montfort's book Ancient Traditions -- Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India can help anyone with a desire to improve their rhythmic skills. Tuition: $180 for six weeks.
• January 21 to February 25, 2021, Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:15 PM, Indian Raga for Western Musicians, Blue Bear School of Music Online. This masterclass by world fusion pioneer Matthew Montfort will help you improve your soloing in any music genre from rock to jazz to free improv through melodic training. Learn the emotional power of each interval and how to construct meaningful melodies through the tradition of Indian raga. Open to all instruments and voice. Tuition: $180 for six weeks.

2020 Concert Dates

Due to the pandemic, ALL of Ancient Future's in person concerts were postponed.

• Saturday, March 14, 7:30 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Mariah Parker (santur, keys), Empowerment Healing Arts Sanctuary, 616 C Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952. Postponed indefinitely.
• Saturday, March 28, 8 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.), Occidental, CA 95465. Tix: $22 in advance, $26 at door. Info: 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org. Postponed indefinitely.

Virtual Music Workshops

• July 8 to August 12, 2020, 7:30 to 8:45 PM, Get the Beat, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Tuition: $200 for 6 weeks, online. Facebook Event. Matthew Montfort returns to teach a virtual world beat workshop at Blue Bear School of Music Online. His Got Rhythm World Beat Workshop utilizes African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan, and Indian tala to highlight the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. Melodic aspects of the traditions will also be explored.
• November 3 to December 8, 2020 (Postponed from September 29), Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, Have Fun Learning to Read Music through Classical Guitar Technique, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Guitarists are often good at reading TAB, but poor at reading sheet music. This six week class by Matthew Montfort will get you started learning to read standard music notation, while at the same time introducing foundational classical guitar technique that you can also apply to other styles of playing. You'll learn simple etudes and classical pieces, great for boosting your fingerstyle skills while actually having fun learning to read music! Tuition: $160 for six weeks. Facebook Event.
• November 4 to December 9, 2020, Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 PM, World Beat Workshop, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Matthew Montfort’s Got Rhythm World Beat Workshop is presented in an easy to follow, entertaining, yet educational format for all music lovers. African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan and Indian classical music are presented because these traditions cover the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. This training from Montfort's book Ancient Traditions -- Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India can help anyone with a desire to improve their rhythmic skills. Tuition: $200 for six weeks. Buy Tix. Facebook Event.
• November 5 to December 17, 2020, Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:30 PM, Indian Raga for Western Musicians, Blue Bear School of Music Online. World fusion pioneer Matthew Montfort will help you improve your rock and jazz soloing through melodic training! You'll learn the emotional power of each interval and how to construct meaningful melodies through the tradition of Indian raga. Open to all instruments. Tuition: $200 for six weeks. Facebook Event.

2019 Concert Dates

• Thursday, February 7, 2019, 10 PM, Ancient Future performs live on Hear and Now on KPFA, 94.1 FM, Berkeley CA 94704.
• Tuesday, Feburary 12, 8 PM, Ancient Future 40th Anniversary Concert and Bandleader Birthday Party, Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. Press Release.
  
• Wednesday, February 20, 7 PM, Ancient Future History with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri and silver flute), and Mariah Parker (santur), Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma, CA 94952. Free. Info: 707-763-9801 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
• Friday, March 8, 8 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Teja Gerken (fingerstyle guitar), Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20. Info: visit wuweiteatemple.com. Facebook Event.
• Saturday, March 9, 3 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Teja Gerken (fingerstyle guitar), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free. Info: 707-869-9004 or visit visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
• Saturday, March 30, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future World Without Walls Trio with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Ian Dogole (percussion), Northwest Santa Rosa Library, 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Free. Info: 707-546-2265 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
  
• Saturday, April 20, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Arabic Percussion Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Central Santa Rosa Library, 211 E Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.Free. Info: 707-308-3020 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
  
• Saturday, April 27, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Pipa Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Shenshen Zhang (pipa), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476.Free. Info: 707- 996-5217 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
• Saturday, May 4, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Rohnert Park-Cotati Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park Expressway / State Farm Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928.Free. Info: 707-584-9121 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
• Saturday, May 11, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future World Without Walls Trio with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Ian Dogole (percussion), Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448.Free. Info: 707-433-3772 or visit sonomalibrary.org. Press Release. Facebook Event.
• Event Cancelled Due to Rain: Sunday, May 19, 3:25 to 3:55, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Ferhan Qureshi (tabla), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709.
• Saturday, May 25, 5 PM, Live Broadcast Benefit for KOWS Radio with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Nate Lopez (7 string guitar), 3 Disciples Brewing, 501 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Donations accepted.
• Sunday, May 26, 5 PM, Ancient Future World Without Walls Reunion(lineup that recorded World Without Walls and Asian Fusion), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Gallery 308, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109.
• Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Twelve Pianos Plus One: Film Screening plus Live Music, The Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, CA 94939. Buy Tix.
• Sunday, July 14, 5 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Flower Piano 2019, Main Stage, San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94122. Buy Tix.
• Sunday, July 28, 2019, 5 PM, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (keys), Jim Hurley (violin), and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Festival Mozaic, See Canyon Fruit Ranch, 2345 See Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Tix: $45 grass, $60 table (sold out). Buy Tix.
• Sunday, September 1, 3 PM, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Doug McKeehan (keys), and Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), Kentucky Mine Amphitheater, 100 Kentucky Mine Rd., Sierra City, CA 96125. Tix: $22 adv., $25 door, $10 kids 7 to 17 years old. Kids 6 and under are FREE! Buy Tix.
• Saturday, November 9, 7:30 PM, Meeting of Acoustic Minds with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Shenshen Zhang (pipa), and Mark Kostrzewa (acoustic guitar), Oddfellows Hall, Ocean View Lodge 143, 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Tix: $25 suggested donation. Reserve now or pay at the door.
• Saturday, November 23, 8 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Tix: $25 gen., $35 reserved seating. Info: 415-383-9600. Facebook Event. Buy Tix.
• Friday, December 6 , 8 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (American scalloped fretboard guitar and world fusion music pioneer) and Teja Gerken (German fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire),Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20. Info: visit wuweiteatemple.com.

Concert Posters (Click to Download .pdf )

2018 Concert Dates

• Saturday, January 6, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free. Info: 707-869-9004 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event. Press Release.
• Friday, February 9, 8 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (American scalloped fretboard guitar and world fusion music pioneer) and Teja Gerken (German fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire),Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20. Info: visit wuweiteatemple.com.
• Saturday, April 28, 8 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Abbos Kosimov (Uzbek Percussion), Watermelon Music, 1970 Lake Blvd, Suite #1, Davis CA 95616. Adm: $15. Tix at watermelonmusic.com. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Info: 530-758-4010. Press Release. Concert Poster. Facebook Event.
• Saturday, May 19, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free. Info: 707- 996-5217 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
• Sunday, May 20, 1:20 to 1:50 PM, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709.
• Saturday, July 21, 8 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.), Occidental CA 95465. Tix: $22 in advance, $26 at door. Info: 707-874-9392 or email info@occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
• Saturday, July 28, 8 PM, Ancient Future Arabic Fusion Ensemble, Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Adm: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating. TIx: tickets.throckmortontheatre.org. Info: 415-383-9600. Press Release. Concert Poster. Facebook Event.
• Sunday, August 4, 8:30 PM, Ancient Future Arabic Fusion Ensemble, Benefit Concert for UCO Lick Observatory, Main Building Hall, Mount Hamilton, CA 95140. Adm: $45 general seating, $90 preferred, $199 VIP. Tickets at www.ucolick.org/summer. SOLD OUT.
• Saturday, August 18, 8 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Doors open at 7:30 PM. Adm: $20 adv, $25 at door, $35 reserved seating. TIx: tickets.throckmortontheatre.org. Info: 415-383-9600.
• Saturday, September 8, 2 PM, Ancient Future Indo Arabic Trio featuring Matthew Montfort, Georges Lammam, and Vishal Nagar, Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., Las Vegas NV 89121. Adm: $12 advance, $15 day of show. Purchase Tix. Info: 702-455-7340. Facebook Event. Press Release.
• Sunday, September 23, 4 PM, Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker, Porchfest Gerstle Park, 127 San Rafael Ave., San Rafael, CA, 94901. Free. Facebook Event.

Concert Posters (Click to Download .pdf )

Archived Podcasts

• Thursday, May 2, 2019, Dr. Ramzi Salti and DJ Salah feature Ancient Future on Arabology on KZSU 90.1 FM, Stanford. They discuss the Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert at the San Francisco International Arts Festival (May 26 at 5 PM) and play some music. The segment runs from 11:00 through 13:37. Listen to the archived show at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/a131#t=11:00
• Sunday, February 10, 2019, Matthew Montfort is interviewed on Frequency Uplift on KXSF.FM, San Francisco, about Ancient Future's 40th Anniversary. Listen to the archived show at kxsf.fm/frequency-uplift-podcasts.html.
• Sunday, August, 16, 2015, Matthew Montfort is interviewed on Curtain Call on KRCB, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Host Charles Sepos chats first with Pacifica String Quartet violist, Masumi Per Rostadt. Next, world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort talks about his musical life and about his world fusion group, Ancient Future.The interview ends with a preview excerpt of a soon to be released live concert featuring Vishal Nagar (tabla), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Jason Everett (bass). Listen to the archived show at feeds.feedburner.com/KRCBCurtainCall or on iTunes.
• Friday, January 10, 2014, Matthew Montfort is interviewed on Curtain Call on KRCB, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Host Charles Sepos chats first with Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man. Next, author Nick Bantock talks about his latest book. Finally, World guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort previews his performance with renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Listen to the archived show at feeds.feedburner.com/KRCBCurtainCall or on iTunes.
• Thursday, October 21, 2010, Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker performed a live studio performance and interview on Bryan Chandler's show on KUSF, San Francisco, CA 94117. Listen to the archived show at kusf-archives.com.
• Thursday, April 1, 2010, WorldStreams with Dari interviewed Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker, WorldStreams.org. Permanently archived online at WorldStreams.org.
• Thursday, January 14, 2010, Matthew Montfort performed a live studio performance and interview on Bryan Chandler's show on KUSF, San Francisco, CA 94117. Listen to the archived show at kusf-archives.com.