ABOVE & BEYOND The English progressive trance group Above & Beyond perform at the Greek Theatre on Friday at 7 p.m. Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamäki are best known for electronic dance music, but at the Greek they’ll be playing works from their new album, Acoustic II. At the launch of their 2014 album Acoustic, McGuinness explained, “The acoustic project is a reconnection with the musicians that we were before we met… the songs have been on an interesting journey to get here because we tend to write in a fairly acoustic way anyway.” Tickets from Ticketmaster. Friday, May 27, 7 p.m., Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd.
DIASPORA DINER The inaugural Diaspora Diner evening on Saturday at Ashkenaz features live dance music, moves, and menus from the African Diaspora. Two bands with musicians from Louisiana – Andrew Carriere’s Zydeco/Cajun Allstars and MJ’s Brass Boppers – provide a full evening of dance beats, with Linda Francis teaching a pre-show dance lesson at 7 p.m. Chef Krystle Cameron will serve up a Cajun and Haitian-inspired three-course meal. The idea for Diaspora Diner was born of Cameron’s desire to connect more deeply with various iterations on the cultures from which her African ancestors hailed. Saturday, May 28, doors (and food) at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m., Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave.
BOTANIC GARDEN TOUR Go on the free, docent-guided tour of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park on Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day Monday at 2 p.m. The one-hour tour introduces visitors to a wide range of California native plants. The 10-acre garden is a sanctuary for many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses from plant communities throughout the state. No reservations necessary. Meet at 2 p.m. in front of the Visitor’s Center. Shasta Road, Tilden Regional Park.
NIGHT FALLS If you’re too nervous to watch game six of the NBA Western Conference Finals, take the opportunity on Saturday to see Roberto Gavaldón’s Night Falls (La noche avanza). Doesn’t this sound good? “A Nietzschean jai alai star obliviously struts his way through a succession of broken-hearted lovers and conniving gangsters in Roberto Gavaldón’s atmospheric noir, which stars Mexican matinee idol Pedro Armendáriz playing against his usual heroic type.” It’s part of BAMPFA’s season of Mexican film noir. Saturday, May 28, 6:30 p.m., Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St.
SALSA PARTY La Peña provides a rousing way to end the Memorial Day weekend with its Monday salsa party. The Josh Jones Orchestra brings the raw power of salsa dura to La Peña’s
stage for the only $5 salsa dance party in the Bay Area. The 30-member orchestra will perform songs from your favorite salsa artists including Eddie Palmieri, Beny Moré, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, El Canario, Celia Cruz and many more. Only $5 at the door, but please RSVP. Monday, May 30, 9 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave.
Don’t miss this other event featured on Berkeleyside:
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘A Monster With a Thousand Heads,’ ‘The Idol’
To find out what is going on in Berkeley and nearby, be sure to check out Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. And submit your own events: it’s self-serve and free.
