This February 2024, the Fox Theater – Oakland celebrates 15 years since reopening as a world-class live entertainment venue under the direction of Another Planet Entertainment. Oakland’s architectural masterpiece made its debut in 1928 as a movie palace, eventually closing in 1966 and remaining shuttered for over 40 years. After undergoing an expansive $75 million renovation of the space and taking careful steps to restore its jaw-dropping original details, the Fox Theater made its glorious return in February 2009.
The theater is also home to the Oakland School for the Arts (OSA), a nonprofit public charter school featuring a robust curriculum of immersive arts programs and comprehensive academics that provide opportunities for collaboration, expression and personal growth. OSA was founded in 2002 by former Oakland Mayor, Jerry Brown. Now in its 20th year, OSA serves over 800 students in grades 6-12 tuition-free.
Today, with its awe-inspiring beauty, state-of-the-art Meyer sound system and a capacity of up to 2,800, the Fox Theater is continuously recognized as a favorite among touring artists and fans alike. Over the last decade and a half the theater has hosted countless memorable shows with the likes of Bob Dylan, Billie Eilish, Prince, Kendrick Lamar, Neil Young, Ed Sheeran, Mary J. Blige, John Prine, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Kali Uchis, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Childish Gambino, Kraftwerk, twenty one pilots, Mitski, The Chemical Brothers, Grace Jones, Porter Robinson, Kacey Musgraves, Lorde, Bonnie Raitt and so many more. Not to mention comedians, podcasters and conversationalists alike including Tracy Morgan, Tom Segura, Aziz Ansari, Tig Notaro, Amanda Seales, Patton Oswald, Bill Maher, Hannah Gadsby and former president Barack Obama. Many of the Bay Area’s most notable local legends have graced the theater’s stage from Metallica and Green Day to Tower of Power and OSA alumnus Kehlani – to name a few.
Another Planet Entertainment’s Vice President of Concerts, Eric Barleen has had the pleasure of working on the Fox Theater in some capacity since the project’s inception, eventually taking over the booking of the venue in 2016. “Having grown up in the Bay, the Fox holds a very special place in my heart. It’s been incredible to see the impact its reopening has had on the city of Oakland but also the Bay Area as a whole,” says Barleen. “It’s a dream and a privilege to bring such a talented lineup of artists and an eclectic group of fans to Oakland over the last eight years.”
Over the years, its presence in Oakland has anchored the renaissance of the city’s Uptown entertainment district with an uptick of restaurants, nightspots and residential living complexes. The Fox Theater caters to the Bay Area, easily accessible not only to patrons from San Francisco and Alameda counties, but also to Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties.
“We’re very proud to have brought the magic of the historic Fox Theater alive again over the last fifteen years for fans all across the Bay to enjoy,” says Another Planet Entertainment founder and CEO, Gregg Perloff. “It’s been our great pleasure to revitalize such an iconic architectural landmark for Uptown Oakland.”
Looking ahead, upcoming shows at the Fox Theater include:
February 28 & 29 - Van Morrison
March 1 - Mom Jeans., Summer Salt, HUNY, Just Friends
March 2 - Group Love with special guest Bully (solo)
March 5 - Arlo Parks, Chloe George
March 7 - ††† (Crosses), DJ CrookOne
March 9 - Gregory Alan Isakov with special guest Damian Jurado
March 16 - The Kills, Heartworms
March 21 - Alan Parsons Live Project
March 22 - The Kooks with special guests The Vaccines, Daisy the Great
March 30 - Hippie Sabotage
April 13 - The Black Crowes
April 14 - Ledisi, Raheem DeVaughn
April 28 - Adam Ant with special guest The English Beat
April 30 - James Arthur, Forest Blakk
May 10 - IDLES
May 16 - Belle & Sebastian, The Weather Station
May 18 - Waxahatchee, Good Morning
May 19 - Two Door Cinema Club, Day Wave
May 23 & 24 - Madness
May 25 - Brothers Osborne with special guest Madeline Edwards
June 1 - girl in red, The Beaches
June 2 - The Cancelled Podcast Tour with Tana Mongeau & Brooke Schofield
June 6 - Francis Cabrel
June 17 - Adrianne Lenker, Twain
June 25 - Iron and Wine
June 27 - Angus & Julia Stone
June 28 - Ali Siddiq: I Got A Story To Tell
June 29 - Hauser with special guest Caroline Campbell
June 30 - Totally Tubular Festival with Thomas Dolby, Thompson Twins Tom Bailey, Modern English, Men Without Hats, The Romantics, Bow Wow Wow, Tommy Tutone and The Plimsouls
July 13 - The Decembrists, Ratboys
August 16 - Alvvays, The Beths
September 7 - Passenger
September 15 - Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark (OMD)
September 17 - Future Islands
September 26 & 27 - Bonnie Raitt, James Hunter
September 30 - Goth Babe, The Aces
October 19 - Shannon and the Clams
