Celebrate Oakland’s rock ‘n’ roll history with Greil Marcus and Daveed Diggs

renowned work marks its 50th year? Why not throw a gathering and extend an invitation to an equally illustrious musical comrade?

Scheduled for March 7, Greil Marcus is organizing a discussion at Oakland’s California Ballroom to honor the golden jubilee of his 1970s classic, “Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music.” A fixture in the world of music criticism from his time at Rolling Stone and The Village Voice, Marcus has witnessed his opus turn into a sacred text for music enthusiasts and cultural analysts alike, delving into the realms of iconic figures such as Sly Stone, Elvis, The Band, and blues maestro Robert Johnson. Bruce Springsteen even went as far as identifying it as his most cherished book, a sentiment echoed by Time magazine, which labeled it one of the finest works of nonfiction in modern history.
During the event, Marcus will shed light on the lasting impact of his book and emphasize how music continues to shape American beliefs, joined by Daveed Diggs, who directed the Oakland-centric film, “Blindspotting,” in 2018. A native of Oakland, Diggs boasts an impressive resume, from clinching accolades like the Tony, Grammy, and Emmy awards to gracing the original staging of “Hamilton” on Broadway. Witnessing the musings of these two titans on a topic that ignites the passions of music aficionados promises to be a rewarding experience.
The gathering is set to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on March 7 at 1736 Franklin St. in Oakland, with admission starting at $27. For further information, refer to baybookfest.org/events or search Eventbrite.