Founder/Managing Partner
San Francisco's Best Live Music Venue! Over 20 Years and 5000+ shows later!
While producing over 5000 shows and events with over three million tickets sold in its first 20 years, The Independent has become a premiere venue not only in San Francisco, but the entire world. The venue has presented a varied and diverse format that spans all genres, from indie rock and comedy to hip-hop and EDM and everything in between. Locally owned and internationally renowned, The Independent has become a favorite venue of artists on tour as well as for the local community. Noted for its robust sound and lights, perfect sight lines and a professional, courteous staff, the venue has become a staple for musicians, touring professionals and fans alike.
Many of today's hottest artists began playing shows in San Francisco at The Independent including Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, Fun., Bon Iver, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Foster the People, Miguel, Disclosure, M.I.A., The xx, Zedd, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Pretty Lights and The National. Legends like Levon Helm, Erasure, Phil Lesh, Jimmy Cliff, The Original Meters, Gregg Allman, Taj Mahal and Dr. John have also graced the venue's stage over the years. Superstar acts such as Metallica, Green Day, The Black Eyed Peas, Phoenix, John Legend, Sonic Youth, Arctic Monkeys, Dave Chappelle and Beck have performed underplays at the intimate 500-capacity club. The Independent has also been instrumental in developing the careers of San Francisco Bay Area's most talented musicians including Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers, Thee Oh Sees, Tycho, Lyrics Born, Sean Hayes, Geographer, Tea Leaf Green, The Devil Makes Three, ALO, Zion-I, The Stone Foxes, Brett Dennen, Rogue Wave, The Dodos, and Ty Segall.
Over the past decade The Independent has been a catalyst for the resurgence and burgeoning growth of the NOPA district, which has transformed into one of San Francisco's hottest neighborhoods with great restaurants, bars and boutiques. Pollstar Magazine ranked The Independent #30 in the world in 2013 for tickets sold in music venues under 3,000-capacity, of which The Independent is the smallest to be included in the Top 100. With a continuous schedule of emerging and varied performers on stage, The Independent plays a vital role in San Francisco's storied live music past, present and future and is proud to serve as the foundation of a continuously evolving NOPA district.
Operating Partner
Located in the basement level of the Swedish American Hall, Cafe du Nord has a storied history of live music and great cocktails - and has been serving San Francisco patrons continuously for over 110 years.
Thoughtfully renovated in 2016, Cafe Du Nord features built in seating, a beautifully detailed hardwood bar, and a platform stage fully equipped with high quality sound and video technology. This speakeasy style venue offers an intimate atmosphere to gather for corporate happy hours, birthday parties, receptions, and celebrations of all kinds.
Operating Partner
The Swedish American Hall is one of San Francisco’s oldest and most esteemed event venues. A registered historic landmark, the building was built in 1907 by architect August Nordin for the Swedish Society of San Francisco. Our space boasts three individual halls of beautiful Arts+Crafts style architecture and is home to Cafe du Nord, our speakeasy bar on the basement level. We are proud to operate as the premier event venue in the Castro/Upper Market neighborhood serving as the meeting place for hundreds of SF residents and visitors each year.
In addition to our private event bookings, we are proud to partner with Noise Pop to bring a curated calendar of live performances to our spaces throughout the year.
Partner
The Lodge at Marconi and State Historic Park is the perfect venue for Bay Area conferences, weddings and events.
Marconi offers miles of well maintained walking trails with expansive views of Tomales Bay and Point Reyes around every turn. There are many State and National Parks in West Marin, but Marconi’s facilities offer a unique opportunity to lodge within the park grounds.
You’ll cherish the natural beauty and tranquility at Marconi — it feels like stepping into another world. Yet, we’re still only about an hour from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Sonoma & Napa wine country and the East Bay. We’re only six miles north of the historic village of Point Reyes Station and forty minutes south of Bodega Bay.
Founder/Operating Partner/GM
In 2008, with Lafitte Restaurant, Chef Russell Jackson sought a new challenge, a restaurant in the guise of a culinary rebellion. Beautifully situated on San Francisco's Embarcadero waterfront, inspired by French brasseries and emphasizing local and fresh ingredients, Lafitte was Chef Jackson's opportunity to showcase his more traditional style and fare.
Advisory Council Member (Former)/Supporter
Informal businesses begin out of necessity. They are the most fundamental elements of any economy and the heart of communities and cities the world over. La Cocina began its journey in the homes of informal entrepreneurs, women mostly, as they hustled to patch income and make ends meet for their family. These are the studios of San Francisco where daughters are waitresses and workers crowd around soccer games to eat the foods they can’t find in restaurants.
These are the shopping carts that precede food trucks in not just selling a product but knowing how to find a customer. They are the timeless and tireless inspiration for small business. As businesses transition to the formal economy they not only move from income patching to asset generation but also change the opportunity index for entire communities. It is one thing to find the taste of home in a hot box on a corner, but entirely another thing to find it in a restaurant that you admire. And this is the story of so many of the women around you. A story of hustle and grit, of talent and determination, and opportunity executed upon.
Producer/General Manager
On 10 June 2006 rapper 50 Cent and the G-UNIT performed their first concert in the Arab world at the BIEL in the Beirut Central District. It was the biggest sold out concert in the history of Lebanon at that time. 50 Cent and G-UNIT performed hits such as In Da Club, Candy shop, Just A Lil Bit, and many more. The concert was a great success with over fifteen thousand people attending. The after party was held in the Crystal night club in Beirut with Young Buck and DJ Whookid performing.
