Alternating Currents
The Albany Bulb Event Series & Beyond

revised date = April 11, 2024 • 6:30 PM PDT
"riprap, rebar, salt, & bone"

Due to a dicey weather forecast, and out of an abundance of caution, the "riprap, rebar, salt, & bone" event has been moved back a week to Thursday, April 11 at 6:30. We will keep an eye on the forecast for that day once available and will keep you posted.

Register for free Eventbrite reservations | Catch the promo video

Alternating Currents – The Albany Bulb Event Series was conceived and designed in spring 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting severe limiting of safe performance venues for Bay Area artists and audiences.

Alternating Currents celebrates both the rich and diverse creativity of Bay Area artists and musicians working in all media and genres and the extraordinary beauty and uniqueness of the Albany Bulb. Alternating Currents is directed by Debra Pughe and Jon Winet, and is a project of the community-arts organization Love the Bulb.

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previous events

2024 "More Than A FACE" PAnel Discussion

Our first 2024 event was an off-site panel discussion at 120710 featuring distinguished Bay Area artists and writers Sarah Cahill, Olivia Ting and Sarah Cahilll. The panel was the culminating event of "More Than a Face," an exhibition curated by Alternating Currents alum Randy Hussong,. The panel was co-sponsored by 120710.

Active, thought-provoking exchanges with respondents Craig Nagasawa and D.L. Pughe followed the formal remarks with brilliant SRO audience participation of 45 + people.

2023 "Wind, Water, Birds," By "Gusty Winds May Exist"

The duo of Shakuhachi musician Nancy Beckman and Recorder and woodwinds musician Tom Bickley of "Gusty Winds May Exist." The duo describes the performance: "'WIND, WATER, BIRDS’ offers a respite both literal and figurative from the chances and changes we all encounter day to day.”

Sunday Afternoon @ YSA w/ The Roosevelt Middle School All Stars

Led by the inimitable Randy Porter, music director, composer, musician and educator – with guest artists-teachers Dan Plonsey and Christopher Lowell Clarke – featuring an eclectic range of contemporary tunes, jazz standards and original compositions in a convivial outdoor setting

A collaboration of Youth Spirit Artworks, the Roosevelt Middle SchoolMusic Program and Alternating Currents.

2022 "Sonic Dogness," a collaborative installation and performance event by artists Olivia Ting and Annette Jannotta debuted on July 17. 2022 Visit the project page, or artists' website and Eventbrite page for additional information.

"IN C," our spring Equinox event (March 20, 2022) brought together over 50 musicians in a community performance of Terry Riley's seminal 1964 composition. Over 100 people - and nearly that many dogs attended the dusk into twilight concert.

2021 Second Valve slide - The Christopher Lowell Clarke Quartet a jazz performance featured Howard Wiley - Tenor sax, Michael Jones - bass, and Greg German - drums and composer | band leader Christopher Lowell Clarke on trumpet.

"High Tide Bulb Chorale," was an experimental jazz concert directed by Musician | Composer Randy Porter with colleagues Christopher Lowell Clarke, Ben Green and Dan Plonsey that took place on Saturday. August 14 at the Amphitheater.

"HEAR | TOGETHER," our Mother's Day event was a collaboration with New Music Bay Area, Contemporaneous, the Crowden Music Center and the Ross McKee Foundation The all-day event took place offsite at the Crowden School in Berkeley.

"Remnants & Rudiments," a performance featuring poet Maw Shein Win and musicians Dan Plonsey and Thomas Scandura.

2020
“11 11 Caution 20 20 Veterans Day,” an Intermedia project by musician Dan Plonsey & artist Randy Hussong.
“Spinet Farewell” Inaugural show featuring pianist Sarah Cahill