Welcome to the West: E-40, Bad Omens & Ballet Take Over the Bay
From a stacked Bay Area hip-hop festival to a thundering organ symphony, this weekend goes all the way up
The East Bay is stacked from Friday through Sunday this weekend. Bad Omens brings arena-level metalcore to Oakland, the Oakland Symphony shakes the Paramount with a thundering organ program, Diablo Ballet celebrates 32 years in Walnut Creek, E-40 headlines a massive West Coast hip-hop festival at Oakland Arena, and Doll Fest takes over downtown Oakland with two days of femme-fronted punk. Here’s the rundown.
🤘 Bad Omens – Do You Feel Love North American Tour
Friday, Mar 27 @ 7:00 PM
Bad Omens brings their Do You Feel Love North American Tour to Oakland Arena with special guests Beartooth and PRESIDENT. The metalcore heavyweights have been on a massive run, and this arena-level show proves it — expect crushing breakdowns, atmospheric production, and a pit that goes hard from the first note. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show kicks off at 7 PM sharp. Tickets start around $74 with general admission and premium seating options available.
The Move: Grab some spicy chicken at the Hotboys Oakland spot on San Pablo Ave before heading to the Arena — you’ll need the fuel for the mosh pit.
🎵 Oakland Symphony: Hammond Organ Concerto plus Saint-Saëns Thundering Organ Symphony
Friday, Mar 27 @ 8:00 PM
The Oakland Symphony takes the stage at the legendary Paramount Theatre for a program that’s going to shake the walls. Conductor Kedrick Armstrong leads the orchestra with organist Brian Raphael Nabors performing his own Hammond Organ Concerto alongside Clarice Assad’s groove-infused Baião N’ Blues and Saint-Saëns’ epic Symphony No. 3, the “Organ Symphony.” The Paramount’s art deco grandeur is the perfect backdrop for a night where classical meets soul — this is not your average symphony concert. This is an all-ages show.
The Move: The Hotboys Oakland location at 1601 San Pablo Ave is just a few blocks from the Paramount Theatre on Broadway — perfect for a pre-show dinner before the symphony.
📍 Get tickets at oaklandsymphony.org
🩰 Diablo Ballet Presents Romeo & Juliet – 32nd Anniversary
Friday, Mar 27 @ 6:00 PM
Diablo Ballet celebrates 32 years with a brand-new production of Romeo & Juliet choreographed by Penny Saunders, retelling Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers through passionate choreography and dramatic staging at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. The program also features the company premiere of Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, set to buoyant Verdi melodies. Friday’s opening night includes a 32nd Anniversary Celebration at Prime Steakhouse, and the Saturday 7:30 PM show features a pre-performance curtain talk with the choreographer and a post-show meet-and-greet with the dancers. Showtimes: Fri Mar 27 at 6:00 PM, Sat Mar 28 at 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $30 to $59. All ages welcome.
The Move: The Hotboys Walnut Creek location at 1394 N Main St is right in downtown WC, just a short walk from the Lesher Center — grab some hot chicken before or after the show.
📍 Get tickets at diabloballet.org
🎤 Welcome to the West Music Festival
Saturday, Mar 28 @ 6:00 PM
The Town is about to go all the way up. E-40 headlines the Welcome to the West Music Festival at Oakland Arena, bringing a stacked lineup of West Coast legends and rising stars including SOB X RBE, Mozzy, Berner, Fenix Flexin, Mistah F.A.B., DJ Quik, Suga Free, G Perico, Luniz, Iamsu!, Lil Kayla, Chef Boy, and john mackk. This is a celebration of Bay Area and West Coast hip-hop culture under one roof — expect hyphy energy, deep cuts, and the kind of night that reminds you why the 510 stays undefeated. Tickets start around $98.
The Move: Fuel up before the fest at the Hotboys Oakland location at 1601 San Pablo Ave — it’s a quick ride down to the Arena and you’ll want that spicy chicken energy for a long night of West Coast anthems.
🎸 Doll Fest Volume II
Saturday, Mar 28 @ 2:00 PM
Doll Fest is back and louder than ever for Volume II at the stunning art deco California Ballroom in downtown Oakland. This two-day, all-ages celebration of femme-fronted music features Minnesota indie punk trio VIAL headlining Saturday and San Pedro feminist punk legends Bad Cop Bad Cop closing out Sunday, plus sets from 18 Fevers, El Colectivo Sabinas, Bitch Fit, Furious Tits, Hot Laundry, Skip the Needle, and Frightwig. Expect vendors, food, zines, and the kind of community energy that keeps Oakland’s DIY scene thriving. Showtimes: Sat Mar 28 & Sun Mar 29, Doors 1:00 PM, Music 2:00 PM – 10:30 PM. Day passes start at $38.66 or grab a two-day bundle for $68.57.
The Move: The Hotboys Oakland spot at 1601 San Pablo Ave is just a few blocks from the California Ballroom on Franklin St — swing by for spicy chicken between sets.
📍 Get tickets at aftontickets.com
The Hotboys Connection
From E-40’s West Coast takeover at the Arena to Bad Omens shaking the same building the night before, from a thundering organ symphony at the Paramount to ballet in the 925 to two days of punk at the California Ballroom, we’ve got locations across the East Bay ready to keep you fed all weekend.
- Oakland: 1601 San Pablo Ave (9am – 10pm Sun – Wed)
- Walnut Creek: 1394 N Main St (9am – 10pm Sun – Wed)
- Hayward: 27826 Mission Blvd (10am – 10pm Sun – Thurs)
- Novato: 5800 Nave Dr, Suite D (10am – 10pm Sun – Thurs)
The 510 is giving you everything this weekend — hyphy anthems, metalcore mosh pits, a symphony that shakes the walls, ballet in Walnut Creek, and two days of DIY punk energy. Pull up, eat some heat, and make it a weekend. 🔥