Arts & Culture

The San Francisco band LoCura reflects the Bay's diverse mix of cultures, histories and people through music that surfs genres and shuns labels. Members of the band come from as far away as Spain, and as close as the Mission district. They blend flamenco, Cuban son, reggae, cumbia, ska and more to make their own border-crossing brand of revolutionary party music. With the release of their new album, Semilla Caminante, the band deepens this mixture of musical and political cultures.

If you’ve spent any time in the Bay Area, there’s a good chance you’ve met some circus performers: clowns, jugglers, fire dancers, aerialists, hula hoopers, tightrope walkers – maybe you saw them in a theatrical performance, leading workshops at your child’s school, or practicing their skills in a park on a sunny afternoon.

One way to tell stories is through pictures – and they don’t have to be of people. Local photographer Suzi Eszterhas tells stories of family by photographing the family lives of animals around the world. Her work has been featured in publications around the world, and she’s especially well-known for her revealing photographs of newborn animals. She spoke with KALW’s Ben Trefny.

BEN TREFNY: Tell me about your books.