Ancient Future in Concert

Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert at the Freight and Salvage Oct.16, 2013

"Ancient Future is a rare kind of band that might simultaneously aggravate purists, confound New Age dilettantes, seduce skeptics, and dazzle just about everybody else. Delicious compositions, intricate arrangements, crisp playing and impeccable production put these ambitious voyagers in a league of their own." –Derk Richardson, San Francisco Bay Guardian

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2023 Concert Dates of Ancient-Future.Com Records Artists

• Saturday, May 20, 2023, afternoon time TBA, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Ferhan Qureshi (tabla), and Mariah Parker (santur), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Free to the public.

Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future

While waiting for in person events to be safe and economically viable, Ancient Future embarked on a series of Alternate Reality Concerts announced in the Ancient Future Times. The very first Ancient Future Alternate Reality Concert with musicians performing together in real time occurred on June 12, 2021! We hope to add more shows as we raise funds through donations to pay for them.

• 2023-2024, Dates and Times TBA, Ancient Future (Performers TBA), Zoom. To sign up for a concert from the comfort of your couch, simply send your email address to info@ancient-future.com. Put "Alternate Reality Concert" in the subject. You will receive a Zoom link shortly before the event. Donations accepted.
• Custom Private Online Concerts by Ancient Future Members. If you are interested in scheduling a private online solo concert by a member of Ancient Future, please email info@ancient-future.com.
• June 12, 2021, 3:30 PM PST/ 6:30 PM EST, Ancient Future Trio Live with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Frank Martin (keys), and Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla), Zoom. Sponsored by Jhankar with the support of the Ohio Arts Council. Free!
• February 12, 2021, 7:30 PM PST, Matthew Montfort Online Birthday Concert, Zoom. Donations accepted. Facebook Event.

2022 Concert Dates of Ancient-Future.Com Records Artists

• Saturday, May 21, 2022, 1:10 to 1:50 PM PST, Ancient Future with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Vishal Nagar (tabla), Mariah Parker (santur), and Mindia Devi Klein (bansuri, sitting in on last tune), Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley, CA 94709. Masks strongly recommended. Free to the public, but please donate to help save the fair as it was rained out in 2019, postponed due to COVID from May 2020 until October 2020, postponed again to October 2021, and then to May 2022. GoFundMe.
• Saturday, June 18, 2022, 7:30 PM PST, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with Mariah Parker (composition, piano, santur) Paul McCandless (woodwinds), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Kash Killion (bass), Ian Dogole (percussion), and special guest Mark Walker (Grammy winning percussionist), Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939. Adm: $30 ($27 for Lark Theater members). 45 minute concert is followed by a screening of Los Hermanos. Optimized HVAC system refreshing air up to 7 times per hour. Masks required. Buy Tix.

2020 - 2021 Concert Cancelations

Due to the pandemic, all of Ancient Future's in person public concerts in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled. We are tentatively booking in person events in 2023 and beyond. To see what you missed in previous years, visit the events past page. See also private events, as Ancient Future is able to perform at outdoor celebrations such as weddings with appropriate precautions in place.

2021 Virtual Music Workshops

• January 19 to February 23, 2021, Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM, Have Fun Learning to Read Music through Classical Guitar Technique, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Guitarists are often good at reading TAB, but poor at reading sheet music. This class by Matthew Montfort will get you started learning to read standard music notation, while at the same time introducing foundational classical guitar technique that you can also apply to other styles of playing. You'll learn simple etudes and classical pieces, great for boosting your fingerstyle skills while actually having fun learning to read music! Tuition: $180 for six weeks. Buy Tix.
• January 20 to February 24, 2021, Wednesdays from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, World Beat Workshop, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Matthew Montfort’s Got Rhythm? workshop is presented in an easy to follow, entertaining, yet educational format for all music lovers. African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan and Indian classical music are presented because these traditions cover the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. This training from Montfort's book Ancient Traditions -- Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India can help anyone with a desire to improve their rhythmic skills. Tuition: $180 for six weeks. Buy Tix.
• January 21 to February 25, 2021, Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:15 PM, Indian Raga for Western Musicians, Blue Bear School of Music Online. This masterclass by world fusion pioneer Matthew Montfort will help you improve your soloing in any music genre from rock to jazz to free improv through melodic training. Learn the emotional power of each interval and how to construct meaningful melodies through the tradition of Indian raga. Open to all instruments and voice. Tuition: $180 for six weeks. Buy Tix.

Concert Posters - 40th Anniversary Season (Click to Download .pdf )

Radio (TBA in 2022)

Archived Podcasts

• Thursday, May 2, 2019, Dr. Ramzi Salti and DJ Salah feature Ancient Future on Arabology on KZSU 90.1 FM, Stanford. They discuss the Ancient Future 'World Without Walls' Reunion Concert at the San Francisco International Arts Festival (May 26 at 5 PM) and play some music. The segment runs from 11:00 through 13:37. Listen to the archived show at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/a131#t=11:00
• Sunday, February 10, 2019, Matthew Montfort is interviewed on Frequency Uplift on KXSF.FM, San Francisco, about Ancient Future's 40th Anniversary. Listen to the archived show at kxsf.fm/frequency-uplift-podcasts.html.
• Sunday, August, 16, 2015, Matthew Montfort is interviewed on Curtain Call on KRCB, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Host Charles Sepos chats first with Pacifica String Quartet violist, Masumi Per Rostadt. Next, world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort talks about his musical life and about his world fusion group, Ancient Future.The interview ends with a preview excerpt of a soon to be released live concert featuring Vishal Nagar (tabla), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), and Jason Everett (bass). Listen to the archived show at feeds.feedburner.com/KRCBCurtainCall or on iTunes.
• Friday, January 10, 2014, Matthew Montfort is interviewed on Curtain Call on KRCB, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Host Charles Sepos chats first with Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man. Next, author Nick Bantock talks about his latest book. Finally, World guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort previews his performance with renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Listen to the archived show at feeds.feedburner.com/KRCBCurtainCall or on iTunes.
• Thursday, October 21, 2010, Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker performed a live studio performance and interview on Bryan Chandler's show on KUSF, San Francisco, CA 94117. Listen to the archived show at kusf-archives.com.
• Thursday, April1 , 2010, WorldStreams with Dari interviewed Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker, WorldStreams.org. Permanently archived online at WorldStreams.org.
• Thursday, January 14, 2010, Matthew Montfort performed a live studio performance and interview on Bryan Chandler's show on KUSF, San Francisco, CA 94117. Listen to the archived show at kusf-archives.com.

Support the Concerts

Due to decades of arts cutbacks, for quite some time many of the presenters most supportive of world fusion music have suspended operations or reduced the number of events in their seasons. This trend accelerated in the current political climate, and then the pandemic hit us. For our 43nd season, we need your help more than ever to replace lost operating income caused by concerts cancelled due to COVID-19. More info.

Free Concert Tickets

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Private Events

Ancient Future also performs at weddings, corporate events, parties, etc. The booking page has all the information you need to schedule an engagement when it is safe to hold events again. In the meantime, we do offer virtual performances for online events. If you are interested in scheduling an online performance, please email info@ancient-future.com.