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This weekend, the Beijing Guitar Duo brings its classical guitar prowess to Mountain View; Grammy-winning salsa orchestra Grupo Niche plays the Fox Theatre; Los Altos History Museum rides the (model) rails with Train Days; author Kyla Zhao celebrates her latest book at Linden Tree Books; Americana and country group Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens performs at The Guild Theatre; artist Younhee Paik gives a tour of her latest exhibition in a reception at Qualia Contemporary Art.
Beijing Guitar Duo
Looking for a musical way to celebrate autumn equinox weekend? Catch virtuoso guitarists Meng Su and Yameng Wang, who form Beijing Guitar Duo, in their “Mid-Autumn Melodies” concert in Mountain View. The performance, sponsored by Bay Area Chinese Musician Association, will feature the duo’s classical guitar-playing prowess and chemistry, which has earned them international acclaim (in addition to their successful solo careers). Originally hailing from Qingdao, China, and now based in the U.S., the duo launched its international career with performances including a 2010 concert at Carnegie Hall and received a Latin Grammy Award nomination for its debut record, “Maracaípe.”
Sept. 21, 2 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View; $26-$68; tickets.mvcpa.com.
Grupo Niche
Long-running, Grammy Award-winning Colombian salsa orchestra Grupo Niche (founded by the late Jairo Varela) comes to Redwood City’s Fox Theatre as part of its Pachanguero Tour. Founded more than 40 years ago, the group has earned acclaim and a devoted fan base over the decades and continues to tour widely. In 2023, Grupo Niche won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album for the LP “Niche Sinfónico,” recorded with the Colombian Symphony Orchestra.
Sept. 20, 8:30 p.m.; Fox Theatre, 2221 Broadway St., Redwood City; $98-$184; foxrwc.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=338.
Train Days
All aboard! Los Altos History Museum hosts a weekend dedicated to model railroads, with participation from a number of Bay Area model train groups on hand to show off their trains and intricate layouts, answer questions and offer info. There will also be food and drink for sale, train-themed merchandise and family portrait sessions by live portrait artist Domenica Maloney.
Sept. 21-22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Los Altos History Museum, 51 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos; $10 (free for kids under 12 and museum members); losaltoshistory.org/events/train-days-2024.
Kyla Zhao
Writer Kyla Zhao moved from Singapore to the U.S. to attend Stanford University and has settled into local life ever since, working in the tech industry as well as launching a blossoming career as a novelist. Her third book (following “The Fraud Squad” and “Valley Verified”) is also her first for younger readers. The middle-grade novel “May The Best Player Win” tells the story of May Li, a middle-school chess ace who finds herself feeling the weight of expectations as she competes to be chosen as team captain for the national championships. Zhao will celebrate the book launch and appear in conversation with fellow local-author Nicole Chen at Linden Tree Books.
Sept. 21, 11 a.m.; Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos; lindentreebooks.com/events-calendar.
Hayes Carll
Rootsy Texan singer-songwriter Hayes Carll and his band (The Band of Heathens) will entertain local audiences with a performance at the Guild. He’s released numerous country and Americana albums since his 2002 debut, “Flowers & Liquor,” including 2011’s “KMAG YOYO & Other American Stories” and 2021’s “You Get It All,” with songs acclaimed for storytelling, humor and heart.
Sept. 22, 7 p.m., The Guild Theatre, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; $46.35-$121.67; guildtheatre.com.
Younhee Paik reception
Qualia Contemporary Art holds a reception to celebrate the opening of “Listening for a Thousand Bells,” the second solo exhibition at the Palo Alto gallery by Bay Area-based artist Younhee Paik. The show, which opened last week, features paintings and mixed-media works that touch on celestial and water themes. The Korean-American artist has been selected to show in the American pavilion’s exhibition in the 2024 Gwangju Biennial in South Korea, according to an event preview of her show at Qualia. Visitors can get first-hand insight into the art from Paik herself, who will offer a tour of the exhibition during the opening reception.
“Listening for a Thousand Bells” is on view through Oct. 19. The opening reception takes place Sept. 22, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Qualia Contemporary Art, 229 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. qualiacontemporaryart.com.
