El Cerrito’s Arhoolie Records sets star-studded fundraiser

The Arhoolie Foundation in El Cerrito is one of the country’s best known roots music record labels, revered for collecting, preserving and publishing a vast trove of tunes representing Cajun, Zydeco, blues, folk, Tex-Mex, Latin and other genres.

So you can bet that when the Foundation formed and still operated by passionate musicologist Chris Strachwitz throws an awards show and concert, some first-rate music will be in store.

That’s the case on Friday at the Foundation hosts it fifth annual Arhoolie Awards and Benefit Concert at the Chapel music hall in San Francisco. The event will present Foundation Awards to Santiago Jiménez Jr., a folk/Tex-Mex/conjunto music accordionist; Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton, blues singer and multi-instrumentalist; and traditional New Orleans jazz street band Tuba Skinny. The awards honor musicians’ efforts to preserve American roots music and carry a $10,000 prize.

Jimenez and Paxton will perform as part of the event, as will famed folk/roots singer-songwriter-guitarist Dave Alvin, perhaps best known as a founding member of the folk/rockabilly pioneers The Blasters.

The show starts 8 p.m. The Chapel is at 777 Valencia St., in San Francisco’s Mission district. Tickets are $45 advance/$50 day of show (regular); and $150 (VIP, including a reception). There will also be a silent auction of a variety of recordings and other musical items. Tickets and more information are at arhoolie.org/arhoolie-awards-concert-2023.