Arts & Entertainment

Legends Bernie Worrell, Jerry Harrison Set to Rock Sweetwater Tuesday

Renowned Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist and Talking Heads multi-instrumentalist collaborate on impromptu gig.

A more than 30-year-old musical collaboration between a prodigious funk keyboardist and a then-emerging new wave act has brought a pair of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers to the tiny Sweetwater Music Hall stage Tuesday night.

On tour with his Bernie Worrell Orchestra since early March, the legendary Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist did what any nearly 70-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer would do when he spotted a rare day off in the Bay Area on his calendar: he found another gig.

To do so, he called Mill Valley resident and Talking Heads legend Jerry Harrison, with whom he began working in the early 1980s, becoming a de facto member of the Talking Heads, appearing on one studio album, several solo albums and multiple tours, as well as the band’s concert film Stop Making Sense.

Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For Sweetwater manager Aaron Kayce, having an impromptu gig featuring a pair of legends was a no brainer.

“Jerry called me and said, ‘It looks like you have Tuesday open,’” Sweetwater manager Aaron Kayce said. “I said "This Tuesday? Yeah, but that's like four days away." When he said it was he and Bernie Worrell, I said, ‘Lets do it.’”

Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The 411: The Bernie Worrell Orchestra and Jerry Harrison perform at the Sweetwater Music Hall at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $15 in advance. Go here to buy tickets.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here