SongWriter Live featuring Viet Thanh Nguyen and Thao Nguyen % in San Francisco at Cafe du Nord %

Litquake and SongWriter Present:

SongWriter Live featuring Viet Thanh Nguyen and Thao Nguyen

Fri, Oct 17

Doors: 6:30 pm | Show: 7:30 pm

Tickets: $31.39 Sales Ended

21 and up

Co-presented with SongWriter
In this live recording of the SongWriter podcast with creator and host Ben Arthur, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen will share a story from his recent book To Save and To Destroy, SFSU’s Russell Jeung will speak about belonging and identity, and local favorite Thao Nguyen, formerly of the Get Down Stay Down, will perform a brand-new song written in response.

For any event that is listed as 18 or 21 and over, ANY ticket holder unable to present valid identification indicating that they are of age will not be admitted to this event, and will not be eligible for a refund. Any event listed as All Ages, means 6 years of age or older. ALL tickets are standing room only unless otherwise specified. If you need special accomidation, contact info@cafedunord.com.

Support acts are subject to change without refund.

Professional Cameras are not allowed without prior approval. Professional Camera defined as detachable lens or of professional grade as determined by the venue staff. When in doubt, just email us ahead of the show! We might be able to get you a Photo Pass depending on Artist’s approval.

Artists

Viet Thanh Nguyen

Viet Thanh Nguyen is the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Sympathizer, Nothing Ever Dies, and, most recently, To Save and to Destroy. A recipient of the MacArthur Foundation and Guggenheim fellowships and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Nguyen is Aerol Arnold Chair of English and Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California.

Thao Nguyen

Thao Nguyen, known for her distinctive blend of indie rock and folk, has continued to evolve artistically and personally since dropping the lengthy moniker of “Thao & The Get Down Stay Down” in 2021. Her latest album, 'Temple,' reflects a profound exploration of freedom and belonging. Balancing personal vulnerability with broader cultural commentary, Thao remains a prominent voice in the contemporary music scene. She is currently at work on her new album (out 2026) and her first book (Graywolf Press, out 2027).

Ben Arthur

Ben Arthur is an Emmy-nominated songwriter, and the producer and host of SongWriter, the podcast that turns stories into songs. Featured guests include Questlove, Joyce Carol Oates, George Saunders, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, M.Gessen, and Steve Earle.

The last season and the upcoming season of SongWriter are supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation, and focus on elements of human flourishing like forgiveness, empathy, caregiving, and belonging. Episodes have focused on survivors of the Rwandan genocide, the complicated empathy in Maggie Smith's poem "Good Bones," and an original story from W. Kamau Bell about belonging in America. More information can be found at SongWriterPodcast.com

Dr. Russell Jeung

Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, Dr. Russell Jeung is an author of books and articles on race and religion. He's written Family Sacrifices: The Worldviews and Ethics of Chinese Americans (2019); Mountain Movers: Student Activism and the Emergence of Asian American Studies (2019); and At Home in Exile: Finding Jesus Among My Ancestors and Refugee Neighbors (2016). In March 2020, Dr. Jeung co-founded Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that was awarded the 2021 Webby Award for "Social Movement of the Year." Dr. Jeung was named as one of the TIME 100 Most Influential Persons in 2021.

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