Backstage Bay Area covers the San Francisco jazz scene through intimate artist interviews and on-the-ground concert reviews (we don’t publish album reviews). From SFJAZZ to neighborhood rooms, we tell the stories behind the music with context, setlists, photos, and voices from the stage.

With 300+ episodes across four years, Backstage Bay Area has hosted Grammy winners and rising artists alike—among them Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, Richard Bona, and guitarist Mike Stern. The show has been featured in “Top 45 Contemporary Music Podcasts” and “Top 10 Jazz Guitar Podcasts” lists.

You can hear the podcast on all major platforms, including YouTube. Our jazz features also appear on All About Jazz, and San Francisco show rock coverage runs on SF Sonic.

Meet the Host

Steve Roby is a veteran music journalist, radio host, and best-selling author. His concert photography and writing have appeared in outlets including Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Guitar World. His feature story on The Cookers can be found in SFJAZZ’s On The Corner magazine.

Have an upcoming SF show? Visit the Contact page to pitch an interview or concert coverage opportunity.