Three decades after his death, Stanford Live brings Robert Mapplethorpe’s legendary photographs back to life. Created by composer (and guitarist for The National) Bryce Dessner, librettist Korde Arrington Tuttle and director Kaneza Schaal, Triptych (Eyes of One on Another) “explores the origins and impact of Mapplethorpe’s controversial photography.” A multimedia event, the evening features the vocal group Roomful of Teeth and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, as well as the poetry of Patti Smith and Essex Hemphill. Smith’s book about her relationship with Mapplethorpe, Just Kids, won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2010. Admission is $10 for students.

Triptych
Thu, 7:30pm, $28+
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford

The First City Festival is adding to an already packed Northern California concert lineup with Beck, The National, The Naked and Famous and Phantogram headlining the First City Festival in Monterey.

The Festival returns for its second year August 23-24 in the coastal town with Best Coast and Dawes also on the lineup. In addition to two days of music it also features classic fair rides and vaudeville style antics and performances from Vau de Vire Society dancers.

The festival, presented by Goldenvoice (the same promoters behind Coachella), was named after the coastal city’s town claim as the “first capital” of California and home to the states first public school, library and newspaper.

The complete First City Festival lineup:

Beck
The National
The Naked and Famous
Phantogram
Best Coast
Dawes
Cults
Cocorosie
Blind Pilot
Lake Street Dive
Tokyo Police Club
Geographer
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Midlake
How to Dress Well
San Fermin
The Men
Lo-Fang
Miniature Tigers
Speedy Ortiz
Midi Matilda
Sleep Sun
The Stepkids
Mimicking Birds
Quilt
Mr Little Jeans
The Lonely Wild
The Family Crest
Doe Eye
Cool Ghouls
Survival Guide

Tickets for the festival go an sale at 10 a.m. on May 9. Visit the official festival site for more information.

Scenes from First City Festival last year: