September in Livermore: free library month and the Bankhead's opener

Livermore Public Library marks Latine Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 with a month of free programs, and the anchor is a concert: the Diana Gameros Trio plays the Civic Center Library, 1188 S. Livermore Ave., on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.

Gameros is a Mexican-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Juarez and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Her songs work through family, migration and home. She has released three albums of original songs in Spanish and English alongside her readings of Mexican classics, has been recognized more than once by National Public Radio's Tiny Desk Contest, and used a 2023 Gerbode Foundation Music Award Grant to record her latest album, Volver a la Luz. She performs with Patrick Wolff on clarinet and saxophone and Thomas Edler on bass. The concert is free and sponsored by the Friends of the Livermore Public Library. Parking and seating are limited, so arrive early.

The rest of the library's September slate, all free:

• Author visit with Aida Salazar, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m., Civic Center Library, with audience Q&A and her books for sale from Towne Center Books.
• Loteria, the Mexican picture bingo game, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at Rincon and Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at Springtown.
• Virtual author talk with Lucky Diaz on his bilingual children's book Paletero Man, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. Registration required.
• A Spanish-language workshop with Rosa Arrieta on starting or growing a business, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., Civic Center Library. No registration needed.
• Lucha Libro, a family wrestling-and-storytelling event, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. at Rincon.
• Latin American candy taste test, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at Springtown and Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. at the Civic Center Library for ages 8 to 12.
• Take-and-make papel picado kits at all Livermore libraries from Sept. 15, while supplies last.

Separately, historian Valarie Huff of Hobnob Tours speaks on San Francisco's Gilded Age at the Civic Center Library on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. The hour-long talk follows the city's four Silver Kings, Irish immigrant entrepreneurs whose money is still visible in the Fairmont Hotel and the Pacific-Union Club on Nob Hill. Free.

At the Bankhead

The Rae Dorough Speaker Series opens its fourth season with National Geographic explorer Albert Lin on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Lin lost his leg below the knee in a 2016 dune buggy rollover in the California Dunes and has used lidar to find ancient cities under jungle canopy and desert; the evening is a talk and audience Q&A. Tickets are $25 to $75, $25 for students and military personnel.

Comedy follows. Paula Poundstone returns Saturday, Sept. 5 at 8 p.m., $45 to $75. The San Francisco Comedy Competition, in its 50th anniversary year, brings its semi-finals to the Bankhead on Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. with Mike E. Winfield hosting, $30 to $60. Gabriel Rutledge makes his Bankhead debut on Oct. 17.

Library programs: 925-373-5505. Bankhead box office: 925-373-6800.