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Celebrate the Freight Gala: Rickie Lee Jones, Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn, Mia Pixley
Vibrant Voices. Global Roots., Friday, October 9, 2026 7:30PM
Event Summary
About the Artists
Rickie Lee Jones is an American musician, storyteller, two-time Grammy winner and eight-time nominee who has been inspiring pop culture for decades, beginning with her star-making self-titled debut and the seminal Pirates. Named the “premiere song-stylist and songwriter of her generation” by The New Yorker and “The Duchess of Coolsville” by Time magazine, Jones released her Grammy-nominated album Pieces of Treasure in 2023, a reunion with Russ Titelman, who produced her first two records. Jones’ celebrated memoir "Last Chance Texaco" was named Book of the Year by MOJO and on Best of Year lists by NPR, Pitchfork, and many more. The Independent writes, “There has always been something defiant about Rickie Lee Jones . . . a voice from a dream, elusive yet familiar, transcendent, a messenger from another place.”
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s duo project is as unlikely, perhaps, as it was inevitable—a manifest sonic consequence of politics and vibrations commingling across continents.
Wu Fei is a classically trained composer, a renowned master of the guzheng — the 21-string Chinese zither – and a vocalist.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Abigail Washburn is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and clawhammer banjo player based in Nashville, TN.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Austin, Texas native Mia Pixley, Ph.D. is a psychologist, composer, performer, conservationist, mother, and water lover who often has more ideas than time. Mia enjoys exploring the resonance between ourselves, the natural world, and the underworld. She has performed on Grammy award winning records and alongside Grammy nominated artists (Fantastic Negrito, Will Ackerman, Barbara Higbie). Mia has also opened for Valerie June, Hauschka, and Holly Near.
Delighting in interdisciplinary exploration and discovery of all kinds, Mia recently released her second full-length album, Love. Dark. Bloom., an exploration of the fertile beauty of darkness — an attempt to free the dark from its long-held association with evil.
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CLICK HERE FOR FAQ ↓
Ticketing & Registration
How do I purchase tickets?Tickets can be purchased online, via phone or in-person. Click here for Box Office hours.
Do I need to bring a physical ticket?
No physical or digital tickets are required. All guest registrations are held securely at Will Call. Upon arrival, simply present your name at the guest registration tables.
How do I register my guests?
If you purchased a table or multiple tickets under one transaction, those seats are automatically listed under your name. To ensure a swift arrival for your party, guests are welcome to pre-register their individual names ahead of time by emailing development@thefreight.org.
Seating Arrangements
Click here to view Gala seat map.
How are seats assigned?
To ensure an optimal experience and a gracious flow to the evening, seats are assigned within your designated section (Premium or General Admission) on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date and time of your ticket purchase.
Can I utilize my membership benefits for seating?
Standard membership privileges, including Music Maker seat reservations, do not apply to this special benefit event. Additionally, Gala ticket purchases and contributions do not trigger membership tier upgrades.
May I request to be seated with a specific guest?
We warmly encourage guests to coordinate their attendance in advance. To ensure adjacent seating in our General Admission or Premiere sections, tickets for your party must be purchased together in a single transaction.
Please note that both General Admission and Premium seating are available in limited quantities. We recommend securing your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
A small number of exclusive sponsorship tables are also available for guests seeking a fully reserved experience for the entire evening. To inquire about current availability, please contact us directly at development@thefreight.org.
Event Evening Logistics
What time should I arrive?Please arrive promptly at 6:00 PM to begin check-in, where you will receive your bidding paddle.
What is the evening's dress code?
We recommend creative black tie attire to celebrate the vibrant voices of The Freight.
How do I submit an ADA accommodation request?
We are fully committed to accommodating your needs. Please share any specific accessibility requests with our team at development@thefreight.org so we may prepare for your arrival.
Auction & Event Impact
How do I participate in the Live Auction and Fund-A-Need?
Your unique bidding number and paddle will be presented to you at check-in. At the conclusion of the evening, a dedicated checkout station will be available to seamlessly process payments via credit card or personal check.
To bypass the checkout queue, we highly recommend contacting our development team at development@thefreight.org prior to the event to securely pre-authorize your preferred payment details.
How does my contribution benefit The Freight?
Your patronage at our upcoming Gala directly sustains the extraordinary live music and vital community programs that define The Freight. Your generosity allows us to present a rich breadth of global artists and to deeply invest in our educational initiatives—including Golden State of Song, our flagship program that brings elementary social studies to life through California's rich, multicultural musical traditions. We are profoundly grateful for your shared commitment to this work.
Item details
Date
Friday, October 9, 2026 7:30PM
Name
Celebrate the Freight Gala: Rickie Lee Jones, Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn, Mia Pixley
Vibrant Voices. Global Roots.
Description
Premium Seating
Price: $375.00
• Includes premium showroom seating, access to the pre-show cocktail reception, hosted bar, hors d'oeuvres, and the live auction.
• IRS Tax Tax Disclosure: The fair market value (FMV) of this ticket level is $192.00. The remaining $183.00 is a tax-deductible contribution to the Berkeley Society for the Preservation of Traditional Music.
General Seating
Price: $200.00
• Includes general admission showroom seating, access to the pre-show cocktail reception, hosted bar, hors d'oeuvres, and the live auction.
• IRS Tax Disclosure: The fair market value (FMV) of this ticket level is $172.00. The remaining $28.00 is a tax-deductible contribution to the Berkeley Society for the Preservation of Traditional Music
Click here to view Gala seat map.
Please note the following:
• Tickets can be purchased online, via phone or in-person. Click here for Box Office hours.
• Tickets for the Gala can not be exchanged or refunded.
• This event will not require physical tickets. Upon arrival, simply present your name at the guest registration tables.
• Donor/member discounts do not apply to Gala tickets.
• Gala ticket purchases and any additional donations made during the evening are not applied toward annual Freight Donor membership benefits, nor will they increase active membership levels for existing donors.
• Creative black tie attire encouraged.
Tables, Sponsorships, & Questions
Click here to explore sponsorship opportunities for our Gala.
Contact Noah Gaiser, Major Gifts Officer, at development@thefreight.org, to book an exclusive table and become a sponsor.
