June 11, 2026 | Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
by Dave Golden
Born in Lebanon and now based in San Francisco’s Mission District, Camellia Boutros and band (Michael Morales on drums, Sean Spangenberg on electric bass, and Michael Booke on tenor saxophone) performed a heated set for those brave enough to face a hot San Francisco Thursday afternoon.
Performing on a unique 12-string guitar fitted with a fretless fingerboard and restrung and tuned like an Arabic oud, Boutros led the group through a set consisting mostly of original compositions alongside reimagined Arabic folk songs. While the absence of frets and the instrument’s oud-inspired tuning give it a distinctly Middle Eastern voice, it retains the playability of an electric guitar, allowing for jams and solos. The arrangements blended psychedelic rock, jazz, folk, and hip-hop influences into firmly rooted in Arabic musical traditions.
2026 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival May – November, 2026
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