Fruit Bats
Not to be confused with fruit flies that you may see at many a winery here in Sonoma Valley, the Fruit Bats are an indie-rock act fronted by Eric Johnson, who is also co-founder of the Huichica Music Festival, which takes place on the winery grounds in June. The Saturday, April 28, show at the winery is a special date, according to Jeff Bundschu. “With all that needs to happen at the Huichica Festival, Eric really wanted to keep his promoter hat on this year, but we really wanted the band to play here, so we gave them a special day.” Also on the bill is the Gold Leaves and Garrett Pierce. The show gets going at 7 p.m. and is limited to ages 18 and over. For tickets and more info, go to www.gunbun.com/fruitbats. Tickets are only available online and will be held at will-call.
Jeff Campbell
Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen wraps up its popular Sunday Songwriter Sessions this Sunday, April 29, with appearances by John Burdick, Jeff Campbell and Roem Baur. According to Chuck Dauphin of Music News Nashville “…one of Campbell’s biggest strengths is his songwriting, not an artist to be honed in any one particular style, you’ve got an album that will leave you wanting more. That’s what it did to me!” Baur is a San Francisco based singer-songwriter who first began singing his heartfelt songs in the agriculturally rich small town of Modesto, Most recently, Baur released “Live at Yoshi’s San Francisco,” a preview of new music and an uncut, one-take version of his live show. Showtime is 5 p.m.
Sonoma Bach is back at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 29, at 4 p.m. The show features the Live Oak Baroque Orchestra, directed by violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock, and the Monteverdi Consort vocal ensemble combining forces to perform Franz Biber’s famous depictions of pitched battles and drunken guards, along with Heinrich Schmelzer’s elaborate wedding celebration, Missa Nuptialis. Biber was the 17th century’s greatest violin virtuoso, and Schmelzer was the court composer for Austrian Emperor Leopold I. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sonomabach.org or by phone at 877-914-2224.
Sean Carscadden
Steiners Tavern has the blues and rock sounds of the Sean Carscadden Trio, which will feature Marty O’Reilly as well, tonight, April 27, kicking off at 10 p.m. There is no cover.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards has another “trial run” of the Friday night music series tonight, April 27, and there will be food trucks as well. The series, now in its fourth year, is officially set to start on Memorial Day weekend, but tonights event is billed as a bonus. The band tonight is Laguna Moon, and the show kicks off at 6:30 p.m. There is no cover and there will be wine by the glass as well as the food trucks.
Benziger Family Winery will be the place on Sunday night, April 29, for a benefit to recognize Jack London State Historic Park as a treasure in the Valley. The event will feature wine tasting in the cave, live music from JoyRide, a raffle of large format Imagery and Benziger wines, appetizers by Olive and Vine, and a silent auction of outdoor adventures from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Plaza Bistro welcomes the Frank Jackson Legends Trio tonight, April 27, for a 7 p.m. show. Jackson is a legendary jazz pianist and vocalist, standup singer, recording artist and composer. Originally from Cleburne, Texas, Jackson moved to San Francisco in 1942 and is an original jazz pioneer of the San Francisco Fillmore Jazz District and has also played with and for Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Charlie “Bird” Parker, Ben Webster and many more. Tonight, Jackson will have with him Al Obidinski on bass and Noel Jewkes on saxophone. There is no cover for the show.
JoyRide
Murphy’s Irish Pub welcomes JoyRide tonight, April 27, for an 8 p.m. show in the snug. Saturday, April 28, it’s High Country in the snug, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday welcomes Timothy O’Neil for an early show that goes off at 6:30 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows at the pub.
The Epicurean Connection has a variety show on Saturday, April 28, that will feature live music, vaudeville, clowns, monkeys, belly dancing and more, all from the performing troupe Room for Cream. The show is for ages 21 and over and tickets can be purchased at the door. Showtime is 9 p.m.
Star eQuality Players present “Don’t Dream it, Be it!” the first in a brand new showcase series of live performances Monday, April 30, at the Sebastiani Theatre. Abbey Lee and John Rivard, creators of Star eQuality Players, will launch the series with this lively tribute show. The performance kicks off their fundraising efforts to bring one of the most beloved musicals of our time, “A Chorus Line” to the Sonoma Theater Alliance’s 2012 Summer Season. The evening will pay tribute to artists Whitney Huston, Etta James and Madonna, along with songs from musicals like “Gypsy,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” ” Songs for a New World,” ” Smokey Joe’s Café” and more. Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.
The Olde Sonoma Public House has karaoke with Cat on Sunday, April 29, kicking off at 7 p.m.
Midnight Sun Massive will be on the road, along with Dan Martin at the Redwood Cafe in Cotati on Saturday, April 28, for a 9 p.m. show.
Points North will be in Gilroy at 9 Lives on Saturday, April 28, for a 9 p.m. show.
Get Dead, just back from a European tour, will be at Benders in San Francisco on Saturday, April 28, for an 8 p.m. show.
The Pulsators will be at Papas Taverna in Petaluma tonight, April 27, for a 7 p.m. show.
Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island
Jesse Brewster - Friday, April 27
Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio
415-662-2219
Volker-Strifler Band - Saturday, April 28
Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio
415-662-2219
Chris Isaak – Friday, April 27
Uptown Theater – Napa
259-0123
Pop Fiction – Friday, April 27
George’s Nightclub – San Rafael
415-226-0262
Kenny Rogers - Saturday, April 28
Wells Fargo Center – Santa Rosa
546-3600
Jimmy Dillion – Austin DeLone - Friday, April 27
Sweetwater Music Hall – Mill Valley
415-388-3850
Jefferson Starship - Saturday – Sunday, April 28 – 29.
Sweetwater Music Hall – Mill Valley
415-388-3850
By the time you read this, the Sonoma International Film Festival will be in full-swing and if you haven’t enjoyed a movie or a party or two (OK, three) then shame on you. One of our favorites is always the Sonoma Valley High School student short film series, which you can catch on Sunday, April 15, showing at 11:30 a.m. at the Sebastiani Theatre. The Whiskey Thieves have their latest video in the Film Festival today, April 13, which will screen at 1 p.m. at the Vintage House senior center as part of the Sixth Sense shorts program. The band will be doing a short acoustic set in the back-lot today, April 13, at 11 a.m. Also playing the back-lot Friday will be Matt Bolton at 2 p.m. You must be a pass holder to get into the back-lot. Additional music themed movies that will screen today, April 13, are Girls in the Band at the Sebastiani Theatre at 2:30 p.m., Chico and Rita, at the Sonoma Charter School at 7 p.m. and Lady Gagas Secret World at the Sonoma Community Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, the back-lot will have Sean Carscadden from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by JoyRide from 2 – 5 p.m. Music themed movies on Saturday, April 14, include Bella Gaia at 6 p.m., followed by Marley, at 8 p.m. at the Sebastiani Theatre. The after-party on Saturday, April 14, will be at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building, kicking off at 9 p.m. with the 617 Band and Fat Magic. That event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door. Sunday, April 15, has the Girls in the Band at Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards Barrel Room, at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15, back-lot performers include JoyRide, Matt Bolton and Sean Carscadden, all at times to be determined. The Whiskey Thieves will play after the awards and closing ceremonies at 8 p.m. in the back-lot. For all the info on the Sonoma International Film Festival, point your browser to www.sonomafilmfest.org.
