The tounge-in-cheek reference to the Texas town Kerrville, which is famous for its folk music festival, isn’t far off with the line-up that the Kenwood festival lays down each year. The Cur-ville Dog Days Festival is a back yard party that Laura Hinerfeld and Dale Henry Geist throw every August to celebrate their birthdays and their anniversary, among other things. The festival started as a small, intimate affair and each year has gotten a little larger. In the past, the festival has benefited the Kenwood School and Delta PAWS Animal Rescue. The event is an all day affair, which even goes into the night, with song circles and just plain good times. The day starts off on Saturday, Aug. 21, just about noon, when the Bodie Travelers, featuring local Stacy Keith, take the stage, followed by Larry Potts, Lindalou and Michael, Dale Henry Geist, Adam Traum, Three at Last, Johnny Harper and Solid Air wrap up the scheduled portion of the day. Finish Line Barbecue will be on hand as well and there will be activities for the children. There are even places to camp overnight. You can get all the details and location of the festival at www.cur-ville.com.
Young rocker Bryan Martinez is doing two shows on Saturday, Aug. 21, with two different bands. The first will be at Little Switzerland with his band Burning Broadway, who recently won the Sonoma Valley Battle of the Bands. The show will be a benefit for girls youth soccer and is a family friendly event that kicks off at 1 p.m. Later that same day, at 6 p.m., The Gathering, a Christian rock act, will play a two hour show in the Grinstead Amphitheater in the Sonoma Plaza.
Little Switzerland will be busy that day, as later in the night on Saturday, Aug. 21, the Dave Amour Band hits the stage for an 8 p.m. show. The band, along with Amour on guitar, features Nick Cordellos on drums and Keith Anderson on bass.
We’re not sure if Jon Popenoe thinks he’s still 22 years old, but the local musician will go for the trifecta on Saturday, Aug. 21, starting off at the Whole Foods in Sonoma with the Jon Popenoe Duo for an 11 a.m. show. Later that same day, the duo heads to St. Helena to St. Clement Winery for a 3 p.m. show. Then Popenoe brings in the whole band to Downtown Joe’s in Napa for a 9 p.m. show. Popenoe will be sleeping all day Sunday.
Popo the Clown will be celebrating her birthday tonight, Aug 20, at the Moose Lodge and the whole town is invited. DJ Byron Borges and Superior Sound will be providing the dance grooves and there will also be a campfire, s’mores and more. The fun kicks off at 7 p.m. and all proceeds will be going to Popo’s favorite charities.
The Sean Carscadden Trio will be laying down blues at Maya Restaurant on Saturday, Aug. 21, for a 10 p.m. show.
BackTrax will be at Sebastiani Winery tonight, Aug. 20, for an acoustic show that goes off at 6:30 p.m. Margie Tosch and Meadow Brooke catering will be providing the barbecue with a menu that consists of XXXXXXXXXXX. You can also purchase wines by the glass or bottle at special prices to go with the meal. There is no cover and the show is family friendly.
The Quarryhill Botanical Garden continues it’s summertime music series with “Bach to Broadway on Brass” with the Bright Brass Quintet on Saturday, Aug. 21. The garden opens at 4:30 p.m. and the show kicks off at 6 p.m. Folks are encouraged to bring the family and a picnic basket and enjoy the evening. Proceeds will benefit the conservation of rare and endangered Asian plant species.
Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be at the Ledson Lounge on the Plaza tonight, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.
Lokal will bring in the Jon Popenoe Duo tonight, Aug. 20, for a 7 p.m. set.
Mondo American Beer Garden will have the “Hippie Mountain Music” sounds of Wildflower Weed on Saturday, Aug 21, at 7 p.m. Gary Ruiz will be sitting in on lead guitar.
Sonoma Springs Brewery will have Sonoma native Jules Figueroa tonight, Aug. 20, for a set that kicks off at 7 p.m. “Figureoa transcends Latin, folk, soul and rock genres, creating a signature style that only a master craftsman can conceive,” according to his bio. There is no cover for the show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has bluegrass this weekend, starting tonight, Aug. 20, with Under the Radar, for an 8 p.m. show. Saturday, Aug. 21, brings in Keystone Station, playing the styles of the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday, Aug. 22, will showcase Celtic music with Greenhouse for an early show that goes off at 6 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows at the pub.
Steiners Tavern will have the Blue Rock Country Club tonight, Aug. 20, for a 10 p.m. show. Saturday, Aug. 21, brings in the dance grooves of DJ Dave, also for a 10 p.m. show. Proprietor Paul Spadaro has announced that the new kitchen is now open, serving up “pub style” grub, including hot links, jalapeno poppers, chicken strips and even tater tots. Tater tots? We’ll have to try those out soon.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards continues their Complimentary Concert Series with Jason Bodlovich on Saturday, Aug. 21, for a 1 p.m. show in the patio. If you miss Bodlovich Saturday, you can catch him Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Russian River Brewing Company at 5 p.m., for what will be his second CD release party for his new disc, “The Culprit.”
The Plaza Bistro will have the Andrew Emer Trio in the back room that is now the Plaza Wine Bar tonight, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. Emer, on bass, will be accompanied tonight by Will Sellenraad on guitar and Eddie Marshall on drums. There is no cover for the show.
MacArthur Place will have the blues and Americana sounds of the Po8’s in the veranda garden on Sunday, Aug. 22, for a 4 p.m. show.
The Lodge at Sonoma will have piano jazz in the lounge this weekend, starting tonight, Aug. 20, with Wayne De La Cruz. Saturday, Aug, 21, has Mike Greensill maneuvering his way around the ‘88s. Both shows kick off at 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
EZ Kewl will play a dinner set at the Schellville Grill on Saturday, Aug. 21, starting at 7 p.m. You can catch the boys tonight, Aug. 20, at the Apple Box in Petaluma for a 6 p.m. show.
The Tonewoods are all the way up the coast for the weekend in Gualala for the Art in the Redwoods Festival, with shows both Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21 – 22.
St. Clement Winery in St.Helena seems to be hijacking our local musicians as of late. In addition to the previously mentioned Popenoe show, the Cork Pullers will be at the winery on Sunday, Aug. 22, for a 3 p.m. show.
It took sorting out over 100 local acts to come up with the seven that will play the DNA Lounge in San Francisco on Sunday, Aug. 22, for the Battle of the bands event, and one of the bands to make the cut was Sonoma Valley’s own Static People. The winner will win studio time and more. For tickets, send an email to staticp@sonic.net, and your ticket will also get you a free Static People CD. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m.