Flautist Elena Durán and pianist arranger Luis Zepeda present “Mexico of My Heart” on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. in the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building. “Mexico of My Heart” is an emotional journey through the movies of Los Tres Gallos and through Durán’s growth as a young Chicana in Oakland to becoming an esteemed star of the concert hall. Durán has entranced audiences around the world and has established a reputation as a charismatic communicator in the concert hall, on television and on radio. “Mexico of My Heart” is part of a host of events encompassing Sonoma Hispanic Heritage Month, which included a special arrangement with the Mexican Consulate of San Francisco and the City of Sonoma. With financial support from many, including Sonoma Materials and Nuestra Voz, the concert will be presented free to the public. The event is family-friendly and children are invited to attend as well. For more info, point your browser to www.hispanicsonoma.org.
It’s being called “A Blue Wing Night” and is a benefit to help raise funds to restore the historic Blue Wing Inn, the single oldest original adobe building owned by the State of California. The building is nestled next to La Casa Restaurant on East Spain Street. Once again, the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley is stepping up to the plate and hosting not only a golf tournament, but a dinner-dance which will include a live and silent auction, food by Meadowbrooke Catering and music by BackTrax, all to help the cause. You may recall just recently, Rotary president Chip Allen presented a check for $5,000 to the Sonoma Community Center to help offset costs for the City Party. The event is tonight, Aug. 27, and kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 19, when the spirit of the buffalo returns to the Valley, Norton Buffalo that is. The line-up is still being finalized, but the eight-hour event to be held at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building, which kicks off at noon, will feature a harmonica blowout with 15 players, including Dave Chavoya, Corey Jennings, Steve Judkins and Sonny Lowe, to name just a few. Musical acts include Carlos Reyes, Tommy Thomsen, Tudo Bem, the Michael Hinton band and many more. Tickets are currently available at Sonoma Valley Music.
Another upcoming event has changed things around a bit, The B. R. Cohn Fall Festival, already ridiculously packed with talent, has added a second stage, named after the late Norton Buffalo, to entertain folks between acts. Cohn was quoted as saying “Every year we try and spice it up and add more value to the fundraising event. The second stage, named after my friend Norton Buffalo, will provide a different atmosphere to hear music during set changes…” The festival takes place this year on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 – 10, and features Cheap Trick, War, Night Ranger, Grand Funk Railroad, Eddie Money, Greg Kihn and more over the two day event. Tickets are available at the B. R. Cohn Winery tasting room in Glen Ellen.
Lokal Restaurant will have music from the Eric Lindquist Jazz Trio on Saturday, Aug. 28, kicking off at 7 p.m. Lindquist grew up in Sonoma Valley, playing music, and many locals will be checking out his return. There is no cover for the show.
The Swiss Hotel will have the blues sounds of the Rett Hamer Band on the back patio on Sunday, Aug. 29, for a 2 p.m. show. Local diva Sheila Whitney will be sitting in for a few songs as well. We don’t use the term “diva” loosely with Whitney; she is trained in opera, classical and theater and has a brilliant voice. There is no cover for the show.
Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen will have the Cynthia Tarr band tonight, Aug. 27, for a 7 p.m. show. With some of her regular band out on the road, she has brought in Dave McKee on drums and Jack Hines on bass.
Imagery Estate Winery will have one of the Maldonado Brothers, Randy Cook for an acoustic show on Sunday, Aug. 29, for a 1 p.m. show. Cook will be reaching back to some of the classics in rock and will also have Dann Walters on bass.
The gazebo in the Sonoma Marketplace will have Jon Popenoe and Friends today, Aug 27, at 5 p.m. Performing that day with Popenoe will be several of his students from his music class.
Jacuzzi Family Winery will have Andoni Panici and his band playing Latin dances for guests of the wineries “Sip and Twirl” event on Sunday, Aug. 29. Guests will be taught the tango and the rumba by dance instructor Cynthia Glinka. The event goes off at 3 p.m. and is free to children under 15.
The Blue Moon Saloon will have Izzy and the Kesstronics for one-night only on Saturday, Aug. 28, for a 9:30 p.m. show. Members of the band may stick around for the Sunday night blues jam that goes down at the saloon each Sunday night.
Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be at the Ledson Lounge on the Plaza tonight, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards will have the Rolling Blackouts tonight, Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m.
Steiners Tavern will have the Glenn Carter Band tonight, Aug. 27, for a show that kicks off at 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, brings back popular DJ XXXenos for a 10 p.m. show.
Sonoma Springs Brewery has Dan Martin tonight, Aug. 27, for a 7 p.m. show.
The El Verano Inn will have Sharp Objects for a show tonight, Aug. 27, for a 10 p.m. show. The band has members of the local punk rock act the Bodies playing with them, so we think we know what you can expect. There is no cover for the show.
The Schellville Grill brings in EZ Kewl for a dinner set tonight, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. If you miss them tonight, you can catch the boys in Helen Putnam Park in Petaluma (say that five times fast) on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Plaza Bistro will have the Dick Conte Trio in the Plaza Wine Bar tonight, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. Conte will have with him Bill Moody on drums and Steve Webber on bass. Conte has jazz kudos from being a jazz radio DJ to performing at some of the largest jazz festivals in the west coast. There is no cover for the show.
The Lodge at Sonoma will have Mike Greensill for a show tonight, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 brings in Dick Conte for a night on the ivories.
Mondo American Beer Garden has Tony Gibson on Saturday, Aug. 28, for a 7 p.m. show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has the Two Rock Ramblers tonight, Aug. 27, for an 8 p.m. show. Saturday, Aug. 28, brings in the bluegrass sounds of High Country, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday, Aug. 29, has the acoustic sounds of Peter Lamson, playing groove, swing and originals for a 6 p.m. show. There is no cover for any of the shows at the pub.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards has Adam Traum for a solo acoustic show on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m. Traum will be at the Aqus Cafe in Petaluma tonight, Aug. 27, for a 6:30 p.m. show
MacArthur Place has the Latin acoustic guitar sounds of Carlos Herrera for a 4 p.m. show in the veranda garden on Sunday, Aug. 29.
The Cork Pullers travel to St Helena once again for a show on Sunday, Aug. 29, at St. Clement Winery. Showtime is 3 p.m.
Stephanie Ozer will be at the Hotel Healdsburg tonight, Aug. 27, for a 7:30 p.m. show.
Points North, with instrumental guitarist Eric Barnett, will be at Blakes in Oakland for an 8:30 p.m. show on Saturday, Aug. 28.