Soundbytes – the Hometown Band
The Sonoma Hometown Band is in action this weekend on Saturday, Dec. 3, for it’s annual Holiday show at Burlingame Hall kicking off at 2 p.m. The band is yet another truly unique piece of Sonoma with an ever changing cast of characters. The band began over 40 years ago when Rich Snyder, who was teaching at Sonoma Valley High School wanted to march in the Fourth of July parade and recruited a bunch of students to come along. That long-standing tradition carries on to this day, with the band actually marching in the parade twice. Parade organizers were lamenting the fact of only having one marching band in the parade so the band decided to change clothes and hats and march as the “Other Hometown Band.”
The performance on Saturday is billed as “Sounds of the Season” and will feature the premiere of “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” a holiday piece written by the ensemble’s current director, John Partridge, who got the idea for the piece from the voice of the band, Butch Engle after one of the Band’s concerts last year, Engle suggested Partridge write a setting of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” for him to perform with the band. The poem was originally published anonymously, but later Clement Clarke Moore claimed authorship, however, recent evidence suggests that the poem was actually written by Henry Livingston Jr. Regardless of the author, the band will have it’s unique take on it during the show.
The band performs only a few times a year, at the Fourth of July parade, the Memorial Day remembrance at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building and for it’s spring and fall concerts. After this show they will take a break until late January or so when they ramp back up with rehearsal and encourage new members. All are welcome, there are no auditions and to find out how to join, point your browser to sonomahometownband.org.
Saturdays show is free to the public and all are invited, although donations will gladly be accepted.
###############
Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, Dec. 2: Voices in My Head. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3: TBA. 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters, 18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 939-1905
Saturday, Nov. 3: Ian Hinkley and Deadbelly. 3 p.m.
Burlingame Hall, 252 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 996-1328
Saturday, Nov. 3: the Sonoma Hometown Band. 2 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille, 400 First St. E. Sonoma, 938-7110
Tonight, Dec. 2: DJ Isak. 9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3: DJ Willie. 9 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, Dec. 2: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, Dec. 2: Timothy O’Neil. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3: Quiles and Cloud. 8 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, Dec. 2: Sean Carscadden Trio. 8 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Saturday, Dec. 3: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, Dec. 2: Ryan Tatarian. 6:30 p.m. the New Copasetics. 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3: Full Circle. 5:30 p.m. Tudo Bem. 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4: “Open Mic and Mimosas.” 1 to 7 p.m. Acrosonics. 5 p.m. Blues Jam. 8 p.m.
The Starling Bar, 19380 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma, 938-7442
Tonight, Dec. 2: DJ Civilliansound. 9 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com