Soundbytes
There’s a new band in town, and they’re called the Redwood Prophets. Originally formed in 2015, the act has been busy working on a CD, which is self- titled, before they started hitting the clubs, and that time is now. No genre seems to worry these guys, with songs varying from rock, blues, country, psych, jazz, Latin and even punk.
The act consists of Joe Chaplain, who is actually a Chaplain, on guitar and vocals and shares songwriting duties with most of the band and bass with Brian Paisley, the primary bass player. Covering the keyboards is Eric Cullen with Chuck Walter holding down the rhythm on drums. The members have paid many dues over the years, having been in acts such as the Joe Chaplain Band, Rhythm is One, Adios Gringo, Butterhog, Sundance, Window, M’ash’Allah, Al Fellahin, Lisa Randolph Band, Sidewinder, Linda Ronstadt, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
The act is hoping for a date or two on this summer’s Dead and Company tour but, shhh; That’s a secret. You can catch them and pick up a CD tonight, March 10, at the Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, kicking off at 8 p.m. There is no cover. For more info about the band, point your browser to redwoodprophets.com
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Funky Fridays announces schedule
The popular Friday evening event in Kenwood Funky Fridays is back for another year and has just announced the line-up for the year. Formerly the venue was at the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, this year, for the second year, the venue is at the Hood Mansion off Pythian Road in Kenwood. The event had become a victim of it’s own popularity and simply outgrew the park. The new venue has many advantages, including more room for the crowd, a spacious lawn for concert-goers and nearby parking.
Once again, funds raised from this years concert series will support projects related to Hood Mansion, Hood Mountain Regional Park, and other county parks projects in the Sonoma Valley. The Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has directed more than $3.5 million to county parks projects since its inception in 1998. The non-profit currently is raising funds to build more trails at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, sponsor environmental field trips for local school children, and support swim classes and water safety programs operated by Regional Parks.
But let’s get to the music shall we? Once again Bill Myers and Linda Pavlak have put together a line-up that has a little something for everyone. The series kicks off on Friday, May 26, with the Bruthas, which features local music veterans Levi Lloyd, Willie Jordan and Willard Blackwell, whose musical credits are far too extensive to mention here. The series also includes the Jami Jamison Band, the Volker Strifler Band, the Blues Burners, Gator Nation, Frobeck and many more. For the complete line-up, point your browser to funkyfridays.info.
The event kicks off on Fridays of the scheduled season at 7 p.m. and is a ticketed event, with a twist. An advance ticket, although not required, will get you into any of the concerts, so if your plans suddenly change, you can use the ticket at an upcoming event. Food and beverages are available at the venue but you can bring your own picnic as well, but no outside alcohol is allowed, including beer. Children under 18 are admitted free. For more info about the concert series, point your browser to funkyfridays.info.
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Ukulele at the Library
Have you ever wanted to play the ukulele and just not known how to even start? Well, if you’re over eight years of age, this Saturday, March 11, is your lucky day, and you don’t even have to own a ukulele. The Sonoma Valley Regional Library, in it’s ongoing mission to marry music with the literature, are presenting a free class that, by the end, will have you singing and playing like Don Ho. Well, not really, but you will be able to play chords and a song.
Music educator, Scott Gifford, will teach the class, angled towards beginners and also for those who are familiar with playing the Ukulele and want to refresh their memory “The Ukulele is the gateway instrument for other string instruments and is fun right from the start” states Gifford. Although not traditional Hawaiian songs, “We’ll cover four chords: C7, C, F and G7 and learn songs like “The Beat Goes On,” “Frere Jacques,” and “My Darlin’ Clementine”” says Gifford.
Ukelele’s will be provided, or you can bring your own, but registration is required byt stopping by the library at 755 W. Napa St., calling 996-5217 or visiting sonomalibrary.org and choosing the “Events” menu.
The class kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. You can find out more about all the events at the Sonoma Valley Regional Library by pointing your browser to sonomalibrary.org or following them on Facebook as sonomavalleylibrary.
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Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, March 10: Tangled up in Blue. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: Noah Trettor. 7:30 p.m.
Barking Dog Roasters, 18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 939-1905
Saturday, March 11: Hugh Gallagher. 3 p.m.
B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille, 400 First St. E. Sonoma, 938-7110
Tonight, June 3: DJ Hi – C. 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 4: DJ Cal. 9 p.m.
El Verano Inn, 705 Laurel Ave. El Verano, 935-0611
Tonight, March 10: Total Chaos, the Quitters, Resilience and Kitten Drunk. 8 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, March 10: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, March 10: Vintage Grass. 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: Aaron Redner. 8 p.m.
Sunday, March. 12: Box Set. 8 p.m. In the Listening Room
Kivelstadt Cellars, 13750 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, 938.7001
Tonight, March 10: Glenn Carter. 6:30 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, March 10: Deluxe. 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: Mostly Simply Bluegrass. 8 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Tonight, March 10: Reggae Night with Byron Borges. 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
The Reel Fish Shop and Grill, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Friday, March 10: the Cork Pullers. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: “Triple Bill” with Buck Thrifty, Osito and Timothy O’Neil. 8:30 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 996-5217
Saturday, March 11: Beginning Ukulele Class. 2:30 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, March 10: Ryan Tatarian. 6:30 p.m. Redwood Prophets CD release party. 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 11: Full Circle. 5 p.m. the Rhythm Methodists. 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 12: Corey Jennings and Friends, 5 p.m. Acoustic Blues Jam. 8:30 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com