The Glen Ellen Street Fair is a step back into the days of fairs gone by, small town fairs with cake walks, parades and quilt contests, and the Glen Ellen fair has all of the above, with some great live music as well. They actually close Arnold Drive through Glen Ellen for the day. The theme for this years festival is “Historic Glen Ellen” and the day kicks off at noon on Sunday, Oct. 9, with a parade through the town that features co-Grand Marshalls, Archie Horton and Marge Everidge. Many local businesses will have booths at the fair, which has almost a Renaissance Faire feel to it. There is a kids alley with carnival games, the cake walk and even a bouncy house. The live music also kicks off at noon with the Solcats, the Cork Pullers, Uncle Naz and the Wildcats and the Buck Nickels, featuring Dave Westerbeke. There is no admission to the fair, which ends at 5 p.m., but there will be plenty of opportunities to donate a dollar or two to one of the many causes that will have a presence that day.
The Sonoma Bar Battle is back in action on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building with the restaurants and bars of Sonoma Valley all coming up with crazy beverage concoctions to try to carry the torch of the winning drink until next years event. Judging will be done by various members of the media and local “celebrities.” The event is a fundraiser for many Valley non-profits as well as veterans organizations. There will be food and live music as well from the Gentlemen Soldiers and the new up and coming local country act, Trainwreck Junction. The festivities get underway at 6 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door or before at Steiners Tavern, the Town Square and Mary’s Pizza Shack.
The long-awaited tribute to the Rolling Stones by local classic rockers BackTrax is tonight, Oct. 7, at Steiners Tavern. According to front-man Oscar Mooneyhan, “the band will be rockin’ two sets of some of the greatest songs by the Rolling Stones, from “Satisfaction” to “Start Me Up”.” The third set will be a variety of classic rock songs. Since getting his kitchen permit last year, Steiners Tavern owner Paul Spadaro has been expanding the food menu to include many late-night options. There is no cover for the show that kicks off at 9 p.m.
You may have heard him singing in front of the Swiss Hotel, or maybe the Town Square, or maybe with Vox Populi, but this Sunday, Oct. 9, local Peter Babcock will be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City to a sold-out crowd. Babcock will be one of a number of singers in the group for the 50th anniversary performance of “Your Fathers Mustache.” In addition to vocals, Babcock plays the washboard, and that’s what got him in the band in the late ‘60s, and since then has performed at the Preservation Jazz Hall in New Orleans, the Sacramento Jazz festival and even had appearances on the Ed Sullivan show. Sundays show will have almost 20 washboard players, all led by Babcock. Break a leg Peter!
If you’re looking for a big jazz band a little closer to home, look no further that Little Switzerland on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. then the San Francisco Starlight Orchestra takes the stage. The band models itself after a 1920s novelty orchestra, and this month will be paying tribute to the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Bennie Moten Orchestra, which later became the Count Basie Orchestra. You can even check in on the rehearsal, which begins the same day at 12:30 p.m., and is included in the price of admission. Tickets will be available at the door.
The Jami Jamison Band will be in the tasting room at Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards tonight, Oct. 7, starting off at 6:30 p.m.
Whole Foods in the Sonoma Marketplace has Micheal L. Castle in the house providing folk, country, blues and Americana music while you shop today, Oct. 7, at 4:30 p.m.
The Kathmandu Corner, behind the Taste of the Himalayas restaurant, welcomes David Luning tonight, Oct. 7, for his debut performance at the venue, which kicks off at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, brings in Sue Albano and Bob Edmundson, from JoyRide, playing as a duo, also starting at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, the corner welcomes Tony Gibson and Dawn Angelosante for an early show, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has Loose Change tonight, Oct. 7, kicking off at 8 p.m. Saturday, the pub welcomes in Larry Carlin’s Mostly Kinda Bluegrass, also for an 8 p.m. start. Sunday, Oct. 9, has an early show with Sean Carscadden and Marty O’Reilly, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows.
HopMonk Tavern Sonoma has music today, Oct. 7, on the outside stage starting at 5 p.m. with Driftwood Fire. Later tonight on the inside stage, the tavern has the Coffis Brothers, kicking off at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, brings Black Cat Bone to the garden stage at 1 p.m. and later that evening, welcomes Steve Taylor inside, kicking off at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, David Stuart performs in the outside stage, starting at 1 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows.
El Verano Inn has a unique night with local musicians, playing as Rag Tag Sullivan on Saturday, Oct. 8, the band features Phil Herrschaft, Jason Bodlovich, James Stafford and Steve Froberg, from the local act Frobeck. Opening the evening will be Sean Carscadden and Marty O’Reilly. The show kicks off at 10 p.m. and there is no cover.
JoyRide will be at the Sunflower Caffe tonight, Oct. 7, as part of the monthly artist opening event. The band will be in back on the patio and kick off the music at 6 p.m.
Centre du vin inside the Ledson Hotel will have Jess Petty and Ken Chambers on Saturday, Oct. 8, for a 6:30 p.m. show.
Sonoma Springs Brewing Company welcomes Wildflower Weed on Saturday, Oct. 8, and in addition to the main act, portions of the band will be doing solo performances as the Weeping Willows and the Trees. The show goes off at 7 p.m. and there is no cover. Shiso Sushi will also be offering “pub grub” that night, for hungry music enthusiasts..
The Glen Ellen Farmers Market, held in the Jack London Village, has the youth version of Vox Populi, called the VP Kids Choir on Sunday, Oct. 9, kicking off at noon.
The Plaza Bistro presents the Jazz Comradz tonight, Oct. 7, for a 7 p.m. show. The Comradz are a lineup of two horns, keyboard and drums, playing an edgy mix of original compositions and adventurous jazz standards. Saturday, Oct. 8, brings in the popular Jonathan Poretz Duo to the back room, also for a 7 p.m. show. Poretz blends the swinging vocal styling of Sinatra, Torme, Bennett and Darin. “Silky smooth and swingin’, Jonathan Poretz’s voice beautifully wraps around a lyric and lets the song soar!” – Jan Wahl, KRON TV. There is no cover for either show.
Mad and Eddie Duran are on the road the Healdsburg on Saturday, Oct. 8, to the Seasons of the Vineyards Tasting Room for a 4 p.m. show.
The Hellhounds will be at Cuvee in Napa tonight, Oct. 7, for a 9:30 p.m. show.
Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island
The English Beat– Saturday, Oct. 8.
19 Broadway – Fairfax
415-459-0293
American Philharmonic Orchestra – Sunday, Oct. 9.
Wells Fargo Center – Santa Rosa
546-3600
Lee Rocker – from the Stray Cats– Saturday, Oct. 8.
HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300
Thomas Dolby – Thursday, Oct. 13.
Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco
415-474-0365
Stevie Nicks – Saturday – Sunday, Oct. 8 – 9.
The Fillmore – San Francisco
415-346-6000
Laurence Juber, Peppino D’Agostino and Carlos Reyes – Sunday, Oct. 9.
Napa Valley Opera House
226-7372
Coco Montoya – Friday, Oct. 7.
Biscuits & Blues – San Francisco
415-292-2583
Pop Fiction – Friday, Oct. 7.
George’s Nightclub – San Rafael
415-226-0262
Natasha James – Friday, Oct. 7.
Southern Pacific Smokehouse – Novato
415-899-9600