This Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11-12, the Katmandu Fall Festival returns to Depot Park for its sixth year, bringing plenty of food and music from Nepal, Tibet and India to Sonoma. There will also be a marketplace with carpets, clothing and many imported items. The festival is a fundraiser for the Children’s Medical Aid Foundation, which funds items for Nepalese surgeons that go to the remote regions of the country to help the children in the area suffering from birth defects to lead a more normal life. The group is now helping to build a hospital in Itahari, Nepal, with the help of some local Sonoma designers. The entertainment begins at noon each day, kicking off on Saturday, Sept. 11, with the Shambhala opening ceremony, then Patricia Everett with Sound Healing, Nayantara Nanda Kumar, Irv Kirschbaum performing Tai Chi, followed by Savitrihari with Baraka Mooon, then the Amrita Dance Company, who are Bollywood dancers and the day wraps with Teed Rockwell, doing Hindustani music. Sunday, Sept. 12, the opening ceremony will be held with Babaji, then Soul Whispers, playing solo flutes, followed by Bidisha Mohanty with Odissi Dance. Next up is Tamarin, a Tibetan vocalist. Then it’s time for local Sufi music star Sukhawat Ali Khan & Company followed by Joti Kala Mandir and their dance ensemble. The day wraps with Raj Kumar playing Nepali folk dance. There is a suggested donation of $10, which can be given upon entry to the festival. For more info about the festival and the cause, point your browser to www.childrensmedaid.org.
Brian Nova makes a triumphant return to the Plaza Wine Bar in the Plaza Bistro tonight, Sept. 10, for one night only. Nova, who used to be a Sonoma resident, could be seen nightly patrolling the Plaza, cigar in mouth. Now, hailing from Palm Springs and Seattle, Nova will bring his smoking guitar licks for all to enjoy. The show kicks off at 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen will have John Burdick solo tonight, Sept. 10, and sitting in with Burdick will be vocalist Hilary Wicht. We had the pleasure of checking out Wicht with Burdick recently at Silos jazz club in Napa and let us just say that girl can sing. If you have not yet seen her, tonight is your chance. Show is at 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards has the Mary Jenson Trio tonight, Sept. 10, and sitting in with her will be, from Glen Ellen, Stephanie Ozer on keyboard. The show kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
If you miss Ozer tonight, you can check her out at the Lodge at Sonoma on Saturday, Sept. 11, for a 7 p.m. solo show in the lounge. Tonight, Sept. 10, has John Groves in the lounge. There is no cover for either show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Hellhounds tonight, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. for a night of blues. Saturday, Sept. 11, brings in Carolina Special, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday, Sept. 12, has Blue House for an early show that kicks off at 6 p.m.
Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be at the Ledson Lounge on the Plaza tonight, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m.
Sonoma Springs Brewery has Tessa Rissacher and her band tonight, Sept. 10, for a 7 p.m. show.
The Schellville Grill has the jazzy sounds of EZ Kewl tonight, Sept. 10, for a dinner show at 7 p.m.
Pearl’s Diner will have the Joe Chaplain Band on Friday, Sept. 10, for a 5:30 p.m. show. The event is also a classic car show and a benefit for the local American Legion post, and the $10 donation also gets you a space to showcase your classic car. Saturday, Sept. 11, has the band at the annual law enforcement chaplaincy benefit, to be held at Ursuline High School in Santa Rosa. For tickets and more info, point your browser to www.sonomalawchaplains.org, or talk to Chaplain, who actually is a chaplain, at tonights show.
Little Switzerland will have the monthly appearance of the San Francisco Starlight Orchestra on Saturday, Sept. 11, for a 2 p.m. show. The orchestra has been together for 25 years and plays original orchestrations from the jazz age. The orchestra played at the Strawberry Recreation Center in Mill Valley for 20 years, starting in 1990, and moved this year to Little Switzerland. The band promises an afternoon of “great hot and sweet jazz and ballroom music from the ‘20s and ‘30s.” The dress code is “casual elegance” and there is a cover at the door.
Steiners Tavern will have Adam Traum and the Traumatics tonight, Sept. 10, for a 7 p.m. show. Traum and the band will be in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Rickhouse Bar for an 8 p.m. show. The tavern will have the DJ sounds of XXXeno on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 10 p.m.
Jon Popenoe will be doing an interesting show today, Sept. 10, at the Sonoma Marketplace gazebo starting at 5 p.m. Popenoe will have with him drum master Wade Peterson on djembe and assorted percussion. This music will be completely improvised, and anyone is welcome to bring a drum and be a part of this unique musical experience. Saturday, Sept. 11, Popenoe brings his blues band to the El Verano Inn for a 9 p.m. show.
Mondo American Beer Garden has the sounds of Vitamin Girl on Saturday, Sept. 11, for a 7 p.m. show.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards has Mark MacDonald on Saturday, Sept. 11, for an afternoon of blues starting at 1 p.m.
EZ Kewl will be on the road to A’Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa Saturday, Sept. 11, for an 8:30 p.m. show.
The Hellhounds will be in Napa at Uva Trattoria to lay down some blues on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 8:30 p.m.
Ten Foot Tone will be in Petaluma at Papas Taverna on Lakeville Highway tonight, Sept. 10, for a 7 p.m. show.
Garen Patterson will be at the Marsh Theater in Berkley doing excerpts from his latest show “Martas Inferno” on Monday. Sept. 13. Doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets or more info, call Patterson at 337-2313.