It may not be blazing in the headlines, but help is still needed for the people of Haiti and once again, the local music community is stepping up to help out. It’s being billed as “Band Together for Haiti,” and will benefit the students of the New Victoria Music School in Haiti. Local violin instructor Leta Davis is producing the event, which will feature the local klezmer band Simka, with guest singer Critti, aka Chris Davis-Dupree, as well as First Street Band, Shameless and the Little Fiddlers. The New Victoria Music School was started to give impoverished children access to music. After being buried in the rubble for 18 hours, blind violinist Romel Joseph knew that his mission was to rebuild the school, named after his daughter, in spite of the fact that he lost his wife and unborn child to the earthquake. This is the second time Joseph has had to rebuild the school; the first one succumbed to fire in 2000. The event takes place on Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. at the Sebastiani Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
You’ll have the chance to see a couple of jazz legends, teamed up with the man known as the “Sonoma Sinatra,” Stan Pappas, for an afternoon show at the Meritage Martini and Oyster Bar on Sunday, June 13. Mad and Eddie Duran will be backing Pappas for a 2 p.m. show in the back tent of the restaurant, for a trip down memory lane with songs from the Frank Sinatra catalog. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Sonoma Valley Music. For more info, call 938-9430.
BackTrax rock band is going for the trifecta this weekend, with three shows around the plaza, with the first one tonight, June 11, at Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards. The band will be paying tribute to the Beatles, in what will be an encore performance of the show from a few months back at the El Dorado Kitchen. Then the band takes all of Sunday, June 13, on, with an electric show at the Flag Day celebration put on by the Native Sons of the Golden West in the Sonoma Plaza at 1:30 p.m., followed by an acoustic show at Steiners Tavern the same day at 6 p.m.
Local independent music supporter Rand Rognlien, who runs the popular indie-music website MusicNomad.com, has released a line of instrument cleaning products that are environmentally friendly. According to Rognlien, “they are more human and environmentally friendlier than existing products on the market and use premium ingredients resulting in high quality…” The products, which are available for drums and guitars, are available locally at Sonoma Valley Music and a percentage of each purchase goes to the music advocacy program at Music Nomad.
Steiners Tavern will be rocking all weekend, starting tonight, June 11, with Isabelles Basement, who describe themselves as “a bunch of old dudes trying to be young dudes by playing in a rock band.” Whoa. Originally hailing from San Francisco, the band hits the stage for the show at 10 p.m. and there is no cover. Saturday, June 12, has the DJ sounds of Dr. XXXeno, also starting at 10 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has Kith & Kin tonight, June 11, for an 8 p.m. show that features traditional Celtic music. Saturday, June 12, brings in the bluegrass vibe ala Bill Monroe with Keystone Station, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday, June 13, brings a couple locals with David Aguilar and Peter McCauley playing everything BUT Celtic music for a 6 p.m. show. There is no cover for any of the shows.
The Lodge at Sonoma will have John Groves tonight, June 11, for a 7 p.m. show in the lounge. Groves is a melodic player, laying down jazz standards with a bit of pop influence.
Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be at the Ledson Lounge on the Plaza tonight, June 11, at 6 p.m.
The gazebo in the Sonoma Marketplace will have music from Jon Popenoe and friends on today, June 11, at 5 p.m. Some of the friends are Corey Jennings, Stuart Sperring, Lance Harrington and Jay Ligon.
The Shop will have a benefit tonight, June 11, with EMoney and the Jaywalkers for a show that kicks off at 7 p.m. The show will help to send Gabe Stein from the Jaywalkers and Ethan Cohen, who is EMoney, to El Salvador on a Seeds of Learning trip to help build a school. This may also be one of the last shows by the Jaywalkers, as the guys are going separate ways after graduating high school. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The event is 21 and under only.
The Plaza Bistro will have the Akira Tana trio tonight, June 11, for a 7 p.m. show in the back room. Tana, a San Jose native, has traveled, taught and played jazz all over the country. There is no cover for the show.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards has jazz on Sunday, June 13, with Sounds of Shade in the barrel room starting at 1 p.m.
Landmark Vineyards and Winery continues its complimentary concert series with the jazz guitar of Jason Bodlovich on Saturday, June 12. We’ve seen Bodlovich a few times, and we’ll bet he lays down a blues or fusion track as well as the jazz. The show gets underway at 1 p.m. and there is no cover.
Mondo American Beer Garden has the rockin’ sounds of Hard Travelin’ on Saturday, June 12, kicking off at 7 p.m.
Benziger Family Winery has Jon Popenoe for an afternoon on Saturday, June 12, for a 1 p.m. show.
A little further down the road, Imagery Estate Winery has folk tunes from the Cork Pullers on Saturday, June 12, going off at 1 p.m.
Turning Point is taking their popular dance show to San Francisco, playing at Mojito tonight, June 11, at 10 p.m.
The Hellhounds are in Napa at Uva Trattoria Saturday, June 12, for an evening show at 8 p.m.
EZ Kewl is at the A’Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa on Saturday, June 12, for an 8:30 p.m. show.
Jami Jamison is on the road all the way up to Monte Rio at the Highland Dell Lodge tonight, June 11, for an 8 p.m. show.
Local Americana and folk artist Adam Traum will be in Marin tonight, June 11, at a new venue, the Wipeout Bar and Grill tonight, June 11 for a 6 p.m. show. We’ll have to check out the club soon. The name alone makes it sound like a fun place.