By the time you read this, the Sonoma International Film Festival will be in full-swing and if you haven’t enjoyed a movie or a party or two (OK, three) then shame on you. One of our favorites is always the Sonoma Valley High School student short film series, which you can catch on Sunday, April 15, showing at 11:30 a.m. at the Sebastiani Theatre. The Whiskey Thieves have their latest video in the Film Festival today, April 13, which will screen at 1 p.m. at the Vintage House senior center as part of the Sixth Sense shorts program. The band will be doing a short acoustic set in the back-lot today, April 13, at 11 a.m. Also playing the back-lot Friday will be Matt Bolton at 2 p.m. You must be a pass holder to get into the back-lot. Additional music themed movies that will screen today, April 13, are Girls in the Band at the Sebastiani Theatre at 2:30 p.m., Chico and Rita, at the Sonoma Charter School at 7 p.m. and Lady Gagas Secret World at the Sonoma Community Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, the back-lot will have Sean Carscadden from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by JoyRide from 2 – 5 p.m. Music themed movies on Saturday, April 14, include Bella Gaia at 6 p.m., followed by Marley, at 8 p.m. at the Sebastiani Theatre. The after-party on Saturday, April 14, will be at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building, kicking off at 9 p.m. with the 617 Band and Fat Magic. That event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door. Sunday, April 15, has the Girls in the Band at Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards Barrel Room, at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15, back-lot performers include JoyRide, Matt Bolton and Sean Carscadden, all at times to be determined. The Whiskey Thieves will play after the awards and closing ceremonies at 8 p.m. in the back-lot. For all the info on the Sonoma International Film Festival, point your browser to www.sonomafilmfest.org.
Sonoma Valley High School senior Emma Conaway has taken on quite a noble cause for her senior project, with a benefit and memorial concert tribute to Jon Randall, one of the driving forces behind many of the teen services here in Sonoma Valley, including the Shop, the drug and alcohol free concert venue on Eighth St. E., the No Name Cafe and the high school teen safe ride program and more. The benefit will be at the Shop on Saturday, April 14, will feature the Rett Hamer Blues Band, Mike Barnes and the Bario Disco, emoney and Jonathan Duff. The evening is all ages and kicks off at 5 p.m. with tickets available at the door. All proceeds will go to Sonoma Valley Teen Services. The Shop is also busy tonight, April 13, with a fundraiser for a new sound system that will feature Epic City Massive Fridays – Spring Break Edition, kicking off at 7 p.m.
Highway 12 Properties, at 1061 Broadway, has a house concert tonight April 13, which features Cindy Lee Berryhill and her Carport Orchestra, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more info, call 225-7141.
Sonoma Charter School will be having their annual flea market at the campus on Sunday. April 15, and will feature the music of Traffic Jam, kicking off at 10 a.m.
The Rockin’ Ranchito in Kenwood will be the scene of Adam Traum’s “Kickstarter Campaign Wrap Party and House Concert,” tonight, April 13, that goes off at 7 p.m. Dale Henry Geist will be opening the show. It’s a pot luck type thing with a house concert vibe and seating will be limited. For reservations and more info, e-mail Adam at amtraum@earthlink.net.
Depot Park will be the scene of a unique musical performance by Vox Populi on Sunday, April 15, at exactly 2:20 p.m. for a one-song tribute to the victims of the Titanic disaster that happened at that time and day 100 years ago. The band will be performing a rendition of “Nearer My God to Thee,” which was allegedly played by the ships band as it was sinking. The event coincides with an exhibit of Titanic photos and memorabilia that will be on display at the Depot Park Museum through May.
The Moose Lodge is the venue for the annual Sonoma Valley High School Music Department pasta feed, called “A Penne for a Song” on Saturday, April 14. The evening kicks off with cocktails at 5 p.m. and then the pasta dinner will be accompanied by the students performing. There will be a raffle and a “Grand Finale Desert Bar.” Tickets can be purchased at Sonoma Valley Music or at the door.
The El Verano Inn welcomes Dave Aguilar and Tudo Bem for a night of dance music with a Brazilian flair on Saturday, April 14, for a no cover show that kicks off at 9 p.m.
Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen continues the Sunday Songwriter Series this Sunday, April 15, with a show called ‘The Tres Hombres Guitar Explosion,” that features Jimmy Dillon, Sean Carscadden and John Burdick. Dillon has toured and recorded extensively, backing up some great artists like John Lee Hooker, Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen to name a few. In the last decade, Dillon has carved out his own niche as a singer – songwriter. The show goes off at 5 p.m.
Steiners Tavern has the debut performance of Sonomas Own tonight, April 13, for a 10 p.m. show. The band is has an all-star line-up of local Sonoma Valley musicians featuring Codi Binkley, Junior Boogie, Wendy DeWitt and a number of special guests. There is no cover for the show.
The Ledson Hotel welcomes back Jonathan Poretz on Saturday, April 14, for a 6:30 performance. Blending the swinging vocal styling of Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin, Poretz is equally comfortable performing with a trio or a 17-piece big band, putting his own unique stamp on every song he sings and every story he tells through the great American standard songbook. There is no cover for the show.
The Plaza Bistro has Sylvia Cuenca tonight, April 13, for a 7 p.m. performance. Cuenca is an active young drummer in the New York jazz scene, who recently has been performing with trumpet legend Clark Terry as part of his quintet. Tonight, Cuenca will have with her Essiet Essiet on bass and David Udolf on piano. Saturday, April 14, the bistro welcomes vocalist Wanda Stafford, also for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover either night.
Showcase the Band is on the road to Santa Rosa at the Oddfellows Hall for the Sons of Italy Dinner Dance on Saturday, April 14. The show kicks off at 6 p.m. and tickets can only be purchased by calling 525-0925.
The Jami Jamison Band will be at Papas Taverna tonight, April 13, for a 7 p.m. show.
Brewnel will be in Penngrove at the Twin Oaks tonight, April 13, for a 9 p.m. show.
Garen Patterson will be back at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco on Monday, April 16, for more of his performance “Marta’s Inferno.” Tickets are available at the door.
Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island
Wonderbread 5– Friday, April 13
19 Broadway – Fairfax
415-459-0293
Tommy Castro and the Piankillers – Friday, April 13
Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio
415-662-2219
Zepperala – Saturday, April 14.
Mystic Theatre – Petaluma
765-2121
Train – Sunday, April 15
The Fillmore – San Francisco
415-346-6000
Jimmy Cliff – Sunday, April 15
Uptown Theater – Napa
259-0123
Squeeze – Wednesday, April 18
Uptown Theater – Napa
259-0123
Elvis Costello – Sunday, April 15
The Warfield – San Francisco.
www.thewrarfieldtheater.com
Super Diamond – Saturday, April 14
Sweetwater Music Hall – Mill Valley
415-388-3850