In what may be the first of its kind, adult bands and musicians will be performing at the typically 18 and under venue, as a fundraiser for the venue itself and Operation Youth on Saturday, April 9. The show is the brain-child of John Fisher and may be the first one of its kind at the Shop to help out the drug and alcohol-free setting that for 12 years now, has provided the Sonoma Valley youth a safe place to hang out. Music will start at 3 p.m. and go till the bands are wiped out. The acts are still being finalized. There will be food and beer from Sonoma Springs Brewery. The whole family is invited. For more information, call Fisher at 996-4870.
The Sonoma International Film Festival is in full swing this weekend, going through Sunday, April 10, and once again, there is plenty of music and music themed events happening. You may have missed the “Beatlemania” from last nights shows, but some of the music related movies still showing are “Bouncing Cats,” “Harpooned Soul: The Jade Bell Story,” “Leave Them Laughing,” “Square Grouper,” which chronicles pot smuggling in the ‘70s, “Burning Man: Voyage in Utopia,” “Welcome to Dopeland,” “Joy Ride” and “Do Not Disturb.” Tickets for the weekend or even individual films are still available and more info and the complete schedule can be found by pointing your browser to www.sonomafilmfest.org.
Michael L. Castle will be making his debut appearance at the Olde Sonoma Public House tonight, April 8, for a 7 p.m. show. Castle is a slide guitar master and has a blues catalog that many would envy, but don’t call him a bluesman, Castle has many genres under his belt. There is no cover for the show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub kicks off the weekend with Kelley & Jekel tonight, April 8, for an 8 p.m. show. Saturday, April 9, the Whutknots make an appearance in the newly-remodeled snug, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday, April 10, has local blues favorite Sean Carscadden for an early show that kicks off at 6 p.m. The pub is also a venue for the Sonoma International Film Festival.
In other beer related action, the Sonoma Springs Brewery will be the place to catch Wildflower Weed on Saturday, April 9, for a 7 p.m. show. The band has been recently in the studio at Sonoma Valley Music recording a CD that will be released in early summer.
Local guitar player and singer David Ian Robbins will be recording a video this weekend in a local recording studio, shooting him covering a Johnny Cash song, where he will be playing banjo, dobro and six-string guitar on the tracks and be providing the vocals.
Hopmonk Tavern Sonoma has live music tonight, April 8, with Dawn Angelosante and a special guest, Joe Pennell on guitar. The show kicks off at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 10, has the debut performance of Chris Hanlin not only at Hopmonk, but in all of the Sonoma Valley. You may have read about Hanlin a couple columns back when he released his new CD and video, with the video recorded at his house up on Bennett Valley Rd. That show is an early one, kicking off at 3 p.m. If you miss Hanlin there, you can catch him at the Cornerstone Sonoma “Songwriters in the Round” series in Carneros next Thursday, April 14, with Carlos Herrera and Arann Harris. Tickets for that show can be purchased by calling Meadowcroft Winery at 934-4090.
The Blue Moon Saloon will be rocking with the debut of the Merchants tonight, April 8, at 9 p.m. The group is local, and apparently new to the scene. There is no cover for the show. The saloon will have Karaoke on Saturday, April 9, at 9 p.m. with “Crazy Noisy Music” being your hosts.
The Plaza Bistro has the trumpet sounds of Dave Rocha and his trio tonight, April 8, which consists of Randy Vincent on guitar and Dan Feiszli on bass. Rocha has been performing jazz for over 20 years and is also an accomplished flugelhorn player, an instrument similar to the trumpet, with a larger bell, giving a darker, mellower sound. There is no cover for the show.
E. Z. Kewl is back in action and on the road to A’Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa tonight, April 8, for an 8:30 p.m. show. Sunday, April 10, has the boys at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma for a 2 p.m. show.
Local guitarist Eric Barnett and his band Points North will have a special guest with them when they take the stage at Vinnie’s in Concord on Saturday, April 9. The legendary Stu Hamm will be filling in on bass. Hamm has toured with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and many others, as well as having his own solo act. The show is part of “Guitar Night’ and kicks off at 9 p.m.
Local bluesmen the Hellhounds will be at Uva Tratoria in Napa on Saturday, April 9, for an 8 p.m. show.
Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island
Wonderbread 5 – Friday, April 8.
19 Broadway – Fairfax
415-459-0293
Unauthorized Rolling Stones – Friday, April 8.
Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio
415-662-2219
David Wilcox – Friday, April 8.
Mystic Theatre – Petaluma
765-2121
Death Angel – Friday, April 8.
Last Day Saloon – Santa Rosa
545-2343
The Motherhips – Saturday, April 9.
HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300
Jeff Beck – Saturday, April 9.
The Fillmore – San Francisco
415-346-6000
Arlo Guthrie – Thursday, April 14.
Napa Valley Opera House
226-7372
Chris Cain – Friday, April 8.
Biscuits & Blues – San Francisco
415-292-2583