Even though it’s Wine Country Weekend here in Sonoma Country, there’s still plenty of music to pair it with, some even at a winery.
This week, we’ve got legends from many genres all over. The legendary Lester Chambers will be sitting in with his son, Dylan, in Santa Rosa. Huey Lewis is in town with some news and one of the jazz legends of the Bay Area is in Healdsburg. Have a peek below and pair up some local music with that wine this weekend.
Friday, Aug. 31 – E Minor and the Dirty Diamonds
After more than a decade of playing in various Sonoma County bands, the six members of Dirty Diamonds have hit their stride blasting out country rock and hillbilly blues originals that conjure up images of the Allman Brothers, CCR and Hank Williams Sr. along with a taste of Howlin’ Wolf, Ralph Stanley and Tom Waits.
HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300
Monday, Sept. 3 – Jason Bodlovich
Jason Bodlovich is an absolute musical monster. Originally from Huntington Beach, Calif, Bodlovich now resides in Sonoma County where he performs with a mix of original projects. Eclectic is a good word to use for his sound as he blends rock, funk, blues, swing, jazz, Brazilian and more. This cross-over appeal has led to opening slots for various artists including instrumental rock guitarist Joe Satriani; jazz artists including Diana Krall and Rites of Strings featuring Al Di Meola Stanley Clarke & Jean Luc Ponty and more. Mostly a guitar player these days, Bodlovich played drums on a tribute album for the jazz legend Ray Brown, where he assembled many of Brown’s original band members.
Lagunitas Brewing Company – Petaluma
778-8776
Saturday, Sept. 1 – Midnight Sun Massive
This would be my hot pick of the weekend. Midnight Sun Massive is a step back to when reggae music was Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, blended with a little calypso and some blues. The band has been together in some configuration since 1984 in and around the Bay Area. If dancing to a reggae groove hits you this weekend, these are the guys to check out.
Flamingo Hotel – Santa Rosa
545-8530
Saturday, Sept. 1 – Huey Lewis and the News
What can we say about this act that hasn’t been said? From their humble beginnings in Marin County in the ‘70s to superstardom in the ‘80s and beyond, the band has had entire albums of songs that almost went to #1 on the Billboard charts, won Grammys, had numerous #1 hits, but s great a recording career as the band has had, it’s their live performances that remain the stuff of legend. They have toured worldwide continuously for more than 30 years. Huey Lewis & The News incorporate a variety of musical influences, including R&B and soul, to create their own unique sound.
Rodney Strong Winery – Healdsburg
949-360-7800
Friday, Aug. 31 – Dick Conte
Dick Conte is a regional jazz legend, from his work on numerous jazz radio stations for almost 50 years, to his performances around the Bay Area at such events as the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Russian River Jazz Festival, the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Sonoma Valley Jazz Festival, the Calistoga Jazz and Blues Festival, Jazz on the Hill and the Cotati Jazz Festival. Tonight, the pianist will have with him Steve Webber on bass.
Hotel Healdsburg – Healdsburg
431-2800
Saturday, Sept. 1 – Dylan Chambers
Dylan Chambers grew up around rock and blues and it’s clear the apple didn’t fall from the tree. His father, Lester Chambers from the Chambers Brothers, famous for the hit “Time has come today,” will be joining Dylan’s group Mass Transit on stage
Last Day Saloon – Santa Rosa
545-5876