The second in a series of shows to benefit the Silver Moon Theater will be held on Saturday, June 9, at the Sonoma Community Center. The Silver Moon Theater group is headed up by Nellie Cravens, a veteran of stage, film and television. Cravens brings her experience and talents to Sonoma Valley, and has produced and directed many plays and performances at the Sonoma Community Center, including “Gaslight,” “Born Yesterday” and “The Two of Us.” The performance on Saturday will feature Dan Martin and the Noma Rocksteady Band, along with Midnight Sun Massive. Midnight Sun Massive is just off a big CD release party that had Murphy’s Irish Pub hopping. The shows will benefit the future performance by the theater group of “And then there were none” by Agatha Christie, to be held later this summer. Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door or at the Sonoma Community Center box office.
The Sebastiani Theatre will have a special performance by the Hometown Band on Sunday, June 10, at 1 p.m. with a show called “Summer Pops.” The band, under the direction of Justin Enright, will play a variety of music from the time of the Great Depression in the ‘30s, to the present day era of jazz bands and Broadway musicals, and all the way to musical themes for movies and television shows, with a couple of Latin beats thrown into the mix. The band is a group of local musicians from teenagers to folks in their mid ‘70s, with various backgrounds and abilities. New musicians are always welcome to come to the band’s rehearsals on Sunday evenings. For more information, call Jim Cunningham at 538-8482. The show is free and open to the public.
The annual Bear Flag Celebration will be held on Sunday, June 10, in the Sonoma Plaza. The annual event, presented by the local chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West, celebrates the birth of the state of California, which happened right here near where the barracks currently stand across from the Plaza back in 1846. The original flag pole remnants that the Bear Flag was raised on can still be seen in the ground behind the current flag pole in the park. The day begins at noon with a historical re-enactment of the happenings of that June day in 1846, headed up by a loose knit acting troupe led by local historian George Webber. After the performance, local classic rockers BackTrax will play in the plaza along with a micro-brew festival and chicken barbecue. The event is family friendly and all are invited. Tickets for the barbecue and brew festival will be available on that day in the plaza.
Later that day, June 10, Train Wreck Junction will be at Steiners Tavern for an early evening show that kicks off at 5 p.m. There is no cover for the show. Tonight, June 8, the tavern welcomes Sugarfoot for a 10 p.m. show. There is no cover tonight as well.
Leslie Danon, proprietress of the El Verano Inn is having a well, not so much of a surprise after this, birthday celebration for Alina Garcia, the former owners of Little Switzerland, which she is combining with a tribute to the former local landmark. The event will kick off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, with one of the former owners and family band that used to play the polka events on Sunday afternoons, the Gruber Family Band. Other entertainment for the evening includes Ten Foot Tone, Junior Boogie, Dave Aguilar, Ryan Tatarian, Jason Huybers, Nick Cordellos and DJ’s Byron and Bubba. There will also be food served by Paul Garcia, Alinas son. For more info, point your browser to www.elveranohistoricalsociety.com.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards has the Jami Jamison Band tonight, June 8. There will also be barbecue cooked on the grill outside, which we had the pleasure of having last week, still trying to figure out what that spice was in the sauce. Showtime is 6 p.m. and there is no cover.
The Ledson Hotel welcomes Dan Daniels and Joyce Grant for an evening of jazz and blues on Saturday, June 9, at 7 p.m. Grant has been singing jazz in Bay Area venues for over 20 years and has been described as a “mezzo-soprano with a voice like dark honey.” Her unique shows consist of a blend of jazz, blues, country western, rhythm and blues, and funk. There is no cover for the show.
HopMonk Tavern Sonoma has Christopher Lods in the beer garden tonight, June 8, for a 5 p.m. show. Later tonight, the tavern welcomes Ian McFeron on the inside stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 9, the inside stage has Jeff Campbell for a 9 p.m. show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub presents the Gentlemen Soldiers tonight, June 8, for an 8 p.m. show that will be a tribute to the Irish rock band, the Pogues, and according to drummer J. B. Duff, “we don’t take requests!” Saturday, June 9, it’s Andrew Freeman for a night of “Sizzling licks” for a show that also starts at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 10, it’s dinner theater. For reservations and more info, e mail hunt@sonomapub.com.
The Epicurean Connection will have True Grits, featuring Adam Traum and Liz Brown tonight, June 8, for a 7 p.m. show.
The Plaza Bistro welcomes Jonathan Poretz tonight, June 8, for a 7 p.m. show. Saturday, June 9, it’s J. Kevin Durkin, also for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover either night.
Brewnel is out of town this weekend, tonight, June 8, at Doc Holiday’s in Santa Rosa for a 9 p.m. show. Sunday, June 10, the band takes the stage at the Novato Art and Wine Festival at 1:05 p.m.