Not being as hip as we should be, we’re not really sure what a “Palooza” is, but it would seem to be what is referred to as a day of music that never seems to end. We have two of them going this weekend in Sonoma Valley, the first on Saturday, Aug. 6, on the track at Sonoma Valley High School at the Relay for Life. The event itself is a 24-hour celebration for survivors of cancer and also a time of remembrance for those we’ve lost. Each year the local relay raises money for continued research to help find a cure for cancer. The day kicks off at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies and the survivor laps, followed at 10:30 p.m. by the Carisma Crew with the Sonoma Valley High School dance troupe. At 11 a.m. the live music starts in hourly doses from E. Z. Kewl, the Maldonado Brothers, the Cork Pullers, the Joe Chaplian Band, Elvis and the Flashbacks, Glenn Carter, and then Danny Wirick at 4:40 p.m. The hourly schedule resumes at 5 p.m. with the Jon Popenoe Blues band, Noche Tropical and wrapping up with Kit Cat Karaoke, hosted by Cat Smith, at 7 p.m. Smith and her production company, Treehouse Recording, are donating all the gear and their time for the event. Folks are invited to come enjoy the music and the day, but remember, it’s at a school so tobacco and alcohol are forbidden.
Sunday, Aug. 7, brings another all-day music event to the Valley, this time at Arnold Field, as a benefit for the Kigali Center for Entrepreneurs; it’s the Green World Music Festival. The day kicks off at 10 a.m. and wraps at 7 p.m. Opening the day will be the Cosmo Percussion Orchestra, followed by One Wise Sound, Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi, Rocker T, Ishi Dube, Joshua, with Ire Sounds International, Binghi Ghost, The Whiskey Thieves, The Funkanuts, Laza Morgan, Messenjah Selah, Winstrong and topping off the event will be Sukhawat Ali Kahn and Sachiko Kanenobu. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance at Sonoma Old School. There will also be an official after-party at the Moose Lodge, with shuttle buses to bring attendees to the venue. That show will feature Thizz Nation, Sleep Dank and more. For more info on either event, call 721-5599.
Tommy Thomsen is back at Little Switzerland on Saturday, Aug. 6, with an all-star western swing band. The band that night will be Bobby Black on steel guitar, Richard Chon on fiddle, Sean Allen on guitar, Trevor Kinsel on stand-up bass, Kirk Harwood on drums and Thomsen on vocals, guitar and piano. Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has Loose Shoes tonight, Aug. 5, for an 8 p.m. show in the snug. Saturday, Aug. 6, Andrew Freeman, a popular guitarist from San Francisco, hits the stage for an evening of sizzling licks, also at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, the pub has a Celtic jam, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows at the pub.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards brings the Jon Popenoe Blues Band into the tasting room tonight, Aug. 5, for a 6:30 p.m. show. Dinner will also be available from Community Cafe. There is no cover.
JoyRide will be at the Sunflower Caffe tonight, Aug. 5, as part of the artist reception, kicking off at 6 p.m.
Wildflower Weed will be at the Sonoma Springs Brewery on Saturday, Aug. 6, for a 7 p.m. show. Opening the night will be the Weeping Wilows.
If you miss them there, Wildflower Weed will be at the acoustic Sunday jam at the Town Square on Sunday, Aug. 7, hosted by Jon Williams at 3 p.m.
The Katmandu Corner, in the back room of the Taste of the Himalayas will have Dawn Angelosante tonight, Aug. 5, for a 7:30 p.m. show. Sue Albano and “the monster,” Bob Edmondson, will be at the corner as a duo on Saturday, Aug. 6, also for a 7:30 p.m. show.
The Plaza Bistro will feature the Kai-Devitt Trio tonight, Aug. 5, for a 7 p.m. show.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards has Jason Bodlovich in the patio on Saturday, Aug. 6, for a 1 p.m. show.
Mad and Eddie Duran are on the road this weekend to Fairfield, at the Sticky Rice Bistro on Saturday, Aug. 6, for a 6:30 p.m. show.
The Hellhounds are also takin’ the show on the road this weekend, starting this morning, Aug. 5, with a show at the United States Coast Guard Training Station in Petaluma at 9 a.m. Later that same day, the boys are in Napa at Cuvee for a 9:30 p.m. show. Saturday, Aug. 6, the bluesmen are at the Tradewinds in Cotati for a 9:30 p.m. show.