It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since the Valley of the Moon lost one of its favorite sons, and folks have gotten together once again to make sure his legacy lives on and to help raise money for the music scholarship fund named after him. Norton Buffalo passed away last Oct. 30, after a short battle with cancer. Friends of the Buffalo are presenting a series of shows which will be held Saturday, Sept.18, and Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building. The Saturday show, billed as the “Hometown Hoedown,” will feature local music acts, including Ten Foot Tone, the Whiskey Thieves, Junior Boogie, Sue Albano, Dollhouse and more. Tickets for the Saturday show, which kicks off at 7 p.m. can be purchased at the door. Sunday, Sept. 19, is being billed as the “The Norton Buffalo Memorial Harmonica and Music Festival,” and goes from noon to 8 p.m. and features some of the finest harmonica players around, all getting together for a “harmonica blowout.” On the bill are harmonica greats such as Dave Chavoya, Rick Hatfield, “Catfish” Jack, Sonny Lowe, Steve Judkins, Corey Jennings and many more. Musical acts include Carlos Reyes, Tudo Bem, the Knockouts, Tommy Thomsen and friends, the Michael Hinton Band and more, including a special appearance by Lisa Flores-Buffalo. Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance at Sonoma Valley Music or at the door.
The worst kept secret in local music was revealed this week, with the announcement that the Doobie Brothers are the special guest for the Saturday, Oct. 9, show at the B. R. Cohn Fall Music Festival to be held at the winery the weekend of Oct. 9 – 10. Tickets for that day, which features Cheap Trick, War, Grand Funk Railroad and more, are essentially sold out with only a handful remaining. The Sunday, Oct. 10, show is also selling fast, which features Bay Area favorites Eddie Money, Night Ranger and Greg Kihn. Also on Sundays bill are the Turtles, Loverboy and the Eyewitness Blues Band. Tickets for both shows are available at the winery tasting room or at www.brcohn.com.
In town for the tribute to Norton Buffalo, Rick Hatfield is making a weekend of it, with a show at the Olde Sonoma Public House on Saturday, Sept. 18, with a trio of musicians for a 7 p.m. show.
It’s officially time for Sue Albano and Mark Dennis to come up with a name for their act, especially since it seems they’ve added Bob Edmondson on drums to the band. Edmondson is a monster on most every instrument he plays, and he plays most of them, and you can see for yourself tonight, Sept. 17, when they play the Sunflower Cafe for a 5 p.m. show in the back garden. There is no cover for the show.
The El Verano Inn has some local punk rock from Modern Action on Saturday, Sept. 18, for a 9:30 p.m. show.
The Quarryhill Botanical Gardens wraps up their summer music series on Saturday, Sept. 18, with an appearance by the Phat Barbies, playing classic rock. We’re conjuring up visions of Led Zeppelin tunes done by guys that look like the New York Dolls, but we could be way off. The gardens open at 4:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. Call 996-3166 for more info.
Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be at the Ledson Lounge on the Plaza tonight, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards will have Michael Bryant tonight, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m.
The Lodge at Sonoma has Wayne De La Cruz in the piano lounge tonight, Sept. 17, for a 7 p.m. show. Saturday, Sept. 18, brings in Terry Disley and everything that comes with that, also for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover for either show.
Mondo American Beer Garden will have the folk sounds of the Cork Pullers on Saturday, Sept. 18, for a 7 p.m. show.
Maya Restaurant will have the Sean Carscadden Trio on Saturday, Sept. 18, for a 10 p.m. show. Carscadden will have with him that night Andrew Emer on bass and J. B. Duff on drums. Showtime is 10 p.m.
Meritage Martini and Oyster Bar has the Joe Chaplain Band on Sunday, Sept. 19, for an afternoon show that kicks off at 4 p.m. There will be small plate and drink specials during the show. There is a cover.
Michael Muscardini and Ty Caton are celebrating their third year together in their tasting room in Kenwood, and are having a party with music that will feature Dan Martin playing “rocksteady reggae vibes” on Saturday, Sept. 18, kicking off at 5:30 p.m.
EZ Kewl is keeping its reputation as the hardest working band in the Valley with four shows this weekend, starting tonight, Sept. 17, at the Apple Box in Petaluma for a 5 p.m. show. Saturday, Sept. 18, the boys start off at Etude Winery in Carneros for an 11:30 a.m. show; then they pack up and head to the Schellville Grill for a dinner set that kicks off at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, they will take the early slot at Murphy’s Irish Pub for a 6 p.m. show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub will have music tonight, Sept. 17, with the Sonoma Mountain Band playing folk, country and bluegrass at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, the pub has the sounds of the Perfect Crime, also for an 8 p.m. show.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards has the jazz guitar sounds of Randy Vincent on Saturday, Sept. 18, for a 1 p.m. show.
Steiners Tavern has the Whiskey Thieves tonight, Sept. 17, for a 10 p.m. show. Saturday, Sept. 18, the tavern will be hosting a benefit for the Tierschau Group, an art collective and scholarship foundation. In addition to artists and several ex-NFL players roaming around, the event will have music starting at 5 p.m. with Amanda Gunnells; 6 p.m. brings in Ben Tedder; 7 p.m. has Mitch Thomas, featuring Ava Bernard and Karin Kascher, and at 8:30 p.m. it’s time for Crossfire, with Tony Menjivar from Malo and Victor Castro. DJ Dave will wrap up the night.
Showcase the Band will be playing an Oktoberfest at Lokal on Saturday, Sept. 18, kicking off at 4 p.m. If you miss the band that night, you can check them out at Little Switzerland on Sunday, Sept. 19, for a 5 p.m. show.
The Plaza Bistro will have Lloyd Gregory in the Plaza Wine Bar tonight, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.
Stephanie Ozer takes her show on the road to the Hotel Healdsburg on Saturday, Sept. 18, for a 7:30 p.m. show.
The Jami Jamison band will be at the Rock & Blues Festival at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park on Sunday, Sept. 19, as part of an all day show that kicks off at noon. Jamison and her band take the stage at 1:05 p.m.
Points North guitarist Eric Barnett is appearing at another show being put on by Guitar Player Magazine on Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore at 4:30 p.m. The event is billed as Guitar Player Live, and features some of the players from the Guitar Superstar competition from last year. The daytime outdoor shows are free, with the evening shows featuring Montrose and Gary Hoey requiring tickets.
Adam Traum is on the road tonight, Sept. 17, for a show at the Wipeout Bar and Grill in Greenbrae that goes off at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, Traum is at the Sand Dollar in Stinson Beach for a noon show.