Local reggae DJ Robert Roots is hosting a benefit on Saturday, Feb. 19, for the Sonoma Junior Dragons cheerleading squad to help the group raise money for the trip to Anaheim, CA. to compete in the cheerleading national championships, to be held in March. Roots will be spinning reggae, but in addition, reggae artists NorrisMan and G-Medz & Prodygal wil be laying down some reggae grooves. Its rumored that special guests will be in the house as well. There will also be a spaghetti dinner, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. The event is an all-ages event and tickets can be purchased at the door.
Fresh off a winter break that had band leader Joe Chaplain donating a kidney to his life partner, the Joe Chaplain Band is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Barking Dog in Boyes Hot Springs for a 6 p.m. show. The band will be laying down some favorites but also have a new number or two from Joni Mitchell and George Harrison. The show kicks off at 6 p.m. and there is no cover.
Steiners Tavern has Cross Fire tonight, Feb. 18, for a 7 p.m. show. This is not the Crossfire that you may have seen at the City Party last year; these cats are from San Francisco and play many Santana covers. There is no cover for the show.
Murphy’s Irish Pub is keeping the music rolling during the remodel across the alley in the back room of the Taste of the Himalayas restaurant beginning tonight, Feb. 18, with Elaine Dempsey for an 8 p.m. show. Saturday, Feb. 19, has the Perfect Crime performing as a duo; also at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, has an early show going off at 6 p.m. with the Courtney Janes. There is no cover for any of the shows.
Dan Littlefield will be playing his debut performance in the town he grew up in, Sonoma, on Saturday, Feb. 19, at Sonoma Springs Brewing Company. Some may remember Littlefield as a track and field athlete in the ‘90s at Sonoma Valley High and now sports have turned to song, as he’s beginning to start a music career. The show gets underway at 7:30 p.m. and there is no cover.
The Sonoma Charter School will be hosting a talent show featuring its young musicians on Saturday, Feb. 19, at the school. One of the acts features Ryan Abshear on guitar, Tyler Meloan on drums, and lead guitarist Aaron Willers, but the act is looking for a bass player. Any 12 – 13 year old bass players looking for a gig hit us up and we’ll connect you.
The Plaza Bistro has the jazz sounds of John Stowell on guitar and Mike Zilber on saxophone tonight, Feb. 18. Stowell is a virtuoso guitarist and has been performing since the ‘70s and has toured from Italy to Russia, where he was invited to play American jazz in Russia for the first time in over 40 years. The show kicks off at 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
The Static People have a new release out, in advance of the upcoming album, that is a nod to David Bowie, by covering the Bowie classic “Moonage Daydream” which was released originally by an artist known as Arnold Corns (David Bowie) and later released in 1972 on “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” LP. The band is also working on a video. Keep up with them at www.staticpeople.com.
Adam Traum will be at The Iron Springs Pub in Fairfax on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Stephanie Ozer will be playing the lobby of the Hotel Healdsburg tonight, Feb. 18, starting at 7:30 p.m.
The David Thom Band will be at the Lagunitas Brewery Tap Room for an afternoon show on Sunday, Feb. 20, that kicks off at 3 p.m
Points North gets the “traveled the farthest” award this weekend, with a show in San Juan Capistrano with jazz legend Al DiMeola at The Coach House that kicks off at 7 p.m.
Burning Broadway has finished recording a new song titled “Get Free,” which they used their winnings from last summers Battle of the bands to produce. The grand prize was 3 hours at Atlas Studios in Santa Rosa. The song took a little more time to master and mix, but was worth it, according to guitarist Bryan Martinez. The band got together in 2008, all the members were life-long friends, and they started jamming in a little shed in Boyes Hot Springs. They have played in the Fourth of July parade and appeared at The Shop, and are hoping to land a slot at this years Tuesday night market in the Plaza. The band is going into Ex’pression College for the Digital Arts studio to record a full album next week, hoping to have it released within a couple months. The band is also busy every Saturday night at the Sonoma Alliance Church, at 125 E. Watmaugh Rd. at 7 p.m., when members of Burning Broadway and more come together to create The Gathering, a Christian rock act that includes members of the church as well as the band. “We’re trying to break the old thought of going to church, and open worship to new ways” said Martinez. Even the pastor is involved, as the lead singer. The band is involved in the service every Saturday night, at 7 p.m. Look for more on the release of the album here in the column.