Tag: ez kewl

Breakfast and music to help SVHS music program

So, who doesn’t like the music columnist? Many, apparently, after last Fridays rant here in the column. Seems many were quick to point out that there is a venue in town that has been providing live music on a regular basis for years. How we missed that fact is beyond us, but Murphy’s Irish Pub, with over 200 live shows each year, certainly qualifies as a proper music venue. In fact, with lights, a permanent sound system and a regular schedule for music, it’s the closest thing to a nightclub we have here in Sonoma Valley. The pub also hosts several local music events throughout the year to help non-profits in the Valley, including the Sonoma Community Center, F.I.S.H and more. In addition, the venue hosts plays that feature productions by Kate Kennedy, Rose Murphy and the Avalon Players.

We reached out to Bill Pollock, one of the owners and pub manager Hunt Bailie, and the duo showed us some of the major improvements going on in the snug (the back room) to make it an even better venue for live music. First, all the poles in the room are being removed, to make for a wide open line of sight to the new stage, which is also being built, along with expanding the entrance and squaring it up with the patio and including a large door that will open into the patio on summer evenings for the outdoor patrons to enjoy. Add to that new permanent stage lighting and improvements to the 30 thousand dollar sound system recently installed and there you have it.

New booking manager and local musician Sean Carscadden will also be focusing on having more local acts when the pub re-opens, which is anticipated to be the first week of March. But in the meantime, the live music continues across the alley in the temporary pub location behind Taste of the Himalayas tonight, Feb. 11, with Kelley and Jeckel for an 8 p.m. show. Saturday, Feb. 12, has local picker and grinner Adam Traum for a night of folk, country and bluegrass, also at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 13, has the man himself, Sean Carscadden for an early show at 6 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows.

The second annual pancake breakfast fundraiser for the Sonoma Valley High School Music Department, billed as “The Music Lovers Pancake Breakfast,” will help raise funds to send the members of the three choirs and two bands from the school to the Heritage Festival competition, to be held in Anaheim, CA. this spring. Last year, Sonoma Valley High School groups brought home four silver medals from the prestigious festival. The event is Sunday, Feb. 13, at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In addition to the breakfast, attendees will be able to enjoy music from Jon Popenoe, EZ Kewl and the schools own Jazzberries. Tickets will be available at the door.

Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards will be having a Valentines dance party tonight, Feb. 11, which will feature BackTrax, with Sue Albano and Friends opening the show. Emcees for the night will be local crooner Jeff Gilbert and Diana Dawn, a Marilyn Monroe tribute artist. The dinner, at 6 p.m., is sold out, but dance only tickets can be purchased at the door at 7:30 p.m.

In case you somehow missed it, Sonoma Jazz Plus has announced the headliners for this years shows, and they are blockbusters. Sheryl Crow, who routinely sells out stadiums, will headline the Saturday, May 21, show. Look for that night to sell out fast. Friday, May 20, brings the kid from El Cerrito up to wine country, when John Fogerty, whose band Creedence Clearwater Revival essentially provided the soundtrack to life in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, takes the big stage. Sunday, May 22, has the Gipsy Kings. Support acts will be announced at a future date. Tickets this year are online only and Sonoma residents will have first dibs on tickets starting on Monday, Feb. 14, by going to the website at www.sonomajazz.org and using the code of “sweet” on checkout. Tickets to the general public will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 15.

The Moose Lodge will have a Valentines celebration on Saturday, Feb. 12, with Showcase the Band and a prime rib dinner. The evening gets underway at 6 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, with a discount available for Moose Lodge members.

The Plaza Bistro has the Khalil Shaheed Trio in the back room tonight, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. Shaheed has toured and performed with Jimi Hendrix, Woody Shaw and Taj Mahal, and has been featured as a jazz soloist with the Oakland East Bay Symphony Orchestra. As a recording artist, he has appeared on nearly 20 albums. There is no cover for the show.

Sonoma Springs Brewery has the sounds of Dawn Angelosante tonight, Feb. 11, starting at 7 p.m.

As part of the Olive Festival celebration, the new El Dorado Corner Cafe (where the kitchenette used to be) will have music from Michel Michelis on the French barrel organ tonight, Feb. 11, starting at 6 p.m. The venue now has wine and beer on tap, and a tidy updated appetizer menu.

The San Francisco Starlight Orchestra will make its monthly appearance at Little Switzerland on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. The orchestra is booked for the second Saturday of every month until November, 2011, and encourages folks to come dressed to dance the fox trot, Charleston, tango, rumba, waltz, lindy, one-step, two-step, carioca, and more.

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves has an evening of romantic Spanish music on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. that will feature Eric Symons and Patrick Imbimbo. Now in its twentieth year at the winery, Symons will begin the evening on the lute, performing music from some of the Spanish masters, then Imbimbo will be introduced for his debut live performance. Imbimbo is 60 years old, a student of Symons, and has just recorded an album. For tickets and more info, call 933-1999.

Steiners Tavern has the dance sounds of DJ Dave on Saturday, Feb. 12, kicking off at 10 p.m.

Local bluegrass picker David Thom will be sitting in with some of the big names in bluegrass on Saturday, Feb. 12, in a tribute to Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley at 8 p.m. There will also be an encore performance on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at the same venue. For tickets and more info, point your browser to www.sfbluegrass.org.

A lot of locals are on the road this weekend, so we’ll run them down quick, as we’re running out of column inches.

EZ Kewl will be at A’Roma Roasters Saturday, Feb. 12, for an 8 p.m. show.

Out of the Blue, with Curtis Duff on drums, will be at the French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol tonight, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12. The shows kick off at 7 p.m.

Uva Trattoria in Napa has an all Sonoma Valley weekend with Jon Popenoe taking the stage tonight, Feb. 11, and the Hellhounds playing the trattoria on Saturday, Feb. 12, both shows at 8 p.m.

Tudo Bem will be at the Rio Nido Roadhouse on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m.

The Sonoma Sinatra, Stan Pappas will be playing Rickey’s Restaurant in Novato tonight, Feb. 11, for a 7 p.m. show.

We also want to apologize to the Rich Little Band for running an old photo of the band in last weeks column.

Hot 45s – Shows within a 45 minute drive from the Island

Jules Broussard Valentines Dance– Saturday, Feb. 12
19 Broadway – Fairfax
415-459-0293

Shana Morrison – Saturday, Feb. 12.
Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio
415-662-2219

Pat Jordan Band – Saturday, Feb. 12.
Last Day Saloon – Santa Rosa
545-2343

Hannah Jern-Miller – Wednesday, Feb. 16.
Last Day Saloon – Santa Rosa
545-2343

Santa Rosa Symphony Set Five – Saturday, Feb. 12 – Monday, Feb. 14.
Wells Fargo Center – Santa Rosa
546-3600

Kenny G – Saturday, Feb. 12.
Uptown Theater – Napa
259-0123

Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble at Andrews Hall

The Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble performs its annual holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. at Andrews Hall, inside the Sonoma Community Center. The Chamber Ensemble was conceived when a group of local singers got together at the home of Dr. Brian Sebastian to sing informally for a Christmas party. This year, the group will gather again to sing a concert of anthems, motets, madrigals, and contemporary music, both sacred and secular. “We’re so excited about sharing our music with the community,” said Dr. Brian Sebastian, conductor of the Chamber Ensemble “We’ve worked really hard and we love what we do.” The ensemble is set to perform traditional and modern holiday music. All proceeds benefit Sonoma Community Center’s music program. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Community Center or at the door if not sold out.

With New Years Eve only two weeks away (yep, really), we thought we’d give you a teaser of what we know about so far in the way of live music. Times and details will be in a later column, but here’s the basics. Pride and Joy will play the “Puttin’ on the Glitz” fundraiser for Sonoma Mentoring Alliance in the big tent the Lodge at Sonoma. Inside the Gallery Lounge, Dana Land and her quartet will perform. Black Cab will be playing at the Moose Lodge. La Casa Restaurant will have the Latin sounds of Noche Tropical. Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be back at the Ledson Lounge for a night. John Burdick will play Olive & Vine. Sonoma’s own Sinatra, Stan Pappas will be back at the Meritage Martini and Oyster Bar for the fourth year in a row and Showcase the Band will be in Petaluma at the Petaluma Veterans Hall. That’s what we have so far; more to come.

Sonoma Springs Brewery is having a holiday party tonight, Dec. 17, with a huge line-up of local acts. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. and will have sets by Sean Carscadden, Dan Martin, Dawn Angelosante, Ruff & Duff, Tony Gibson, Sharyn Paquette, Lynne Orweiler and more. There is no cover for the show, but donations will go to F.I.S.H.

HopMonk Tavern Sonoma is presenting acoustic music on the small inside stage this weekend starting tonight, Dec.17, with Adam Traum for a 9 p.m. show. Sunday, Dec. 19, brings in Mike Gibbons for an afternoon set that kicks off at 3 p.m. There is no cover.

Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Two Rock Ramblers tonight Dec. 17, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, has the bluegrass sounds of a Perfect Crime, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday Dec. 19, Arann Harris and the Farm Band will hit the pub for an early show, starting at 6 p.m.

The Vintage House will celebrate the holidays today, Dec. 17, with a performance from the Vintage House Singers for an afternoon show that kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Music Director JoAnne Connor and the Vintage House Singers will perform an arrangement of festive holiday songs and in a performance called “Christmas Feelings.” Light refreshments will be served after the performance. The show is free, but donations will be gladly accepted.

The El Dorado Kitchen will have a special night of music with the John Kalleen Group tonight, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. as part of the “Martinis and Music’ event in the fireplace lounge. One Friday during each month of the olive season, EDK will host local jazz musicians and offer a shaken dirty olive martini that includes traditional and non-traditional $5 martinis and an olive-inspired lounge menu. There is no cover.

Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen has the Rett Hamer Blues Band tonight, Dec. 17, for a 7 p.m. show.

Mondo American Beer Garden will have Hard Travelin’ on Saturday, Dec. 18, for a 7 p.m. show.

The Plaza Bistro will have Elaine Lucia in the back room tonight, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. With her tonight will be Jonathan Alfred on piano and Andrew Emer on bass. Lucia’s newest CD, “Let’s Live Again,” is a tribute to the vocal LPs that the George Shearing Quintet of the late ‘50s and ‘60s produced, with vocalists Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Dakota Staton and Nancy Wilson. There is no cover for the show.

The Sonoma Mission Inn will have local pianist Stephanie Ozer in the lounge playing solo piano tonight, Dec. 17, for a 6:30 p.m. show.

Imagery Estate Winery will have EZ Kewl for an afternoon show on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 1:30 p.m. This may be one of the last times to catch the band, as drummer Johnn “King Daddy” Murphy is headed out to New Orleans early January.

Landmark Winery and Vineyards will have the Latin inspired acoustic guitar sounds of Carlos Herrara on Saturday, Dec. 18, for a 1 p.m. show. Herrera is quite a player, if you’ve not seen him play, this would be an excellent venue.

Mad and Eddie Duran are on the road this weekend with a show at Savanna Jazz in San Francisco tonight, Dec. 17, for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Garen Patterson will be performing Act III of his folk opera entitled “Marta’s Inferno” at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more info, call Patterson at 337-2313.

Rett Hamer at Olive & Vine

Mondo American Beer Garden will have Sparrow on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.

Murphy’s Irish Pub will have Solid Air on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m.

Olde Sonoma Public House in the Fiesta Marketplace will have Dan Martin on Thursday, Dec. 16, for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Whole Foods Market in the Sonoma Marketplace has EZ Kewl for an evening of music while shopping on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m.

The Plaza Bistro will have Elaine Lucia in the back room on Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.

Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Two Rock Ramblers on Friday, Dec. 17, at 8 p.m.

Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen has the Rett Hamer Blues Band on Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.

The El Dorado Kitchen will have a special night of music with the John Kalleen Group on Friday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. as part of the “Martinis and Music’ event in the fireplace lounge. There is no cover.

Tonewoods at Murphy’s

Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Tonewoods on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m.

Whole Foods Market in the Sonoma Marketplace will have EZ Kewl for a show in the produce aisle (maybe) on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m.

Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards will have Jon Popenoe Blues Band on Friday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

The Lodge at Sonoma has Dick Conte in the piano lounge Friday, Nov. 5, for a 7 p.m. show.

Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Sonoma Mountain Band on Friday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m.

The Schellville Grill has EZ Kewl on Friday, Nov. 5, for a night of jazzy dinner music starting at 7 p.m.