The popular local music series at Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards wraps up tonight, Dec. 10, with an appearance in the tasting room by local blues aficionados the Hellhounds. Saturday, Dec. 11, the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society will be hosting a special dinner show that will feature the Wild Women of Song, but tonight, it’s all about the blues. Be it Chicago or delta style, the Hellhounds can lay it down with strong rhythm and smoking guitar from Phil Ajoka and smooth blues grooves from Dave Chavoya on harmonica. There is no cover for tonights show. Saturdays show should be an interesting night, when Pamela Rose will present “Wild Women of Song: Great Gal Composers of the Jazz Era.” The night will be a showpiece, celebrating the lives, times and music of the often-invisible women songwriters of the Tin Pan Alley era. Images from collected photo archives will be projected while Rose tells the stories of these women, and brings her vast musical experience to the evening, showcasing many songs from the Great American Songbook. Rose’s band includes Tammy Hall on piano, Ruth Davieson bass, Jess Massanari on guitar, Kristen Strom on saxophone and Kent Bryson holding down the drums. Tickets for the evening range in price from $25 for Jazz Society members, to $35 for non-members and include a no-host bar and available dinner options. Tickets are available through the Society’s website, www.sonomavalleyjazzsociety.org.
Another venue in town, also brought to us by the Sebastiani Family years ago, the historic Sebastiani Theatre will host the Hometown Band as they present ”Christmas Joy” on Saturday, Dec. 11, for a 10 a.m. show. The show will feature Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Symphonic Suite,” selections from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Carol of the Bells,” and more. The show is free and all ages are welcome.
The Sonoma Valley Chorale is also in the holiday spirit this weekend at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building for shows all weekend. The show, called “Carols of the Bells, will feature such “bell” songs as “Jingle Bells,” “Ding, Dong!,” “Merrily on High,” “Silver Bells” and more. The first of three shows gets underway Saturday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, has a matinee at 2 p.m. and another that evening at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets, which are recommended, can be purchased at Pharmaca, or by calling 935-1576, or at the door, if any are still available.
They’ll be mixing it up at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art tonight, Dec.10. The “Mix”is the Museum’s popular series of after-hours parties, and features art, music and cocktails. It is also an opportunity to join the Museum at a discounted rate, as the price of admission includes a one year membership to the museum. Tonights musical entertainment will be from the Easy Leaves, who have drawn comparisons to the Devil Makes Three and the Avett Brothers. The evening gets underway at 8 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.
Local picker and grinner Pete Olson decided to up and get married and has invited the whole town to Little Switzerland on Saturday, Dec. 11, to help him celebrate. He is also celebrating his birthday, sounds like he got the best present ever. With Olson that night will be some Bay Area Cajun and zydeco legends like Billy Wilson, Dana Mandell, Tim Orr and Woody Vermeire. Showtime is 8 p.m. and there is a cover, but Olson wants you to know that’s not part of the wedding present, it’s to pay the band.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards presents an afternoon of seasonal music with the Sonoma Bach Holiday Singers, on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. The winery is all decorated for the holidays and even boasts a 12-foot tree in the tasting room. Children are welcome at the no cover event.
Olive & Vine in Glen Ellen will welcome Sean Carscadden and Friends for what we believe to be his debut performance at the venue tonight, Dec.10, for a 7 p.m. show.
Mondo American Beer Garden will have Vitamin Girl for a show on Saturday, Dec. 11, and the band will be featuring their original bas player, Bill Bindewald, who will be sitting in for the evening.
EZ Kewl will play an afternoon set at Imagery Estate Winery on Sunday, Dec. 12, at 1:30 p.m.
The Sonoma Mission Inn will have the Brazilian piano vibes of Stephanie Ozer tonight, Dec. 10, in the lounge for a 6:30 p.m. solo performance.
Murphy’s Irish Pub will have the Courtney Janes tonight Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, has High Country for a night of bluegrass, also at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, has Marty O’Reilly and Sean Carscadden for an early show, kicking off at 6 p.m.
The Plaza Bistro has popular local jazz cats the John Kalleen Group tonight, Dec. 10, for a 7 p.m. show in the back room. The group pays tribute to the hard bop and post-bop eras of the ‘50s and ‘60s, yet infused with a modern, dynamic spark. There is no cover for the show.
In case you miss the Hellhounds tonight, you can catch them at Uva Trattoria in Napa on Saturday, Dec. 11, for an 8:30 p.m. show.
The same goes for Stephanie Ozer, who will also be in Napa on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Villagio Inn and Spa for a 6:30 p.m. show.
Jon Popenoe and Corey Jennings will be doing a double-header in Petaluma on Saturday, Dec. 11, kicking the day off at Aqus Cafe for a morning show that starts at 10:30 a.m. Then the duo heads east to the Tap Room at Lagunitas Brewery for a 4:30 show.
Local instrumental act Points North, featuring guitarist Eric Barnett is on the road this weekend, tonight, Dec. 10, in Livermore at the Sapphire Lounge supporting guitar legend Gary Hoey for a show that goes off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, the band is at Vinnie’s Bar in Concord for their annual “Merry Axe-mas” guitar show, featuring many local guitar shredders. That show kicks off at 9 p.m.