If you’re a fan of live music, local or big names, this is your weekend. The amount of musical options this weekend is off the chart, so let’s lay it out here. For the big names, that starts tonight, May 20, with the former front-man of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty headlining the kick off night of Sonoma Jazz Plus at the Field of Dreams. Opening the night on the big stage will be the Tedeschi-Trucks band, featuring Susan Tedeschi with Derek Trucks and on the outside stage, will be the popular Marin County act, Vinyl. The award-winning Sonoma Valley High School Jazz Choir will also be performing on a side stage as guests enter the festival pavillion, when gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21, brings Sheryl Crow to the big stage, with Hiromi the Trio Project, as the opening act. The Pimps of Joytime will be performing on the outside stage, and arriving guests will be serenaded once again by the Sonoma Valley High School Jazz Choir. Doors that night are also 5 p.m. Sunday, May 22, has an early start time, with doors opening at 3 p.m. for the Gipsy Kings. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be opening and closing the show with sets at 3 and 6 p.m. Tickets are still available for all shows, by pointing your browser to www.sonomajazz.org.
Murphy’s Irish Pub is also in on the festivities, as part of the “Wine & Song” series, with over 17 hours of live local acts over the course of the weekend, and also as a fundraiser for the Sonoma Community Center. Saturday, May 21, kicks off at 1 p.m. with the Phil Herrschaft Band, followed by Arann Harris and the Farm Band at 3 p.m. The evening gets started at 5:30 p.m. with the Willie Adams Soul Revue and the night wraps up with the Sean Carscadden Trio at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, the music kicks off again at 1 p.m. with Tudo Bem, followed by the Jami Jamison Band. The Whiskey Thieves kick the evening off at 5 p.m. and the Brothers Comatose wrap it up at 7 p.m. There is no cover for any of the shows at the pub, but donations for the Sonoma Community Center will be accepted.
The “Wine & Song” series portion of Jazz Plus will be held in venues around Sonoma Plaza on Saturday, May 21 – Sunday, May 22. The bands will vary each day, playing two sets, starting at 1 p.m. and kicking off Saturday, May 21, with the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Group at the Plaza Bistro. Roessler Cellars will host the Rick Vandiver Quintet. Hopmonk Tavern Sonoma has the Evans Francis Group. Sonoma Meritage Martini and Oyster Bar will host Times 4. The Delta Wires will be at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. Roche Winery will present Santos Perdidos. The Swiss Hotel will have Horace-Scope. The Jazz + In-Schools Student Band and Burning Broadway will be at Union Bank at 500 Broadway. And that’s just Saturday. Sunday, May 22, has an earlier start time for the venues, at 11 a.m. to accommodate the early stage call of the Gipsy Kings on the big stage. Rue Manouche will be at Roessler Cellars. Sonoma Meritage Martini and Oyster Bar has the Fog City Stompers. Mo’ Fone will be at Roche Winery. The Swiss Hotel will have Du Gris. Tickets to the Wine & Song series are separate from the tickets to the big shows, and to purchase and for more info, point your browser to www.sonomajazz.org.
The Plaza Bistro, in conjunction with the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society has expanded their weekly event to two nights, starting tonight, May 20, with vocalist Frank Jackson, along with Larry Vuckovich and Al Obidinski. Saturday, May 21, welcomes Bryan Girard on alto and tenor saxophone, Tim Campbell on keyboard and Greg German on drums and percussion. Shows both nights start at 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has music tonight, May 20, from Penny Royal, whose music leans in the direction of circus-noir gone gypsy. Showtime is 8 p.m.
Steiners Tavern has the Whiskey Thieves tonight, May 20, at 10 p.m. where they will be having a CD release party. Saturday, May 21, has the sounds of DJ Dave, for a 10 p.m. start. There is no cover for the show.
Olde Sonoma Public House in Boyes Hot Springs welcomes the Maldonado Brothers tonight, May 20. The brothers will debut several new originals. The band is evolving into a bit of a jam band that focuses on allowing their songs to breathe and develop as each member contributes their own stylistic renderings to the songs, including an increasing repertoire of original music spanning several genres. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and there is no cover.
Katmandu Corner, in the back of the Taste of the Himalayas, has the sounds of Dawn Angelosante and Joe Pennell tonight, May 20, for a 7:30 p.m. show. If you miss the duo tonight, you can catch them at Hopmonk Tavern Sonoma on Saturday, May 21, for a 5 p.m. show.
The Barking Dog in Boyes Hot Springs welcomes back the Joe Chaplain Band for an early evening show that will kick off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 21.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards welcomes Laurent Fourgo to the patio on Saturday, May 21, for a 1 p.m. show.
Many local acts are out on the road this weekend, starting with Adam Traum who will be at the Wipeout Grill in Greenbrae tonight, May 20, for a 6 p.m. show.
Ten Foot Tone will be appearing at the Tradewinds in Cotati tonight, May 20, for a 9:30 p.m. show.
The Tonewoods will be at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma tonight, May 20, for a 7 p.m. show.
The Hellhounds will be at Uva Trattoria in Napa tonight, May 20, for an 8 p.m. show. Saturday, May 21, has the Hellhounds in Calistoga at the Hydro Bar, for a 9:30 p.m. show.
The Jon Popenoe Blues Band will be at Uva Trattoria in Napa Saturday, May 21, for an 8 p.m. show.