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.