The Saturday morning farmers market, held in the parking lot of the Sonoma Community Center, has a new addition; live music, and what better way to kick if off than with the “hippie mountain music” sounds of Wildflower Weed. Life partners Mary Bennett and Lane Means started the band as a side project when they were in the Black Point String Band, and the band has added several neighborhood musicians as the years have gone by, auditioning by jamming on the front porch of their house in El Verano. The act covers some Kate Wolf and Gillian Welch songs, and it’s easy to make the connection, but their original songs really have an identity of their own, having taken new twists as different musicians step in and out of the band. The act kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept 4, in the right hand side of the parking lot at the Community Center. There is no cover for the show or the market.
The Plaza Bistro has the John Mackay Trio in the Plaza Wine Bar, in the back of the restaurant tonight, Sept. 3, for a 7 p.m. show. Mackay wrote his first song at three years of age, started taking piano lessons and six and started his professional music career at 18. Since that time he has appeared on radio and television with a variety of musicians, including big names in jazz, such as Cab Calloway and Leon Marion. Currently making his home in Los Angeles, the trio for tonights show will have Sam Bevan on bass and Alan Uren on drums. There is no cover for the show.
In yet another “local boy makes good” story, Sonoma born and bred Jason Gaffner is about to take his musical career to the next level with his act Call of the Wild. The multi-instrumentalist/vocalist spent some time in Los Angeles before making his way back to the Bay Area, currently making San Francisco his home, where the band has a regular gig at The Wine Jar every Sunday, and every Tuesday at Wellington’s Wine Bar in Sausalito. The young man apparently can’t escape the wine connection; his dad is a winemaker at Saxon Brown. The band is now in the studio recording a single with Grammy-Award winning producer Steve Fontano, whose credits include Santana and Eric Clapton. No local gigs scheduled yet, but keep a look out here in the column.
We can’t have a local boy story without a local girl story as well. She now hails from Stockton, but many will remember Leona Marino and her time in Sonoma, where many in her family still reside. Marino saw an opportunity to showcase some of the talent she saw all over the internet, and started Web World Talent. Similar to American Idol, Web World Talent seeks to discover up and coming vocal talent form across the United States. Instead of holding auditions in a limited number of major U.S. cities, Web World Talent will be holding auditions in at least one city in each of the 50 states, eventually seeking to move into Canada and beyond. For more info, point your browser to www.webworldtalent.com.
Jess Petty and Ken Chambers will be at the Ledson Lounge on the Plaza tonight, Sept 3, at 6 p.m.
Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards will have Adam Traum and the Traumatics tonight, Sept 3, at 6:30 p.m. Traum and the band play a wide variety of country, folk, Americana and even some blues, and Traum is an excellent finger-picker as well. You might even hear some Merle Haggard, heck, his son is named after the country star. There is no cover for the show.
Steiners Tavern will have Showcase the Band tonight, Sept.3, for a show that kicks off at 7 p.m. If you miss then tonight, you can catch the band at the Rio Nido picnic on Sunday, Sept. 5, starting at 5 p.m.
Jewel and the Rhythm Ride will be back at the Parkpoint Club on Sunday, Sept. 5, for another round of “Sweat your Prayers,” a dance class that all can join. With Jewel that day will be Bob Young on Congas and Steve Shain on stand-up bass, and all class members can enjoy the facilities after the class. For reservations and more info, call Jewel at 480-5639.
The El Verano Inn will have an old favorite, Fast Corky and the Hubcaps for the annual Labor Day weekend party and potluck on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. Proprietor Richard Danon will be grilling up chicken and folks can bring their favorite dish down, or not. There is no cover for the event.
The Cork Pullers are continuing their conquest of all the local, and not so local, wineries with an encore appearance at Imagery Estate Winery on Saturday, Sept. 4, for a 1 p.m. show.
Landmark Winery and Vineyards will have the jazz sounds of Laurent Fourgo for a 1 p.m. show on Saturday, Sept. 4.
The Lodge at Sonoma has John Groves tickling the ivories in the lounge tonight, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 4, the lounge hosts the antics of the one and only Terry Disley. Shows both nights go off at 7 p.m. and there is no cover.
Murphy’s Irish Pub has music from Big Wide Grin tonight, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, brings in Andrew Freeman for his monthly appearance at the pub, also for an 8 p.m. show. Sunday, Sept 5, brings in a classic pub jam at 6 p.m. and folks are welcome to bring down whatever instruments they have and join in or start the gig up.
The Schellville Grill welcomes EZ Kewl for a dinner set tonight, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. If you miss them tonight, you can catch them at the Big 3 Diner in Boyes Hot Springs on Monday, Sept 6, for a 7 p.m. show.
Olde Sonoma Pub in Boyes Hot Springs has the sounds of Pug and Bogart, an offshoot project featuring members of Ten Foot Tone on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m.
Sonoma blues masters the Hellhounds are on the road all weekend with a show tonight, Sept 3, at the Hydro Bar in Calistoga for a 9:30 p.m. start. Saturday, Sept. 4, has the band at the Penngrove Pub in, you guessed it, Penngrove, for a 9 p.m. show.
Sean Carscadden and his trio will be in Petaluma on Saturday, Sept. 4, playing in the theater square with Andrew Emer on bass, J. B. Duff on drums and special guest Isaac Carter on guitar. The act kicks off at 6 p.m.
Jon Popenoe will be at Ricky’s Bar and Grill in Novato tonight, Sept 3, for a 6:p.m. show.