A Press Democrat Blog

Arts

Dan Taylor on the fine arts scene.

Keys and Shul duo plays at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma

Monday, at 7:00 by

Petaluma singer Stefanie Keys and San Francisco guitarist Dave Shul will team up for an evening of acoustic duets from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Aqus Cafe, 189 H. St., in Petlaluma. Keys has performed as lead singer with Big Brother and the Holding Company, once fronted by Janis Joplin. Shul toured with Michael Franti and Spearhead for 14 years, and has performed with Counting Crows, Billy Preston and Dave Mathews. No cover charge. Information: (707)… Read More »

Jamaican vocal stars The Melodians play at Cotati’s Redwood Cafe

Thursday, at 7:00 by

Before reggae, there was the Jamaican Rocksteady style of music, and you have a chance to see a live show by a couple of the genre’s pioneers. The Melodians, formed in 1965 in Kingston, Jamaica, bring their current tour to the Redwood Cafe at 8240 Old Redwood Highway in Cotati at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. The show will star the group’s surviving original members, Tony Brevett and Trevor McNaughton. Co-founder Brent Dowe died in 2006. Dan Martin and the… Read More »

Next ‘Sonoma Songbirds’ concert set for Sebastopol

Wednesday, at 7:00 by

What name could possibly be better for an all-woman Americana quartet than this one? Foxes in the Henhouse. Can’t top that. The group will appear in the next “Sonoma Songbirds Concert,” starring recently transplanted Seattle singer and songwriter Jill Cohn, at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at Aubergine, 755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. Foxes in Henhouse features Pamela Joyce, Dorian Bartley, Kathy Mezger and Linda Sullivan. The show also will include the Sonoma County duo Beautiful Weirdos, featuring Alan Watt and… Read More »

Comedy nights start in Rohnert Park

Thursday, at 7:00 by

After a trial show in November, local comedians Brian Thomas and Nick Hoffman return Tuesday, Jan. 8, to launch a monthly open mic comedy night at the Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park. The shows will run from 8:30 to 10 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month in the bowling alley’s lounge at 300 Golf Course Drive. Sign-ups for those who want to stand up and be funny will start at 7:30 p.m. before each show. There’s no cover… Read More »

‘Sonoma Songbirds’ return to Last Day Saloon

Tuesday, at 7:00 by

After headlining a “Sonoma Songbirds” show at the Last Saloon in September, transplanted Seattle singer and songwriter Jill Cohn returns there this week with a slightly different line-up. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Last Day Saloon, 120 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. The line-up includes: –  Jill Cohn, performing with Sonoma County guitarist Dave Sampson of the Old Jawbone band. – Katie Phillips, Sonoma County guitarist,  singer and songwriter, with drummer Mark Tarlton. – Jen… Read More »

‘Sonoma Songbird’ concert at Last Day Saloon

Friday, at 7:00 by

“Wine, women and song” has become an outdated cliche,  but it does apply, in  a way, to an interesting musical event coming up. Wine is optional, but there will be lots of women and song at the “Sonoma Songbird” concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. The lineup includes: – Seattle singer and songwriter Jill Cohn, performing with Sonoma County guitarist Dave Sampson of the Old Jawbone band. – The… Read More »

Sopwith Camel plays at the Last Day Saloon

Monday, at 7:00 by

During the ‘60s in San Francisco, fresh new rock bands seemed to pop up every day. Some became legends, but for others, fame was brief. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t good bands. Sopwith Camel, named for the famed World War I plane, was the second band from San Francisco signed by a major label, after Jefferson Airplane but before the Grateful Dead. The first of the “San Francisco psychedelic ballroom bands” to get a hit, Sopwith Camel scored with… Read More »

Little Kids Rock at George’s Nightclub in San Rafael

Friday, at 2:44 by

When nearly two dozen students from the Santa Rosa Charter School and Flowery Elementary School in Sonoma rock out in early May, they’ll have a special guest star — Prairie Prince of The Tubes. He and other musicians will join the students in a benefit show for the Little Kids Rock program, which provides free instruments and music lessons to more than 160,000 students at over 1,200 schools in 25 cities nationwide. There will be an auction signed celebrity guitars,… Read More »

Three-band party comes to Quincy’s Pub

Wednesday, at 7:00 by

Quincy’s Pub and Cafe in Rohnert Park is one venue that doesn’t seem to get mentioned quite as often as others, but there’s usually something interesting going on there. This Friday, March 9, Quincy’s has an interesting three-band lineup planned: The show opens at 9 p.m. with Third Party, a Santa Rosa power rock trio that blends in country, blues, jazz, ska and punk. Next up, at 10 p.m., is The Adversary, an eclectic acoustic band led by Andre Mistier,… Read More »

John Courage plays Christy’s on the Square

Friday, at 7:51 by

Ever feel low on a Thursday night? What you need is Courage. Santa Rosa songwriter and singer John Courage and the Great Plains band perform at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at Christy’s on the Square, 96 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. Blasted Canyon and Burnt Ones also will perform. Courage started his musical career in Santa Rosa, moved to Sante Fe, N.M., for a year and a half, and then moved back in 2010. After his return, Courage told… Read More »