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Burgers and Vine looking for music acts

Music has highlighted Codi Binkley’s life since he was an infant, continuing through his childhood in Sonoma. Now, with his latest endeavor, he hopes to become a curator of the Plaza music scene, bringing in musicians and acts he’s passionate about for the enjoyment of the Valley.

Binkley has partnered with longtime restaurateur Carlo Cavallo to open Burgers and Vine in the old Creamery building at First Street East and Spain Street. While Cavallo will handle the restaurant’s extensive barbecue menu, Binkley will tackle the entertainment offerings. On Jan. 10, the venue’s live music permit was approved by the Sonoma Planning Commission. (See the accompanying story on the Planning Commission decision).

For Binkley, it’s a dream come true. “I have always wanted to own my own place on the Plaza,” he beamed. “This has always been a dream of mine.”

In 2007, he even wrote up a business plan for a restaurant and live music spot at the Creamery building, but was busy making music with the Whiskey Thieves and didn’t have the time or resources to invest in making the dream real. But when he and Cavallo joined forces, they felt they had found just the right mix of ingredients.

“He has such wonderful restaurant experience and I have a music and event planning background. In 12 years, I’ve booked a little over 1,000 shows,” he said.

Not only has he booked them, Binkley has played even more shows at a variety of venues, so he knows what bands are looking for when it comes to sound systems and staging. He said, with professional grade equipment and a 10-foot by 12-foot stage, he will be able to book bands that don’t fit into many other Valley music spots.

“It’ll be the first real music venue that will be able to have touring bands,” he said. “I also want to provide our local musicians with a better place to perform.”

He plans to bring in a wide variety of acts, from jazz to country to blues. Bands will be paid a percentage of the night’s take, giving them incentive to pack the house. Occasionally Burgers and Vine will host a DJ, while other nights there will be comedians. He also hopes to host movie nights, with films projected on the walls of the restaurant.

But first the business needs to open. Binkley and Cavallo are planning extensive remodels of the space, which has sat vacant since 2006 and needs a bit more than a coat of paint. Cavallo had said he’d hoped to open by February, but after experiencing some construction set-backs waiting for permits, that opening date is beginning to look unlikely.

“My guess is it’ll be a couple of months,” Binkley said.

But that’s not stopping him from getting a line-up of interested musicians in his Rolodex. He said he is already booking bands, and any interested musicians can contact him through the Burgers and Vine page on Facebook.