Grab positive vibes with Sonoma Music Fest, fire fundraiser and kanikapila

The Sonoma Music Festival is right around the corner, literally and figuratively, and there are still some tickets available, along with a few “standing room only” ones geared toward locals. On Friday, Oct. 2, the weekend kicks off with Chicago and America for an evening show with doors at 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3, it’s a Beatle – Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band, which includes Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather and more, along with local favorites Pablo Cruise.

This is also an evening show with doors at 4 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4, it’s a daytime show, with doors at 11 a.m. that will feature the Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald, Gregg Allman, Edgar Winter, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers and more.

The weekend was just proclaimed “Sonoma Music Festival Weekend” by Mayor David Cook with an official proclamation. The charity concert has moved from the estate winery in Glen Ellen that features Cohn’s name to the Field of Dreams in downtown Sonoma. Over the years, the concert has helped raise more than $6.5 million for local and national charitable causes, with this year’s being Fisher House for Vets, Redwood Empire Food Bank, American Legion Post #489 and Bread and Roses. For tickets and more info, point your browser to sonomamusicfestival.com.

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Mark your calendars for Saturday Oct. 3, where word is that many local musicians will be putting on a fundraiser at Rossi’s 1906 to help out victims of the Valley Fire near Clearlake. The Dark Lord, Byron Burt, has been getting together a lineup that, at press time, could include Tilted Halos, Byron Borges, the Bumblin Bones, Dan Martin, Tony Gibson, Paulie Hips and friends and more. Stay tuned.

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The Hawaiian dance party is back this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Sonoma Woman’s Club – when Del Medina, referred to in the local hula circles as “the North Bay’s King of Kanikapila,” takes the stage with his ukulele. “Kanikapila” means Hawaiian jam session, and is presented by the local hula group Hula Mai; all are welcome to bring an instrument and join in on the fun. The songs are half traditional Hawaiian and half American pop, so there’ll be room for anyone with even an ounce of musical talent, be it on a guitar, ukulele, kazoo or even a foot stomper or two. The event gets under way at 2 p.m. with doors open at 1:30 p.m.; admission is free but donations are encouraged as they will go toward the upkeep of the historic Woman’s Club building which is turning 100 next year. For more info, point your browser to hulamai.org.