Tortoise, hula and Vegas acts to entertain Sonoma this weekend

From Hawaii to Vegas with a stop in Chicago.|

Jeff Bundschu is yet again bringing in music acts to the historic Redwood Barn on the property at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, giving Sonomans a chance to see bands they might never see elsewhere.

The barn has just been remodeled and is ready to rock. Tortoise, hailing from Chicago, has been paying dues for 25 years and is currently on a world tour that will take them all the way to Poland through July. The act is supporting its latest album “The Catastrophist” which is its first in nine years and the first ever with vocals. Over the years, the band has experimented in dub, rock, jazz, electronica and minimalism. Bundschu says, “This is a super-influential rock band, with a deep fan base. These guys are true influencers.”

Opening the show will be psychedelic pop guitarist Chris Cohen.

Doors open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, with the show kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Parking is free for wine club members and people who carpool.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at gunbun.ticketfly.com.

Break out the Hawaiian shirts, the grass skirts and your ukulele, as it’s time for the monthly Hawaiian dance party at the Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club. Saturday, April 30, the group will be dancing and singing beginning at 2 p.m.

Proceeds from the event help with the costs of upkeep of the historic 101-year-old building. Del Medina, referred to in the local hula circles as “the North Bay’s King of Kanikapila” leads the afternoon with classics from many Hawaiian songbooks. “Kanikapila” means Hawaiian jam session.

The party is presented by the local hula group Hula Mai and all are welcome to bring an instrument and join in the fun.

The songs are half traditional Hawaiian and half American pop, so they’ll be room for anyone, be it on a guitar, ukulele, kazoo or even a foot stomper or two.

Admission is a $5 donation and snacks will be provided with beverages available for purchase.

For more info, point your browser to hulamai.org.

The Sonoma Charter School is presenting “Viva Las Vegas” as a fundraiser on Saturday, April 30, at Rossi’s 1906 Roadhouse and the evening will be action packed.

The doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner service and the entertainment starts at 7 p.m. with Full Circle. Then Transcendence Theater takes the stage to perform three Vegas-inspired numbers, then it’s time for the showgirls with the Amor Do Samba Brazilian dancers. Stagefrite will be up next at 9 p.m. for an evening of dance songs from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

In between acts, there will be auction items made by the children of the school as well as larger ticket items like tickets to a San Francisco Giants game.

“Our focus at this fundraiser is not only to raise money to sustain our programs, but to also celebrate our community,” said Kevin Kassebaum, director of Sonoma Charter School.

There are a number of ticket options available, including after-dinner dance only.

For tickets and more info, point your browser to sonomacharterschool.org.

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