Sonoma Music Festival features hit-makers Chicago, Ringo Starr, the Doobie Bros. and more

Most summer weekends in Sonoma have something going on – vintage festivals, independence day celebrations (both U.S. and Mexican), pet parades. But this weekend’s big event is bigger than most – the first-ever, or 29th (depending how you’re counting), Sonoma Music Festival, from Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2 to 4.

The festival is the direct descendent of the long-lived B.R. Cohn Charity Fall Music Festival, held for many years just up the highway at the eponymous winery in Glen Ellen. Moving the popular charity concert – which has raised more than $6 million over the years for some of Bruce Cohn’s favorite aid organization – into downtown Sonoma has been brewing for a couple years, according to the rock entrepreneur and Doobie Brothers manager, but finally came to fruition earlier this year, promising to be the biggest in-town event since Sonoma Jazz Plus folded up its tents five years ago.

Did someone say tents? There will not be a big-top style performance tent, like Jazz Plus had. Instead all major acts will perform on the open stage located in center field at the Field of Dreams, facing in toward the diamond and grandstands.

For the most part, all tickets are assigned seats – it’s recommended you get there early and find your seat before the show begins. Young children are “allowed but not advised to attend,” according to the sonomamusicfestival.com website. Aside from registered service dogs, no pets are allowed.

As of this writing, all 4,000 tickets for Sunday are sold out, and the other shows are selling close to capacity – with some $89 general admission tickets still available, and perhaps $350 VIP seating as well (includes VIP Pavilion, Wine Country buffet catered by Ramekins, cash wine/beer bar, preferred parking and expedited entry).

There are a handful of Standing Room Only tickets, priced at $47, available at Sonoma Chevrolet (687 W. Napa St.) for all shows. These are for Sonoma Valley residents only, and they do ask for some verification to make sure those weekend vacation renters don’t slip in at half price. There will be designated SRO areas at Field of Dreams.

No outside food or beverages are allowed, but there will be plenty of food vendors from Thai to tri-tip; beers from Lagunitas and HopMonk; and wine from a variety of local vintners including B.R. Cohn wines served to VIP ticket holders.

Do not bring chairs or umbrellas, but do dress appropriately – Friday and Saturday start late afternoon and slip fully into darkness, ending with cool weather at 10 p.m. Sunday’s a good day, sunshine kind of day, with music from before noon to 6 p.m. Sunscreen and/or appropriate headwear is recommended.

While there is bicycle, motorcycle, blue-tag handicap and VIP parking at the nearby Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building, most people should look for a place to park in town and be prepared to walk.

Each day promises around five hours of solid rock (with a little bit country, a little bit of soul thrown in) on the main stage. There will also be live music on a second stage at the HopMonk Beer Garden, running between the main stage acts, including such talent as Jeff Campbell on Friday, Matt Bolton and Roem Baur on Saturday, and Sean Carscadden and Codi Binkley and friends on Sunday.

Friday and Saturday the gates open at 4 p.m. and music should begin by 5, continuing with between-band set-ups until the 10 p.m. “sound curfew” goes into effect. With sunset those days just before 7:00 p.m., bring an extra layer for the cooler nighttime temperatures.

Friday’s lineup opens with Carlos Reyes, a Paraguayan harpist and violinist, followed by the classic rock band America (“A Horse with No Name”), and finally the horn-heavy hit machine Chicago closing the set.

Saturday night opens with popular Bay Area band Pablo Cruise (“Love Will Find a Way”), then climaxes as Sonoma finally welcomes a Beatle to town. Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band play an extended revue set to close the night, featuring the most recognizable drummer in rock fronting a band of semi-legends.

Ringo’s career with the Beatles doesn’t need review – his distinctive drumming was front-and-center in the Beatle sound – but his post-Beatle years include a surprising number of hits, including “Back Off Boogaloo,” “It Don’t Come Easy,” “You’re Sixteen,” “The No No Song,” and of course “Photograph,” subject of an earlier Index-Tribune article.

This year’s version of the All-Starr Band, the 12th, includes Todd Rundgren (the Nazz and Utopia), Steve Lukather (Toto), Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey), Richard Page (Mr. Mister) and others.

Sunday’s the longest day – gates open at 11 a.m. and music will kick off right way. Two second-generation Doobies, Lara Johnston and Pat Simmons Jr., will play their short sets before the four headline bands line up for the afternoon festival. Tommy Castro and the Painkillers come up to bat first, followed by the bluesy Edgar Winter Band, surviving “Midnight Rider” Gregg Allman and, batting cleanup, the Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald, whose distinctive voice propelled some – though not all – of the band’s many gold records. Sunday’s performers are scheduled for a 6 p.m. curtain, with the music ending just as the day cools down.

B.R. Cohn Charity Events benefits national and local Veteran groups including Fisher House, American Legion Post 489, Bread & Roses, Redwood Empire Food Bank and others. They remind you to act responsibly – please don’t drink and drive.

For more information visit sonomamusicfestival.com.