Music in the Mission
The chapel inside San Francisco Solano Mission, more commonly known as Sonoma Mission, is by far the oldest performance space in the valley. Since its founding in 1823, thousands and thousands of songs, actually called hymns, have been resonated inside its thick adobe walls.
Recently, a series of concerts began featuring local musicians performing modern music in this magnificent room. To date, the players and attendees alike have all mentioned the wonderful acoustics of the chapel. Amen to sweet acoustics.
The next concert takes place on April 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m.
Headlining the show will be The Cork Pullers, an acoustic guitar-based trio with Gary Halter, Bo O’Hara, and yours truly, Tim Curley. The Cork Pullers have enlisted “friend” Curtis Duff to assist with this show.
Halter plays guitar, O’Hara plays the bass, I play guitar, mandolin, some percussion, and all three sing. The trio focuses on vocals, with particular attention paid to three-part harmonies.
Duff will lend his very capable hands playing the dobro style guitar. The audience is invited and encouraged to join in on any and all of the singing.
Situated on the southeast corner of the Plaza, the Mission is now part of the Sonoma State Historic Park complex. This also includes the Blue Wing Inn, General Vallejo’s Home, the Petaluma Adobe, the Sonoma Barracks, and the Toscano Hotel. Funds collected from this concert will go towards the preservation of these historic properties.
Prine Time
John Prine released his stunning debut record in 1971. Over the next 50 years, he wrote and recorded some of the best examples of “Americana” yet to be heard. Prine gave us “Angel From Montgomery,” “Paradise,” “Sam Stone,” and one of my favorites, “It’s A Big Old Goofy World.”
A matinee concert of his songs, “Prime Prine, a Tribute to John Prine,” is on April 7 at Santa Rosa’s California Theatre. The show will feature performances from a dozen of the best devotees of the genre.
Performing musicians include Layne Bowen, Clementine Darling, Dave Hamilton, Kevin Hutchinson, Jan Kahdeman, Paul Riley, Zoe Sameth, Alan Watt, Callie Watts, Cori Wood, Now and Zen, and Jon Roy Zat.
Buy tickets at the door or at https://www.caltheatre.com/event-details/prime-prine.
It is said that when Kris Kristofferson, no songwriting slouch himself, heard Prine’s songs, he quipped, “We’ll have to break his thumbs.”
Prine died due to complications with COVID-19 in April of 2020. His passing robbed us of more wonderful songs Prine would no doubt have written and concerts he would have performed. But, like all good things, his songs continue to ring true in the hearts of millions of his fans.
Bloom Carneros
The live music venue at the south end of Broadway previously known as Kivelstadt Cellars has been rebranded as Bloom Carneros. There, a lively acoustic-rooted music program has blossomed, offering shows at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
This weekend’s performers include Minor Birds on Saturday and Hannah Jern-Miller on Sunday. A menu featuring locally sourced ingredients is offered, with changes reflecting the availability of the best stuff the chef can obtain.
Call ahead to discover what deliciousness awaits, 707-412-0438, located at 22910 Broadway.
Easter live music
Music fans hunting for a basket full can find one at no less than six local venues this Easter Sunday. All the shows begin after the plastic eggs have been found and the Peeps have been consumed.
North to South, the venues and performers are Jon S. Williams at 9 p.m. at Olde Sonoma Pub; the Sunday night jam at 7 p.m. at the El Verano Inn; a special concert by the Sonoma Sound Syndicate at 4 p.m. at Starling Bar; Santa Rosa’s Tall Bunny at 5:30 p.m. at Murphy’s Irish Pub, and Hannah Jern-Miller at 2 p.m. at Bloom Carneros.
Tipping the musicians is encouraged.
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