Bands, singer-songwriters and soloists are all taking the stage in Marin’s live music scene this month. We’re lucky to have many venues and talents here, but here’s a quick roundup of standout concerts coming this April.
Sweetwater Music Hall
Our Pick: Evie Sands and Bridget St. John
April 6 @ 8 p.m., $42.73
See Sweetwater’s full live music calendar here.
This unexpected double bill brings two all-time great singer-songwriters to Mill Valley as the first stop of a new California tour, titled “A Woman’s Work Is Never Done.” Evie Sands and Bridget St. John both have many credits to their name. Sands leans a little bluesier and St. John a little folksier, and both are singular talents with clear voices and guitar chops too (Johnny Cash once said of Evie’s guitar playing, “You’d think she’s got electricity in her fingers, the way she plays that guitar left-handed and upside down”). This performance should be a treat, with some surprises in store.
Smiley’s Saloon
Our Pick: Tracorum
April 11 @ time, 8:30 p.m., $10adv/$15door
See Smiley’s full live music calendar here.
Tracorum call themselves “cosmic-gospel thunder-funk,” and the San Francisco group delivers on that loaded descriptor with thumping rhythms and a love of rock ‘n roll. They’re a familiar sight at North Bay venues, so this Smiley’s set isn’t their first rodeo. Their sound mixes New Orleans, honkey tonk, funk, Carribbean, roots and more, with an electric stage presence to top it off.
And since variety is the spice of life, why not try something new? Or maybe something “novel”? Trout Novel is a five-piece string band from Portland, coming to Smiley’s on April 4. It’s sure to be a fun, FREE Friday night show.
Peri’s Tavern
Our Pick: DJ Williams Band
April 20 @ 7 p.m., $10 adv/$15 at door
See Peri’s full live music calendar here.
DJ Williams is a Denver-based guitarist and singer who’s performed with stellar live acts like John Legend, Dave Matthews Band, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and more. Williams’ influences run the gamut from grunge to Motown to the shredders of yore like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, so look forward to a style that fuses edgy rock with funk feel.
HopMonk Tavern
Our Pick: Iris DeMent
April 27 @ 4:30 p.m., $45
See HopMonk’s full live music calendar here.
It’s ba-ack. HopMonk’s Summer Cookout Series returns to the tavern’s grassy hillside and outdoor patio, and the first act to take that outdoor stage is Iris DeMent. If you don’t know DeMent’s discography, it’s a book of sweet Americana sounds, including the melancholy song “Our Town” about a Midwest town past its prime and a famous duet with John Prine on “In Spite of Ourselves.” DeMent’s latest album Workin’ on a World tackles questions unique to our modern world, with political songs that remember freedom fighters of yesterday and today.
Rancho Nicasio
Our Pick: Cajun Dance with Aux Cajunals
April 27 @ 5 p.m., $20
See Rancho Nicasio’s full live music calendar here.
Mardi Gras may be over, but you can still enjoy classic Cajun music with a performance by Aux Cajunals over dinner at Rancho Nicasio. The core of this group is made up of the musical Thompson family: fiddler and singer Suzy, guitarist Eric and their bassist daughter Allegra, plus other local musicians Agi Ban and Karen Celia Heil. It’s a taste of boot-stomping Cajun and blues tunes to transport you to Louisiana.
Even more great local bands are coming to Rancho Nicasio this month, including dance band Wonder Bread 5, more Cajun-style music from Tom Rigney & Flambeau and swinging blues by Spike Sikes and His Awesome Hotcakes (also playing at Trek Winery in Novato this month).
