Great shows are coming to Marin this January. With a selection of Grammy-winning artists and mind-blowing local groups to see, live music lovers have their pick this month. Venues include spots in Mill Valley, Novato, Nicasio, Bolinas and more, so there’s plenty of choices for wherever you reside.
Go By Ocean ft. Mark Karan + Michael J Tapscott
January 5
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $10
Defined by front man Ryan McCaffrey’s ethereal sound plus catchy lyrics, harmonies and drums, Go By Ocean is a lauded Marin-based band.
Musical Tribute to Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris
January 5
Rancho Nicasio
Dinner and a show: Dinner 6 – 8 p.m./ Show 7:30 p.m. – $25
Come celebrate two of the most influential musicians in country rock and Americana music. This tribute to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris will showcase the talents of multiple Bay Area Americana talents, including musicians from the groups Crying Time, the Loralee Christensen Combo, The Familiar Strangers and more!
Locked in Tonight
January 5
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 9 p.m. – $10
Locked in Tonight is hip hop, funk, and all the hits! Featuring drummer Joey Bumpus – if you haven’t witnessed LIT yet, you don’t know what you are missing – the grooves are deep!
Rainbow Girls
January 5 & 6
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 9 p.m. – $20 advance, $25 door
Rainbow Girls are a group of songwriters and multi-instrumentalists that will wow you with their raw sound and chilling vocals. With two nights at Smiley’s, you have double the opportunity to hear these California natives perform hits from their catalog and their latest album, Welcome to Whatever.
Heath Haberlin’s Blues Bday Bash!
January 6
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $10
Happy birthday Heath! Catch this local guitarist and music teacher serving up blues licks for his birthday at Peri’s in Fairfax. With a stellar band behind him and three decades of experience working in the studio and onstage, Haberlin is a total pro (and surprise paella aficionado).
Club Lava
January 6
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 9:30 p.m. – $10
The hottest club vibe north of SF, with the North Bay’s top DJ’s!
Dustbowl Revival
January 10
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 8 p.m. – $25
Dustbowl Revival’s boundary-pushing roots music is grooving as hard as ever. Folk meets funk in this horn-filled ensemble, co-led by frontman Z. Lupetin and vocalist Lashon Halley. Now embarking on another international tour, Dustbowl Revival will play their first show of 2024 in Marin’s very own Mill Valley.
Yonder Mountain String Band
January 11 & 12
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 8 p.m. (Jan 11th), 9 p.m. (Jan 12th) – $40
The 25-year-old Yonder Mountain String Band comes to Sweetwater for a two-night residence playing high-energy bluegrass. Known for their transformative covers as well as innovative original music, Yonder Mountain String Band have made waves for years in the “jamgrass” scene — a style of progressive bluegrass that plays with improvisation and adds elements from other genres.
Tom Conneely & Birds of Paradise
January 12
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10 advance, $15 door
Tom Conneely and Birds of Paradise combine twanging guitar and indie rock sensibilities while singing hard truths of love and loss. Check out this San Francisco group’s inventive style this January at Smiley’s.
Mo’Lasses
January 13
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $10
Described as “jamified funk” and led by singer Paige Clem (also of Pete Floyd fame), Mo’lasses promises a night of dancing and fun with their New Orleans-inspired music!
JimBo Trout
January 13
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10 advance, $15 door
JimBo is the perfect blend of bluegrass, rock ’n roll, honky-tonk and country! A performer on guitar, banjo and harmonica, JimBo’s sets incorporate many different styles and always deliver on the fun.
Words + Music (ft Laura Lewis, Nina Gerber, Don Henry, Claudia Russell)
January 18
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – $25 GA
Calling themselves a “pop-up band,” Words + Music unites the talents of four remarkable folk musicians: Laurie Lewis, Don Henry, Claudia Russell and Nina Gerber. You won’t want to miss these highly decorated and prolific musicians as they accompany each other with beautiful harmony and songwriting.
New Monsoon
January 19
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 9 p.m. – $22
From Marin’s own Bolinas, New Monsoon are bringing home their energetic style of jam rock for a performance at Sweetwater. The band celebrates 25 years of music this year, and they’ve only gotten better with years of appearances at renowned venues and festivals like Red Rocks, Bonnaroo and more.
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
January 19
Rancho Nicasio
Dinner and a show: Dinner 6-8 p.m./ Show 7:30 p.m. – $30
On Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, former president Bill Clinton said, “In giving new life to our most valuable musical traditions, Ramblin’ Jack has himself become an American treasure.” A National Medal of the Arts recipient, folk music legend and virtuoso in the seventh decade of his career, Ramblin’ Jack is a must-see at Rancho Nicasio this month.
The Pitchforks
January 19
Papermill Creek Saloon
Show 8 p.m. – $10
Give me that good ol’ honky tonk! The Pitchforks play classic country and are sure to give you something you can sing along to. Get ready to dance to this six-piece band that features rocking vocals, an impressive rhythm section and steel guitar.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
January 19
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – $35 GA
Part of the first wave of great psychedelic bands, Big Brother and the Holding Company possess an iconic sound and genre-defining discography. January 19’s show, which coincides with late singer Janis Joplin’s birthday, will feature their hits from the past along with great new music.
Jon Chi and the Pacific Syndicate
January 19
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 8:30 p.m. – $20
Get ready to groove to the electrifying beats of Jon Chi live as they take you on a Grateful Dead-filled journey.
Dani Hagan
January 20
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10 advance, $15 door
The LA-based Dani Hagan and The Reverie are bringing their original music and favorite covers to Smiley’s. Hagan’s powerful lead vocals and raw emotion define the group, backed up by a solid rock band.
Crystal Ballers
January 20
Mac’s 19 and Broadway
9 p.m. – $15
Crystal Ballers is a rock and roll cover band playing hits from the 90’s and early 2000’s. Catch these tunes at Mac’s 19 and Broadway this January.
The Lowatters
January 21
Papermill Creek Saloon
Show 8 p.m. – $10
The Lowatters hail from West Marin and are described as high lonesome twang inspired by classic Americana. This acoustic trio’s unique sound echoes through many Bay Area venues year-round, and you can catch them at Papermill Creek Saloon or Rancho Nicasio this January.
Marc Cohn
January 23
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 8 p.m. – $67
The Grammy-winning artist behind the ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn writes songs rooted in the American traditions of R&B and soul. Cohn’s vivid storytelling speaks to universal human experiences, and his beautiful voice is sure to light up Sweetwater for this highly anticipated performance.
Wesley Stace
January 25
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – $25 GA
Wesley Stace is a prolific folk rock artist, writer and creator of Cabinet of Wonders, an NYC variety show referred to by The New Yorker as “one of the finest nights of entertainment this city has to offer.” Having previously worked under the name John Wesley Harding, Stace has released and appeared on dozens of records, duetting artists like Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash and more. Now performing under his birth name, Stace brings his talents to HopMonk Novato.
ECP Duo
January 26
Papermill Creek Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10
Featuring Eli Carlton-Pearson (of Fairfax grunge band PSDSP) and Tommy O’Mahoney (bassist of Soul Ska), this talented duo brings a full, fantastic sound. This versatile pair has played everything together from instrumental jazz to a Hendrix tribute called Squimi Squendrix, so expect a fun show with quality musicianship.
Cheryl Wheeler & Kenny White
January 26
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – $35 GA
A gifted songwriter and beautiful voice, Cheryl Wheeler’s songs have been covered by musicians like Peter Paul and Mary, Kenny Loggins and many more. Both a poet and a comic, Wheeler’s impressive discography includes beautiful ballads as well as searing social critique. This January will see Wheeler play Novato alongside Kenny White, a talented singer-songwriter in his own right with a long list of collaborations as a pianist, guitarist and producer.
Key Lime Pie
January 27
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 9 p.m. – $10
Key Lime Pie mixes classic rock with a Latin vibe. Hear their fresh take on familiar favorite songs and tunes you might not have heard before.
Stella Heath with Ben Levin
January 28
Rancho Nicasio
Dinner and a show: Dinner 4 – 7 p.m./ Show 6 p.m. – $25
Hot off their 2023 EP Waiting Just for You, Stella Heath and Ben Levin are coming to Rancho Nicasio to show off their classic jazz style. Heath — the lead vocalist in several local bands like Bandjango Collectif and Stella & the Starlights — cites Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald as influences, while Levin emulates blues piano greats like Ray Charles.
Sway Wild & Peter Mulvey
January 28
HopMonk Novato
Show 7 p.m. – $25 GA
With exceptional vocal harmonies and guitar work, Sway Wild is a remarkable indie folk-rock duo from San Juan Island, WA. Its members, Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw, will share the stage with Peter Mulvey, a singer-songwriter whose 20 records span rock and roll, folk, jazz, spoken word and Americana.
Rodney Crowell: The Chicago Sessions Tour
January 29
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 8 p.m. – $66
A master songwriter and two-time Grammy winner, Rodney Crowell has established himself as an impactful figure in Americana music. His songs have been recorded by country stars like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, and his acclaimed solo career cements his voice in the American roots canon. Come to Sweetwater to see Crowell in concert.
