February is packed with great shows in Marin this month, including not one, not two but three different concerts on Valentine’s Day. It may be the shortest month of the year, but there’s no shortage of stellar singers, rocking bands and killer performances coming to Marin’s many great venues.
Sgt. Splendor feat. Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas
February 2
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $15
We’re going to call this “unclassifiable alt-rock,” but if you know Eric McFadden, he’s one of the best shredders around!
Tom Conneely & Birds of Paradise
February 2
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10 advance, $15 door
With tight harmonies wrapped in twang, Tom Conneely and his band are proud of their cheap drum machines, acoustic guitars, and simple chords as they sing about hard truths in life.
Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
February 2
Rancho Nicasio
Show 7:30 – $22
Enjoy an evening with one of the top jazz and blues bands in the world!
Pink Talking Fish
February 2
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 9 p.m. – $34
Pink Talking Fish are a hybrid tribute fusion act that take music from Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish and weave them together for a completely unique, spectacular sound.
Club Lava
February 2
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 9:30 p.m. – $10
The hottest club vibe north of San Francisco, with the North Bay’s top DJs — plus lights, lasers and a huge sound system!
Pete Floyd
February 3
Rancho Nicasio
Show 8 p.m. – $25
Pete Floyd is an 8-piece NorCal-based Pink Floyd tribute band that emerged to sold-out audiences in the summer of 2021. Check the website for details on the dinner option.
Prezident Brown & the I-Sound & Towerful Band
February 3
Peri’s Tavern
DJ starts at 8, Show 9 p.m. – $30
Roots reggae at its finest. This show WILL sell out, so get your tickets in advance.
David Wilcox
February 4
HopMonk Novato
Show 7 p.m. – $30
David Wilcox has proven himself to be one of the most lyrical, soulful singer-songwriters in America after his three-decades long career.
Say She She
February 6
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Fresh off stellar Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and The Chapel performances, this trio is back in the Bay Area for more.
Petty Theft
February 9–10 (two nights!)
Rancho Nicasio
Show 7:30 p.m. – $30
Everyone’s favorite Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover band returns for a two-night run at Rancho Nicasio. Check out the website for details on a dinner/music package.
Squimi Squendrix
February 9
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $15
An all-star tribute to Jimi Hendrix featuring Tom Finch, John Varn, Eli Carlton-Pearson, Gardener Goetze, JT John, Tommy O’Mahoney and more!
Jon Chi and the Pacific Syndicate
February 9
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 8:30 p.m. – $15
Get ready to groove to the electrifying beats of Jon Chi and the Pacific Syndicate as they take you on a Grateful Dead-filled journey.
Mac Mall & Epicenter Sound System
February 9
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 9 p.m. – $10 advance, $15 door
Legendary Bay Area rapper Mac Mall performs with DJ’s Epicenter Sound System to celebrate Emery Vest’s birthday.
The Bones of J.R. Jones with Malena Cadiz
February 10
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 9 p.m. – $22
Born and raised in Central New York, Jonathan Linaberry started out in hardcore punk before moving towards a genre he calls “roots noir.” He’s touring to celebrate his new album, Slow Lightning.
Talley Up
February 10
Mac’s 19 Broadway
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10
We’re excited about this year’s Mardi Gras show. Talley Up will be pumping out New Orleans favorites all night long!
Lizzie No with Beti Masenqo
February 13
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 8 p.m. – $17
Singer-songwriter, harpist and guitarist Lizzie No established herself as one of the most exciting new voices in indie folk music in 2017, and she’s back with her latest album, Halfsies.
Eric Lindell
February 14
Peri’s Tavern
Show 8 p.m. – $40
Stellar and sublime, this blue-eyed singer gives us romping New Orleans R&B. Sell out warning!
Iriefuse with Pardon the Interruption
February 14
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show 8 p.m. – $24
Known for their boundless energy, this San Francisco-based reggae band is celebrating the release of their latest album, Drift Away.
Le Jazz Hot Quartet
February 14
Rancho Nicasio
Music 7 p.m. – $20
Bring your sweetheart to enjoy a night of French gypsy jazz! Check the website for details about the dinner option for this event.
Jackie Greene
February 15–17
Sweetwater Music Hall
Show Feb 15 at 8 p.m., Feb 16–17 at 9 p.m. – $46 – ALL SHOWS SOLD OUT
Jackie Greene, both a local and national favorite guitarist and piano player, as well as the lead guitarist of the Black Crowes from 2013–2015, returns for a three-night run at Sweetwater.
Chuck Prophet and the Make Out Quartet
February 16
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – $50
All you have to do is read Chuck Prophet’s personal invitation to his Valentine’s show when he warns, “Our shows normally go into overdrive… If you have a heart condition or are on any serious meds, this may not be for you,” to be reminded of not just the high quality artistry but also the humor present in any Chuck Prophet show!
Ship of Fools with Derek and Damir opening
February 16
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 7 p.m. – $10
This show will have Dead covers and the all “good stuff,” as well as celebrating Mot’s birthday!
Jay Gavin and Denver Venoit
February 17
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $10 advance, $15 door
Enjoy this folked-up outlaw country duo! Jay Gavin writes songs for fans of real country. You’ll laugh and sing and go home feeling like you made a new friend.
Jerry’s Middle Finger
February 18
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $30 – tickets available online
THE ultimate Jerry Garcia tribute band returns to Peri’s. Sell out warning!
Pete Sawyer and the Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang
February 23
Rancho Nicasio
Show 7:30 – $25
Pete Sawyer & The Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang took Northern California by storm in 2023, creating a high-energy, “all killer, no filler,” Grateful Dead experience every time they take the stage. Check out the website for dinner options for this event.
RMS trio and the Xenomorphs
February 23
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 9 p.m. – $15
Marin’s prodigal sons are returning to Mac’s after years of chasing the limelight in LA. They’ll be joined by John Varn on keys and David Korst on pedal steel.
MIRV + KEHOE + ZEE with Sunhunter duo
February 24
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $20
MIRV (Les Claypool/M.I.R.V), Bryan Kehoe (Jerry Cantrell/ Ministry/M.I.R.V), and Josh Zee (Protein/Mothertruckers) join forces for a very special night of pure rock and roll. Local favorite Sunhunter opens.
Locked in Tonight
February 24
Mac’s at 19 Broadway
Show 9 p.m. – $10
Hip hop, funk and all the hits, featuring drummer Joey Bumpus. If you haven’t seen LiT yet, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Jerry Hannan and Chris Murphy
February 25
Rancho Nicasio
Show 4 p.m. – no cover (suggested donation $15)
Marin’s favorite Irishman and superb singer-songwriter, and one half of the Mad Hannans, returns to one of his favorite stages.
David Nelson Band
February 28–29 (two nights!)
HopMonk Novato
Show 8 p.m. – $45
This band, whose lead member is known for having played with Jerry Garcia, has been gracing stages in Marin and around the country since 1994.
Emilie Rohrbach has taught music and theater to grades pre-school through 8th in San Francisco and Marin counties for the last 20 years. She has been a freelance writer for Divine Caroline for five years, and her writing has appeared in Narratively, Hippocampus, Common Ground, Travelers’ Tales, and Marin Magazine, among others. She is passionate about Room to Read, Shanti Bhavan, and Destiny Arts and serves on the board of Knighthorse Theatre Company.
