It’s officially summer! Get out and explore Marin’s music scene at some of our favorite venues. Here’s the best live performances happening in July.
Flatlanders Weekend
July 2–4
Rancho Nicasio
BBQ’s on the Lawn Series
Doors 3 p.m./ Show 4 p.m. – $75
The Flatlanders were founded in 1972 by three musical childhood friends in Texas and have become so iconic that a compilation recording released in 1990 was titled More a Legend than a Band. They have not appeared together in California since Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in 2019.
Soul Ska
July 3
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 8:30 p.m. – $12 advance tickets
Soul Ska is a 9-piece premiere ska/ rocksteady band from the Bay Area. They’ve won Best Bay Area Band in the Pacific Sun two years in a row!
El Radio Fantastique
July 4
Smiley’s Saloon
Doors 1 p.m. – FREE (outdoors)
Show your national pride by attending Bolinas’ 4th of July parade, and afterwards dance outside to the sound of the Bay Area’s favorite alternative genre-bending band, El Radio Fantastique.
Toad the Wet Sprocket (Cookout Concert Series)
July 7
HopMonk Novato
Doors 4 p.m./ Show 6 p.m. – $55 advance tickets
Celebrating 30 years of making music, with such hits as “Walk on the Ocean” and “All I Want,” to their credit, Toad the Wet Sprocket is still entertaining audiences with their energy and harmonic chemistry.
Go By Ocean
July 7
Smiley’s Saloon
Show 5 p.m. – $10 advance tickets
Described as “coastal dream rock,” this Marin-based band delivers catchy lyrics and soulful vibes and is celebrating the release of their latest album, Can I Communicate with the Unknown?.
The Mother Hips (Cookout Concert Series)
July 8 (matinee and evening shows)
Doors 11:30 a.m./ Show 1 p.m. – $38.50 advance tickets
Doors 5:30 p.m./ Show 7 p.m. – $38.50 advance tickets
Founded over 30 years ago while Bluhm and Loiacono were students at Chico State, The Mother Hips is hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “one of the Bay Area’s most beloved live outfits.”
Jackie Greene Weekend
July 8–9
Rancho Nicasio
BBQ’s on the Lawn Series
Doors 3 p.m./ Show 4 p.m. – $40
Americana and roots singer-songwriter Jackie Greene is a jack-of-all-trades — an artist who can croon over soulful piano ballads as much as he can shred a bluesy guitar solo (like he did as the lead guitarist for The Black Crowes in 2013).
Garret Deloian (Jerry’s Middle Finger)
July 9
Peri’s Tavern
Show 8 p.m. – $10
Garrett Deloian, a seasoned veteran of the Blues circuit, is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the infamous Grateful Dead cover band Jerry’s Middle Finger.
Afro Dead
July 12
Sweetwater Music Hall
Doors 7 p.m./ Show 8 p.m. – $25
Afro Dead is a Grateful Dead cover band/ musical collective from Africa, the United States, and Europe directed by Aaron Feder and featuring Guinean singer Sia Tolno and guitarist Yaya Dambakate.
The Illeagles
July 16
Rancho Nicasio
BBQ’s on the Lawn Series
Doors 3 p.m./ Show 4 p.m. – $30
The Illeagles is the ultimate Eagles tribute band.
Steve Poltz (Cookout Concert Series)
July 16
HopMonk Novato
Doors 4:30 p.m./ Show 6 p.m. – $30 advance tickets
Our beloved Steve Poltz is back to share his latest album Stardust & Satellites. This Nashville based songwriter has developed quite the cult following due to his exuberant performance style and eclectic solo catalog.
Beth Nielsen Chapman
July 21
Sweetwater Music Hall
Doors 8 p.m./ Show 9 p.m. – $30
Chapman is an American singer-songwriter whose body of work spans 15 albums seven #1 hits, including compositions recorded by Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, the Indigo Girls and more.
Anders Osborne (Cookout Concert Series)
July 22
HopMonk Novato
Doors 4:30 p.m./ Show 6 p.m. – $42.50 advance tickets
This world-renowned New Orleans-based songwriter has been named “the poet laureate of Louisiana’s fertile roots music scene” in Guitar Player magazine, the Entertainer Of The Year in New Orleans’ Gambit Weekly, and the Crescent City’s Best Guitarist for the third year in a row, as well as the Best Songwriter for the second straight year by OffBeat. Osborne also won Song Of The Year for his composition, Louisiana Gold.
Asleep at the Wheel Weekend
July 22&23
Rancho Nicasio
BBQ’s on the Lawn Series
Doors 3 p.m./ Show 4 p.m. – $45
Founded in 1970, Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years.
Benefit for RT Goodrich feat. members of Soul Ska, Beso Negro, Junk Parlor and more
July 23
Peri’s Tavern
Show 6 p.m. – $20 suggested donation
Help out a friend of Peri’s Tavern and dance the night away to the most fantastic amalgamation of our favorite Bay Area musicians from some of our most stellar local bands.
Josh Zee and Dan Thompson
July 28
Peri’s Tavern
Show 8 p.m. – $23
The founders of 1984’s hit alt grunge/ pop trio Protein reunite for a star-studded multi-band event that will feature many talented friends and some very special guests.
Tommy Breeze’s Birthday Bash
July 29
Peri’s Tavern
Show 9 p.m. – $15
Fairfax’s own multi-talented apparel entrepreneur/ producer/ musician Tommy Breeze throws a giant multimedia birthday bash featuring live bands, dj’s, light show projections, and local vendors.
Bob Schneider (Cookout Concert Series)
July 29 & July 30
HopMonk Novato
Doors 4:30/ Show 6 p.m. – $25 advance tickets
Beloved Austin, Texas based singer-songwriter Bob Schneider celebrates his latest album In a Roomful of Blood with a Sleeping Tiger in this special two-show weekend long event.
