Forest Knolls
EP Drop at Papermill
Bay Area multi-instrumentalist Eli Carlton-Pearson brings his far-ranging musical passport to Papermill Creek Saloon for the release of Consolation, a new solo EP built mostly from acoustic guitar pieces and recorded entirely to quarter-inch tape on an eight-track machine in Berkeley. Known for projects spanning Cambodian traditional music, gypsy jazz, heavy rock and assorted genre mischief, Carlton-Pearson takes a quieter turn here—offering what he describes as a balm for overstimulated ears and overburdened hearts. The evening begins with a solo set from Carlton-Pearson before widening into two of his current ensembles: Prog Frog, billed as an eclectic collision of Celtic psychedelic jazz chamber popcorn surprise, and Hallie Austin, whose songwriter instincts meet fuzzed-out rock energy somewhere between Kim Deal and Big Thief. In other words, subtle beginnings, stranger endings. 8:30pm, Saturday, April 25, Papermill Creek Saloon, 1 Castro St., Forest Knolls. papermillcreeksaloon.com.
Petaluma
Must Have Been the Roses
Petaluma’s Grateful Dead tribute band, Dead Again, comes out of a two-year hiatus for a one-night-only benefit with an aptly chosen title: “It Must Have Been the Roses.” The reunion concert raises funds to restore the rose window at the historic 1901 Brainerd Jones-designed church at 5th and B, now home to the Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma. The band plans a flower-forward setlist drawing from American Beauty and other Dead favorites, featuring roses, fire and fellowship. Joining the evening are vocalist Jenna Mammina, bringing her jazz-inflected virtuosity, and the Larking About Choir. A silent auction adds further temptation with signed books, rare Grateful Dead memorabilia, photographs, tie-dye works and other treasures for devotees and collectors alike. The sanctuary’s stained-glass rose window—featuring blue, red and purple floral motifs and likely designed by Jones, who trained as a glazier—requires substantial restoration. Once repaired, it promises to shine both inside the building and outward onto B Street as a public artwork for the community. 6:30pm doors, 7pm show, Friday, April 17, Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma, 5th and B streets, Petaluma. Suggested donation $10–$20; no one turned away for lack of funds.
Glen Ellen
Le Cordon Bleu at Songbird
French technique meets Sonoma abundance when winemaker and author Paula Moulton hosts an intimate culinary and wine experience at Songbird Parlour on April 20. The afternoon features a live cooking and pâtisserie demonstration by Le Cordon Bleu chef Sebastian Rast, whose classical training meets modern gastronomy through seasonal, farm-driven ingredients sourced from Sonoma County. Guests can expect chef-prepared bites alongside a curated tasting led by master sommelier Matthieu Longuère and Moulton herself, who will share her approach to pairing, balance and the art of entertaining through wine. More salon than seminar, the gathering is designed for conversation and close-up access to the talent in the room. With limited seating, the event offers a rare chance to sample global culinary pedigree grounded in local flavor. 3–5:30pm, Monday, April 20, Songbird Parlour, 13690 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen. Limited tickets available. songbirdparlour.com.
Petaluma
Tender Hearts Club
In an era that often mistakes cynicism for sophistication, Tender Hearts Club: Volume One arrives with another idea: love as resistance. The new anthology from Feather Press gathers Bay Area poets and artists exploring love in its many unruly forms—romantic, communal, grieving, joyful, erotic and quietly enduring. The Petaluma launch at Copperfield’s Books offers a chance to hear from contributors including Alexandria Giardino, Anne Marie Wenzel, Jennifer Barone, Jonathan Siegel, Joseph Voth, Lynn Light, Kary Hess, Luisa Giulianetti, Maggie La Rochelle, Michelle Patton and Ruth Crossman. Edited by poet and publisher Ingrid Keir, the collection positions tenderness not as retreat, but as a force capable of widening our circles of care. 7pm, Saturday, April 25, Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma. Books available for purchase.
