It’s not just a movie. It’s a way of life. Am I wrong? The Big Lebowski, which screens this week in the small confines of the Cameo Cinema, is fast joining the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls as a lifestyle bible for its most devoted, white-Russian-drinking followers, and the one-screen movie theater may never be the same. As the official Lebowski Fest makes its way across the country this September, Napa Valley duderinos have the chance to abide en masse and recite classic lines together back at the screen, and there are oh-so-many of them. Will bowling balls be rolled down the aisles with nihilists? Will someone have the guts to stand outside the theater with a ghetto blaster, playing the Eagles? Will anyone ever really find a rug that really ties a room together? Find out when the cult favorite screens on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Cameo Cinema. 1340 Main St., St. Helena. 8pm. $5. 707.963.9779.Gabe Meline

Amusing the amnesiac drunks of the world while they slobber Stouffer’s dinners on themselves in the middle of the night isn’t anyone’s idea of a great job. But to Craig Ferguson, it caps a long journey from a young punk rocker in Glasgow, Scotland, to construction worker to bouncer to modern dancer, and finally, to taking the place of Craig Kilborn as host of CBS’ Late Late Show. Ferguson’s new memoir, American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot, chronicles that journey, with a lot of alcohol and cocaine along the way, but what emerges from the haze is a humble, funny man who very desperately wanted to become an American. He achieved citizenship in 2008, and wears a red, white and blue kilt on the cover of his books and, one would guess, whenever else he can. He appears on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. Noon. Free. 415.927.0960.Gabe Meline

At age 79, Stephen Sondheim has seen it all, from commercial successes like Sweeny Todd to underappreciated flops like Anyone Can Whistle. He’s been in Hollywood, on Broadway, off Broadway, studied under Oscar Hammerstein, collaborated with Richard Rodgers, served as president of the Director’s Guild, raked in royalties for “Send in the Clowns,” and now, at the end of it all, he rests. And talks. If Sondheim had only written the lyrics to West Side Story, he’d be a household name, but consider Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music and the brilliant Assassins, and it all adds up. He is, without a doubt, a Broadway legend, and he appears in a conversation with acclaimed director Peter Stein to display his verbal genius and discuss a distinguished career on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Wells Fargo Center. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 8pm. $49–$69. 707.546.3600.Gabe Meline

What do you say if you’re an artist used to playing large places like the Fox Theater in Boulder, the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn or the El Rey theater in Los Angeles when a Santa Rosa radio station asks if you want to play a free show on a one-foot high stage at a downtown brewpub? If you’re Mason Jennings, you say yes. The Minnesota songwriter has just released his seventh album, Blood of Man, and in describing it, he writes, “I wrote about how hard it is to be 34 and be a parent and sane and married and true and positive and yourself and a man and funny and a decent person and a not decent person and human and in love.” His appearance continues a tradition of KRSH 95.9-FM bringing artists from Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records roster to town for free concerts, and it all goes down on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Russian River Brewing Company. 725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. Noon. 707.545.2337.Gabe Meline

The Proclaimers

Twin bespectacled brothers from Scotland who scored big with the permeating catchiness of “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” Sep 24 at 9. $10. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St, San Francisco. 415.621.4455.MC Hammer

In no other city but Oakland would the big-pants-wearin’ has-been be booked at such a large, beautiful theater. With Whodini opening. Sep 25 at 8. $46-$66. Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. 510.548.3010.Sondre Lerche

Soaring original songwriter born in Norway and taking the States by storm with his new album “Heartbeat Radio.” Sep 27 at 8. $21. Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St, San Francisco. 888.233.0449.Rain Machine

TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone is out on tour promoting a fuzzed-out, chaotic soul record, “Smiling Black Faces.” Sep 28 at 8. $15. The Independent, 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco. 415.771.1422.David Byrne

One more reason to love this man: he speaks on “Bike Advocacy and the Urban Environment” at City Arts & Lectures. Sep 29 at 8. $20. Herbst Theatre, 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco. 415.392.4400.Ida Maria

Wonderfully nervous, skittering singer of “Oh My God” appears on tour with Ladyhawke. Weirdly sponsored by Perez Hilton. Sep 30 at 8. $29. The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco. 415.346.6000.

I’ll reveal a little-known secret for all you new parents out there. Trying to keep your toddler occupied? Looking for a way to stop the screaming? The solution, whispered about among formerly frazzled parents in the know, is Buckwheat Zydeco. All you’ve gotta do is hook up the Johnny Jump-Up, throw on Buckwheat’s Zydeco Party, and hours will pass blissfully as the kid goes crazy to the lively, rhythmic music. Buckwheat Zydeco is part of a rare group of accordion players with Grammy nominations, and he brought the classic Cajun sound to a wider audience than ever during the 1980s. Now 61, his latest album, Lay Your Burden Down, shows he’s still got it. Leave the screaming children with the babysitter when he appears on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Lincoln Theater (100 California Drive, Yountville; 8pm; $25–$35; 707.944.1300) and on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Rancho Nicasio (Town Square, Nicasio; 4pm; $20; 415.662.2219).Gabe Meline

Quick: What’s a way to make a Sean Lennon / Vincent Gallo double bill even stranger? At the Red Devil Lounge last month, none other than Bob Weir answered the question by hopping onstage and jamming with John Lennon’s son (Gallo had meandered offstage earlier in the night). Seemingly at ease in any configuration, the Grateful Dead alumnus joins up this weekend with bassist Rob Wasserman, drummer Jay Lane and special guest guitarist Jackie Greene for a to-die-for supergroup they’re calling Scaring the Children. The three titans team together to benefit San Francisco’s nonprofit Blue Bear School of Music, and with such an ominous name, expect the music to be as exploratory as side six of Europe ‘72. It gets out there on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 142 Throckmorton. 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley. 8pm. $50–$100. 415.383.9600.Gabe Meline

I’ve seen Tower of Power five times with almost as many different singers over the years, and I’ve always felt really sorry for whoever’s on vocal duties. After all, he’s got to live up to Lenny Williams, the group’s legendary vocalist who laid it down on “What Is Hip?,” “So Very Hard to Go” and “Soul Vaccination.” Now age 64, Williams, whose 1970s slow jam “’Cause I Love You” is still one of the best make-out songs to ever come out of the Bay Area, makes only sporadic appearances. Those wondering “Where is he now?” will have their answer when Williams headlines the American Canyon Community Music Festival, near the Wal-Mart shopping center. Consorcio Jazz, Leroy Rodrigues and the Bay Area Blues Band warm things up for the love-song belter on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Main Street Park. 5050 Main St., American Canyon. Noon–6pm. Free. 707.319.4773.Gabe Meline 

If your first introduction to Nepal was the family hi-fi playing Cat Stevens’ flute-fluff song “Katmandu,” with lines like “The morning lake drinks up the sky,” you’re forgiven for not attending the Katmandu Festival this weekend. But for those who’ve regularly visited one of the many great Nepalese restaurants in the area, it’s great news that Sonoma County has such a large Sherpa population it can host a full food, music and culture festival named after Nepal’s capital. Filled with naan, curry, chutney and mushrooms, the cuisine of Nepal is a treat that smaller cities don’t have the luxury of eating very often, and with exotic dance and live music as side orders to the tandoori oven, Sonoma is the place to be. Finish it all up with some mango ice cream on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Depot Park. 270 First St. W., Sonoma. 11am–5pm. Free. 707.538.7023.Gabe Meline

Two undisputed rulers of New Orleans music? On one bill? In a tiny, intimate theater? That’s exactly what’s in store when Dr. John and the Neville Brothers pull out all the swampy stops the Napa Valley this Labor Day. Dr. John, who has a voice begging almost as much as Aaron Neville’s to be parodied (quick television reference: Family Guy’s “Aaron Neville megaphone”), carries with him a complex detachment in person—either he’s completely bored of playing “Right Place, Wrong Time” or he’s just the coolest dude in the world. The fact he plays both organ and piano at the same time, straddling the bench, makes us opt for the latter. The Neville Brothers, unfairly overshadowed by key member Aaron’s solo success, never fail to pull people out of their seats. The two legends appear on Monday, Sept. 7, at the Napa Valley Opera House. 1030 Main St., Napa. 7pm. $95–$110. 707.226.7372.Gabe Meline