Petaluma
Bluegrass Revival
Few voices have shaped contemporary bluegrass quite like Laurie Lewis, and the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and fiddler returns to Petaluma for an intimate afternoon concert in the acoustically rich sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma. Joined by her longtime band, Lewis rekindles the close-knit atmosphere of her beloved Roaring Donkey performances, where virtuosity and warmth shared equal billing. Opening the show is Sonoma County’s own Bluegrass Holiday, whose tight three-part harmonies and high-energy picking have quickly made them favorites on the regional festival circuit. Proceeds support both the performers and the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition, making this an afternoon where exceptional music meets community purpose. 4pm, Sunday, July 19, at Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma, 16 Fifth St. Doors open at 3:30pm. Suggested donation $25; additional free-will offering benefits the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition. More information at uupetaluma.org.
Petaluma
Turning Pages for 50 Years
For half a century, the Petaluma Regional Library has been far more than a repository of books—it has served as one of the city’s great gathering places. Sonoma County Library celebrates that legacy with a day of family-friendly festivities marking the branch’s 50th anniversary at its Fairgrounds Drive location. The celebration includes historical displays, live entertainment, community activities and an official commemorative ceremony, along with the unveiling of new additions to the library’s Donors’ Tree, honoring longtime library champions Paul Heavenridge and Gerry Groves. While the current building opened in 1976, the history of public libraries in Petaluma stretches back to the city’s earliest reading rooms and the Carnegie Library, making this anniversary both a celebration of one building and a reminder of a much longer civic tradition. 11am–5pm, Saturday, July 11, at Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr. Official program at 1pm; Donors’ Tree unveiling at 1:30pm. Free admission. More information at sonomalibrary.org.
Point Reyes Station
Spaces Between
What happens in the spaces between the tangible and the imagined? That’s the question animating Spaces Between, the annual members’ exhibition at Gallery Route One. Filling the gallery with paintings, sculpture, assemblage and mixed-media works, the show brings together 16 member artists exploring the fertile territory between observation and invention, realism and abstraction, intellect and intuition. This year’s exhibition also welcomes new member artists Mary Ann Leff and Tonia Sassi. The opening reception features an artist talk, followed by the gallery’s “Second Saturday Open Late” celebration with live music by Brian Foster, making for an evening where conversation, art and community comfortably overlap. Exhibition runs July 11–Aug. 17 at Gallery Route One, 11101 CA-1, Point Reyes Station. Opening reception 3–5pm, Saturday, July 11; gallery talk at 3pm; live music 5–7pm. Gallery hours 11am–5pm Thursday–Monday. Free admission. More information at galleryrouteone.org.
Bolinas
Vetiver at Smiley’s
Some bands are best heard through headphones. Vetiver belongs in a small room with a drink in hand. Led by songwriter Andy Cabic, the longtime indie-folk outfit brings its understated blend of warm melodies, West Coast soul and gently psychedelic Americana to the intimate confines of Smiley’s Schooner Saloon, Hotel & Kitchen. Cabic’s songs have always favored subtlety over spectacle, drawing inspiration from folk, Brazilian rhythms and classic California rock to create music that feels both timeless and quietly transportive. 8:30pm, Friday, July 10, at Smiley’s Schooner Saloon, Hotel & Kitchen, 41 Wharf Rd., Bolinas. $20 advance, $25 door; 21 and over. More information at smileyssaloon.com.
