Mill Valley
Band, Interrupted
Blending New Wave nostalgia with prog-pop punch, Pardon The Interruption (PTI) returns to Sweetwater Music Hall for a high-energy set guaranteed to get Mill Valley moving. Led by guitarist and vocalist David Noble—whose credits range from Wreckless Strangers to Nina Hagen—PTI draws from funk, ska, jam and vintage rock to deliver a sound that’s both retro-chic and totally its own. The band features a killer lineup of NorCal session talent including bassist Rob Fordyce, drummer Rob Hooper and sax maven Jamison Smeltz. Opening the night is soulful ska powerhouse the Jethro Jeremiah Band, whose frontman has shared stages with Ray Charles, Ziggy Marley and Michael Franti. It’s a rare double bill that pairs groove with grit and will keep one dancing until the lights come up.
Thursday, 8pm, June 5, Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. Tickets $30. sweetwatermusichall.com
Sonoma
Burning Questions
Two of Northern California’s most compelling literary voices converge at Artefact Design & Salvage for a timely discussion on fire, landscape, and the emotional aftershocks of climate change. Sonoma County author Manjula Martin celebrates the paperback release of The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History, a vivid memoir of the 2020 Walbridge Fire and its ecological and psychological aftermath. Joining her is Lauren Markham, author of Immemorial and The Far Away Brothers, whose work explores loss, borders, and belonging in an era of environmental upheaval. The evening includes short readings, a conversation, audience Q&A, wine, and the chance to browse Artefact’s eclectic home design showroom.
Friday, 6pm, May 16, Artefact Design & Salvage, 20490 Broadway, Sonoma. Tickets $20. lastfireseasonsonoma.eventbrite.com
Sonoma
AfriCali Flavors Come to Sonoma
Culinary producer, food writer, and Jikoni founder Kiano Moju visits the Sonoma Valley Library to celebrate the release of her debut cookbook AfriCali—a vibrant fusion of African flavors and California food culture. Moju, whose heritage is Kenyan and Nigerian, rose to prominence as a creative force at BuzzFeed’s Tasty before founding her own culinary studio and launching the Jikoni Recipe Archive, which documents African and diasporic food traditions. Her demo and talk will highlight how to build bold flavors using everyday grocery staples, while drawing connections between global foodways and local kitchens.
Saturday, 2pm, May 17, Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W Napa St., Sonoma. Free, registration encouraged. events.sonomalibrary.org/kiano-moju
Novato
Grave Matters
The Novato Historical Guild resumes its popular Pioneer Park Cemetery tours this month, with longtime docent Sharon Azevedo guiding visitors through the town’s early burial ground. The 90-minute walking tour begins at 9 am and explores local lore, pioneer history, and notable names etched into the headstones. Upcoming tour dates include May 17, June 21, July 26, August 16, and September 20. A $10 on-site donation is appreciated. Advance registration is requested at novatohistory.org (click “events,” then “calendar”).
Tours are sponsored by the Novato Historical Guild and the Novato History Museum, located at 815 DeLong Ave. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12 to 4pm.
