Petaluma
Rivertown Nights
Friends of the Petaluma River presents Rivertown Revival: After Dark!, 5 to 10pm, Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, at Steamer Landing Park, 6 Copeland St., Petaluma. This reimagined evening festival promises a (literally) cooler experience amidst Petaluma’s warm summer, featuring music, food, drinks, local art, acrobatics and $5 weddings (some may recognize at least one officiant as the Bohemian and Pacific Sun editor). Friday’s lineup includes Wreckless Strangers, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Tru Lyric, Abracadabra Trip, Sierra Camille, and Bourbon Street Brass Band. Saturday’s Rivertown Revue showcases Sean Hayes, Pete Delaney, Jessica Malone, LaiddBackZach, Josh Windmiller, Aki Kumar, Simoné & The Smokey Edges and the Sonoma County Pomo Dancers. Both nights offer additional performances and chill vibes from the Abracadabra Bus. “Our goal is to create a magical evening event for our community, with the cooling Petaluma breeze enhancing the experience,” says FOPR founder Elizabeth Howland. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to enjoy the festivities. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, or $40 for a two-day pass and available at rivertownrevival.com.
Sebastopol
‘Go Fish’ at Rialto
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the seminal lesbian classic Go Fish at 7pm, Saturday, July 20, at Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. This special event, co-sponsored by Willows Workshop Horror Filmmaking Camp, features a brand-new 4K restoration of the film and an on-stage conversation with co-writer and star Guinevere Turner and LGBTQ film historian Jenni Olson. Go Fish, a pivotal piece of New Queer Cinema, captures the vibrant Chicago lesbian community. The film follows the romantic journey of hip Max (Turner) and crunchy Eli (V.S. Brody), aided by college professor Kia (T. Wendy McMillan), semi-closeted Evy (Migdalia Melendez) and the promiscuous Daria (Anastasia Sharp). Go Fish addresses themes from coming out to bisexuality, showcasing the unique responsibilities of queer filmmakers. Originally premiering at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, Go Fish was made on a minimal budget over several years. Despite this, it became a landmark in LGBTQ cinema, reflecting its culture at the height of “lesbian chic.” Tickets are available at the cinema’s box office and online at rialtocinemas.com/coming-soon/go-fish-seb.
Novato
Toad Mode
Another 30th anniversary! Toad The Wet Sprocket celebrates the three decades of their platinum-selling album, Dulcinea, with a U.S. tour. Known for hits like “Fall Down” and “Something’s Always Wrong,” the album has become a cornerstone of their live performances. And they’re bringing a weekend of them to Novato’s Hopmonk Tavern at 6pm, Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, as part of the Cookout Concert Series. Tickets are available online at hopmonk.com/livemusic (FYI: the Saturday show has sold out by press time). The venue is located at 224 Vintage Way, Novato. And, in case one is wondering, the band takes its name from an off-handed, surrealist remark made by Eric Idle in a Monty Python sketch.
Mill Valley
Garlin & Blue
The Rachel Garlin Band brings celebrated storytelling and songwriting to Sweetwater Music Hall on Sunday, July 21. San Francisco-based singer, songwriter, playwright and LGBTQIA+ community member, Garlin will perform selections from her discography as well as songs from a musical stage play in development, “The Ballad of Madelyne & Therese,” a tale of forbidden love between two women in 1940s New York City. Garlin has invited longtime friend Lila Blue to open the concert. Blue, a 24-year-old non-binary and queer folk musician from Brooklyn, was once Garlin’s student and is now a collaborator. Their return to the Bay Area promises an evening featuring remarkable songwriting and a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8 on Sunday, July 21, at the Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley. Tickets are $20 in advance (via sweetwatermusichall.com) and $25 at the door.
