Petaluma
Renegade Orchestra
If a symphony loosened its tie, cranked the amps and invited the audience to have a good time, it might look something like Renegade Orchestra. The Bay Area ensemble—helmed by conductor Jason Eckl and cellist Rebecca Roudman—has built a reputation for turning rock classics into full-bodied orchestral experiences, where strings meet rhythm section and “sit quietly” is replaced with “move and groove.” Expect a set that blurs the line between concert hall and rock show, with symphonic takes on familiar material delivered at full volume and without pretense. It’s less about reverence and more about release—the beauty of a symphony with the soul of a rock band, as the tagline goes. 7pm, Saturday, April 11, The Hall of the Above,199 Petaluma Blvd N., Petaluma. Tickets and info at renegadeorchestra.com.
Sebastopol
Documentary Fest
Nonfiction takes center stage when the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival returns with four days of films, filmmakers and reality refracted through the cinematic lens. Now an Oscar-qualifying festival for short-form documentaries, SDFF brings 55 films to screens at Sebastopol Center for the Arts and Rialto Cinemas, with more than 50 filmmakers on hand for Q&As and conversations that extend the experience beyond the frame. Known for its progressive programming, the festival leans into social justice, journalism and competing perspectives—often presenting multiple takes on the same story. In a moment when “what’s real” feels increasingly slippery, SDFF makes a compelling case for documentary as both art form and cultural record. Highlights include portraits of boundary-pushing figures and deep dives into stories that refuse easy answers. April 9–12, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., and Rialto Cinemas, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. Single tickets $15; passes available at sebastopolfilmfestival.org.
Kentfield
Masterworks 3
The Marin Symphony leans into contrast for Masterworks 3, a program that pairs lyrical introspection with rhythmic fire under music director Fawzi Haimor. Concertmaster Ani Bukujian takes the spotlight in Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Ernest Chausson’s Poème, while the rest of the evening ranges from the electronic pulse of Mason Bates’ Mothership to the galloping energy of Alberto Ginastera and the theatrical flair of Manuel de Falla. Consider it a well-traveled night of orchestral storytelling. 3 and 7:30pm, Saturday, April 11; 3pm, Sunday, April 12, James Dunn Theatre, 15 Laurel Ave., Kentfield. $47 and up; youth $24. marinsymphony.org.
Corte Madera
Ada Limón
Poetry gets a midday revival courtesy of Ada Limón, the 24th poet laureate of the United States, who arrives at Book Passage with Against Breaking. Limón’s work frames poetry as a living force—capable of healing, stirring action and reminding readers of their better, messier, more human selves. Those drawn to the nature-infused lyricism of Robin Wall Kimmerer or the contemporary introspection of Jesmyn Ward will find familiar terrain here, though Limón’s voice remains distinctly her own: clear-eyed, tender and quietly galvanizing. Consider it an invitation to recalibrate, one line at a time. 1pm, Saturday, April 11, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. Free. bookpassage.com.
