Sebastopol
All Is Song
Sometimes two voices are all one needs. Northern California Americana duo Misner & Smith return to HopMonk Sebastopol for an intimate afternoon of harmony-rich songwriting as part of KC Turner Presents’ new Sunday Matinee Series. Sam Misner and Megan Smith blend folk, rock, Americana and pop influences into music that resists easy categorization, anchored by their closely intertwined vocals. Their album, All Is Song, co-produced with multi-instrumentalist Bruce Kaphan, explores the possibilities of collaboration through carefully crafted songs that leave room for improvisation. The pair returns to basics for this performance, stripping things down to a duo format that puts their songwriting and vocal chemistry front and center. 3pm, Sunday, Nov. 15 (doors 2pm), at HopMonk Tavern, The Abbey, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. More at misnerandsmith.com.
Larkspur
Red Hot Jazz
Some music never goes out of style, particularly when it’s served with a little sizzle. Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers bring their vintage swing, blues and jazz to the Lark Theater for an evening steeped in the sounds of midcentury America. Smith, a San Francisco jazz chanteuse with a contemporary sensibility, draws from the songbooks of Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Count Basie and Little Esther Phillips, backed by musicians whose collective credits include performances with Ray Charles, Etta James, Santana and Wynton Marsalis. The ensemble has become a fixture at major jazz venues, including Jazz at Lincoln Center and SFJAZZ. Presented by Marin Jazz, the concert also supports the organization’s Future Stars after-school programs, which provide music education and scholarships for young performers. 7:30pm, Saturday, Nov. 14, at Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. $65 general admission, $75 VIP.
Corte Madera
A Better Giving
What if the nonprofit sector needs more than another fundraiser? That’s the question behind Redesigning Nonprofits: Catalysts for a Stronger Democracy, a new book by philanthropic advisor Tracy Gary, peacebuilding advocate Kimberly Weichel and nonprofit strategist Shannon Kollasch. Drawing on interviews with more than 40 nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, the authors argue that organizations increasingly expected to address society’s problems are operating within systems that haven’t kept pace with their responsibilities. Their proposed remedy involves rethinking leadership, resources and the relationship between philanthropy and civic life. The authors bring their ideas to Book Passage for a discussion about what charitable organizations need to thrive in a changing world. 6pm, Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. Free.
Santa Rosa
Tall Tales
Comedian Brad Williams has made a career out of finding humor in life’s awkward proportions. The stand-up veteran brings his Tall Tales Tour to Santa Rosa’s Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, armed with a high-energy approach to subjects ranging from marriage and fatherhood to disability, sex and the absurdities of modern life. Williams, who has dwarfism, mines his own experiences for material that’s frequently outrageous and unapologetically personal. His fourth comedy special, Live on Short Street!, continues that tradition, following earlier releases Fun Size, Daddy Issues and Starfish. His television credits include The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Netflix’s The Degenerates. The late Robin Williams reportedly described him as “Prozac with a head.” 7pm, Sunday, Nov. 29, at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd #500, Santa Rosa. Tickets via lutherburbankcenter.org.
