Live music in Novato, CA

It’s First Friday, so come out to celebrate at Windchaser Wine Company with live music, good friends, and a beautiful sunset. There will be oysters and burgers from Rocky Island Oysters Co., BBQ from Pickles N Smoke BBQ, and you can also sip cocktails from The Factory Bar.

Catch Shawn Colvin live at HopMonk Tavern - Novato. The show features pop, new wave pop, mainstream pop, and rock styling, with a singer-songwriter vibe for an evening of great music.

Catch The Real John Gary live at Sailing Goat Restaurant in Richmond. The show starts at 5:00 PM.

Dockside Dazzle is a free community event in collaboration with Local Edition Creative, featuring a live painting exhibition and the unveiling of Farmer the Rigger. You can also meet the sculptor, Zulu Heru, live, plus enjoy live music with food and drinks available for purchase from the Whiskey Bar. It is an outdoor event and RSVP is only for headcount, not for reserving seating.

The Tahoes have spent more than a decade performing up and down the West Coast, building a reputation for upbeat energy that gets crowds excited. Their lively set blends the band’s original songs with other selections to create a feel-good atmosphere.

Bread & Roses and KC Turner present Shawn Colvin in a benefit for Bread & Roses, part of the 13th Annual Cookout Concert Series at HopMonk Novato’s outdoor concert venue. Sponsored by JAMBAR and Rue de Rêve Apéritifs. Shawn Colvin, a three-time Grammy winner, has spent more than three decades shaping American songwriting, releasing thirteen albums and earning recognition as one of the country’s most respected performers. Career highlights include the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award in 2016 and induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2019 alongside Lyle Lovett and Buddy Guy. She continues to tour internationally while creating new music. This outdoor show is mostly seated on the ground level, with limited seating on the lawn and at the top of the hill. Seating is limited and first come, low-back chairs are allowed in the lawn section, and table seating at the hillside is also first come. All ages are welcome, children need a ticket, and babies in arms are not permitted. Parking is free with ample availability. Venue rules include no pets, no coolers, no backpacks, no outside food, and no umbrellas.

Enjoy the next Concert on the Green featuring Big Blu Soul Quartet, bringing a lively blend of soul, rhythm and blues, and funk. Admission is free. Attendees are welcome to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Outside food and drinks are permitted, including takeout from downtown Novato eateries. For this event, pets should be left at home.

Ronstadt Revolution brings an intimate performance to Marin Shakespeare Company in San Rafael as part of its summer schedule. The set features rock and country favorites along with selections from Linda’s Spanish-language albums. VIP seating will be added soon.

Table 29 Bistro & Bar hosts live music from The JFA Band, a local act from American Canyon. Dinner and drinks are available while the band performs familiar favorites.

Move to a high-energy mix of new and classic dance tracks. The soundtrack spans alternative dance and New Wave selections from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, finished with a fresh dose of funk and glam.

At Weill Hall + Lawn, Green Music Center, conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong guides a program that explores American folk roots in conversation with other musical traditions. GRAMMY Award-winning violinists Mark and Maggie O’Connor are featured in Mark O’Connor’s Song of the Liberty Bell and his Strings & Threads Suite for violin and string orchestra. Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring serves as the centerpiece, framed by Gabriela Lena Frank’s Elegía Andina and Escaramuza. Moving from Appalachian vistas to Andean colors, the concert offers a rich journey through sound and place.

Experience a Havana inspired salsa night with a tropical vibe. Dress in bright colors, island prints, stylish fedoras, breezy linen, or elegant summer dresses to match the festive atmosphere. Two rooms keep the party moving, with one dedicated to high energy salsa and timba and the other flowing with smooth, modern bachata for partner dancing. It is BYOB, so bring your favorite refreshments to stay energized. Admission is free with a same day class, with an early bird option at $10 and entry at the door for $15. This celebration is part of a summer series centered on music, dance, and community.

Trokiando In The Bay returns with a full day of custom trucks, live entertainment, vendors, food, awards, and a roaring burnout pit at the Solano County Fairgrounds. Hundreds of custom builds will be on display, and a live concert will feature Grupo H-100 alongside additional special guests. Attendees can explore a dedicated vendor area, enjoy food and drinks, and take in a family friendly atmosphere. Tickets are available online and at the gate while supplies last. Event rules include no outside alcohol, no weapons, no illegal substances, and no reckless driving outside designated areas. Coolers are permitted if they do not contain alcohol, and everyone is expected to respect the venue and fellow attendees.

Stroll through a bustling outdoor market with a welcoming vibe. Explore a broad mix of goods and food, including plenty of fresh, locally grown produce. Live music provides a cheerful soundtrack as you browse, making the shopping experience lively and relaxed.

Get ready for Bay Area’s wildest truck show at Solano County Fairgrounds. Expect burnouts all day, live music, custom truck builds, vendors, and nonstop smoke. This is an all-ages, in-person event with paid parking available.

Enjoy the Petaluma Farmers’ Market, a fun community gathering featuring local farms, tasty food, handcrafted goods, and live music. It’s a great place to connect with neighbors and browse a variety of local offerings.

Hall Pass returns to the Creek Park Stage for San Anselmo Live, presenting a free outdoor show in a shaded grassy amphitheater. Streets will be closed to traffic and food and drink are available all around, creating a relaxed setting to enjoy the music. Attendees can bring blankets and chairs for lounging, or step onto the dance floor. The band will play multiple sets through the evening for a lively summer outing.

Jasmine Worrell Dance presents Terry Hanck bringing live rhythm and blues to a swing dance party in Larkspur. The festivities take place in a historic Marin setting with ample room to move and upbeat swing music that keeps the floor lively. The environment welcomes live music fans and dancers of every age and experience level, whether relaxing to the band or stepping out for a twirl. Advance tickets are required, priced at $25 for 2.5 hours of live music and dancing, and tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

This monthly open mic welcomes musicians and singers of all ages and experience levels. It is free to attend, and there is no need to sign up in advance. Add your name when you arrive and entries go into a hat or djembe, with performers selected at random. Performers should sign in early to be included, and the program concludes with the final act or by the end, whichever comes first. A friendly atmosphere and professional sound and lighting create a safe, supportive space to perform for a live audience. It is a great opportunity for music lessons students to meet, collaborate, and take the stage together. Students, customers, friends, and family can perform or simply enjoy the show.

Dry Creek Station brings a lively mix of country hits, classic rock favorites, dance-ready tunes, and rich harmonies to Washoe House in Petaluma. Arrive early for dinner and drinks, then enjoy a full evening of live music and dancing. The celebration also includes a birthday nod to guitarist Spencer.

House of Floyd comes back to the historic Empress Theatre in Vallejo for a single evening dedicated to classic Pink Floyd.

Presented by KC Turner, The Beat Farmers take the stage at the HopMonk Novato Session Room, with the Nathan Raney Band also on the bill. The group’s original era ran from 1983 to 1995, and they have returned. The set draws on a cocktail of styles that includes Wreckless Western, bug-eyed ballads, heat-butting rockabilly, suicidal blues, and hayseed boogie-woogie. The original lineup featured Country Dick Montana, Jerry Raney, Joey Harris, and Rolle Love, and their shows paired music and mayhem with an extra dose of stage presence for a distinctive live experience. This event is mostly standing and limited to ages 21 and over.

Catch The Beat Farmers for a live night of rockabilly, outlaw country, roots rock, and soundtrack-leaning sounds. The show is listed as starting at 8:00 PM at HopMonk Tavern Novato.

Ghost Ocean and What's Wrong are performing live at The Phoenix Theater. The show starts at 8:00 PM.

House of Floyd brings the music of Pink Floyd to the Empress Theatre for a full concert experience with immersive lighting, large arrangements, rich vocals, and laser light show visuals. This is a tribute performance that aims to capture the space, textures, and emotion of the classic Floyd catalog. The night includes a doors-and-dinner start, followed by the main show, with seven musicians recreating the layered, dynamic feel of the original recordings.

An afternoon of music and art at Richmond Art Center honors Dr. Pate Thomson’s 90th birthday. Performers include pianist Cullen Luper, singer Jesse Castillo, and violinists Dr. Pate Thomson and Nakele Rechenauer. Tickets are $50.

Music in Place and the City of Sonoma present a summer Sonoma Sundays On the Plaza concert at the Sonoma Plaza Grinstead Amphitheater. The program features Tim Weed, a Grammy-nominated concert musician, composer, producer, recording engineer, and recording artist known for expressive 5-string banjo work, strong songwriting, and soaring vocals, alongside The Dorian Mode. This Petaluma-based acoustic quartet, led by vocalist and bassist Dorian Bartley with Robby Elfman on piano and clarinet, Peter Graves on sax, and Tony Blake on drums, celebrates the Great American Songbook with vintage jazz, up-tempo R&B, and soulful ballads that evoke 1920s speakeasies, 1930s big-band swing, 1940s jump blues, and the lively R&B associated with Ruth Brown. The series is free and open to everyone thanks to support from the Sonoma Community Center, The Dawn Redwoods Trust, and the McNeely Family Foundation.

KC Turner presents a matinee performance by The Rubinoos at the HopMonk Novato Session Room, with partial seating and admission open to all ages. Lifelong friends Jon Rubin and Tommy Dunbar began playing together as teens in Berkeley and soon signed with Beserkley Records alongside Jonathan Richman and Greg Kihn. Their 1977 self-titled debut brought national attention and drew acclaim from critics. Over the years the band has released numerous albums, collaborating with Todd Rundgren, Kevin Gilbert, and more recently Chuck Prophet. They have built a wide international following, sharing stages with Elvis Costello and Tom Petty, and their songs have appeared in films and television. Highlights include a spot on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, performing the theme for Revenge of the Nerds, and their Top 40 take on I Think We’re Alone Now opening the third season of the Netflix comedy Sex Education. Now on the Yep Roc Records roster, known for artists such as Nick Lowe, Dave Alvin, and Chuck Prophet, The Rubinoos continue to bring bright, hook-filled power pop to audiences around the world.

Swing by an open mic night at HopMonk Novato for a live showcase featuring SONIC STEPS. Bring your voice, instrument, or best performance energy and enjoy a night of music and local talent.

The All In Song Circle in Marin offers a welcoming, drop-in gathering where people sing simple, non-religious community songs in harmony. It is inclusive and non-auditioned, with all songs taught by ear, so there is no music to read and no experience needed. The focus is on easing pressure around perfection, creating a space where anyone can participate and feel connected and uplifted. This edition features guest songleader Lyndsey Scott with Marv at First Presbyterian Church of San Anselmo. Lyndsey is a multimedia artist, songleader, and ritualist who uses community singing to build a sense of belonging. She co-leads Earthkeeper Wisdom School and guides A Year in Ceremony, a 10-month apprenticeship in holding sacred space. As a songcatcher, she records memorable singalong pieces that support collective liberation, and her Over/Under collaboration with incarcerated musician Tony Rhodd explores grief as activism to envision a world beyond prison. She also tends community and garden in Iowa City.

A free street party takes over Downtown Novato with Pop Rocks performing. Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy beer, wine, cocktails, and food vendors throughout the evening.

Enjoy the end-of-summer edition of Rock the Block, a downtown street party featuring live music plus food and drinks. Come dance the night away with one of the Bay Area’s top party bands.

The international sensation comes to Sonoma for the first time. On a sunlit Greek island, a bride-to-be searches for the father she has never known, which draws three unexpected men from her mother's past back into their lives. The story unfolds to ABBA hits including "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," and "The Winner Takes It All," and celebrates family, friendship, love, and second chances, a mix that has delighted audiences worldwide. Featuring a large cast, dynamic dance numbers, steady humor, and a crowd-pleasing score, it is promoted as one of the biggest and most memorable Transcendence productions to date. Mamma Mia! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, and all authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.