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April Foolery – watch the live-streamed event now

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April Foolery 2019 was the best ever! Thanks so much for all the people who came out and supported our fundraiser. A big thank you to the musicians, Bubba (the sound guy), Redwood Cafe and to Randy Teaford of Live Media Art for live-streaming the event across the world. It’s been watched by two thousand people at the time of this posting.

Also a big thank you to the sponsors who make it possible to pay the musicians and still raise money for the calendar:

Stanroy Music Center, Redwood Cafe, Red Brick, Oliver’s Market and Montgomery Village.

Watch the livestream on Facebook now.

5th Annual April Foolery

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This year’s live music extravaganza, Sunday, March 31, 2019, at Redwood Café in Cotati. features two master musicians and their popular bands: Levi Lloyd and Friends and Kevin Russell’s Rhythm Rangers. April Foolery celebrates live, local music and funds the free, comprehensive, online calendar that helps locals and visitors find that music at nearly 100 venues in the county. 

The Rhythm Rangers cover the range of American roots music. Fronted by Kevin Russell, this Americana band draws from the great American traditions of blues, rock, country and western swing. Its six talented Bay Area music veterans have played in many bands and logged thousands of hours in the studio, performing locally and touring. 

“Audiences respond to the band because we’re having fun,” says Russell. The band, voted Best Americana Band in the NorBay Music Awards in 2016, is famous for its infectious energy.

 “Not Out of the Woods Yet” (July 2008) featuring the Rhythm Rangers’ versions of songs by Johnny Cash, Bob Wills, Jon Randall, Tim O’Brien and others earned the Rhythm Rangers a Grammy  nomination that year. 

Levi Lloyd on Guitar and Vocals is a blues veteran who’s played with B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and toured worldwide as the longtime guitarist for the legendary Joe Louis Walker. Lloyd, with his well-worn ’68 Les Paul guitar and lowdown vocals, delivers solid, authentic blues with the joy and ease of a master. 

Lloyd’s “Friends” are many and talented and nearly always include Mark Chole on bass and Bob McBain, whom Lloyd says is the hardest working musician in the county, on keys. Lloyd is a magnet for gifted musicians and knows how to bring out the best in them all. Lloyd hosts a “workshop” on second and fourth Thursdays, which is an invitation only all star jam band that is never the same but always on point and fun. See this The Press Democrat articleto learn more about this local blues legend. 

Free swing dance lesson with Sonoma County Dance Beat Kevin and Ann Hutchinson, included in the admission price. Door prizes, too!

Tickets on Eventbrite

$12 before March 31, $15 Day of Show

Doors at 5, music begins at 5:30. Event ends at 9 pm.

Sonoma County Dance Beat is very grateful to its 2019 Sponsors. Please thank them with your business.

Stanroy Music Center, Oliver’s Market, Redwood Café and Montgomery Village

NextLevel Conference Feb 10

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Brought to you by the great folks at Creative Sonoma:

Next Level is back!  This year’s music industry conference is scheduled for Sunday, February 10th, at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts.  The day-long event will feature music industry pros from around the country discussing how to maximize your social media presence, increase your revenues and get the most from your recordings.  Join your music peers for networking, workshops and roundtable resource tables. Plus, NextLevel 2019 will feature a live-remote recording session between a Sonoma County songwriter at LBC and professional session players linked in from a Nashville studio.  And cap it off by learning how to apply for a $2500 grant to advance your career to the Next Level. Register now.