Pack those picnics, gather friends and family, and come together for these spectacular summertime Wine Country outdoor concerts.
BottleRock
BottleRock Napa Valley, May 29-31, 2015
Three days of music, wine, food and beer take over downtown Napa, with top names like No Doubt, Imagine Dragons and Robert Plant. The chefs are big names, too, featuring talent from La Toque, Morimoto, Redd, and Oenotri.
Napa Valley Expo, 575 3rd Street, Napa
Summer Concerts at Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa, May 9-September 2015
Summer concerts in the heart of the picturesque Montgomery Shopping Village include Michael Brandeberg Jazz Trio, Caravanserai, the Poyntlyss Sistars and more. See the schedule for concert line-ups.
911 Village Court, Santa Rosa
Megan Hilty
4th of July Fireworks Spectacular with Megan Hilty and the Santa Rosa Symphony, Santa Rosa
This annual celebration at Green Music Center in Rohnert Park features a dazzling fireworks display on the lawn.
1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park
Broadway Under the Stars at Jack London State Park, Glen Ellen, June 15 through September 13, 2015.
The non-profit Jack London State Park brims with the energy of Broadway musical theater acts serenading under the stars. Come together at sundown at the spectacular Kohler & Frohling winery ruins for performances like Oh What a Night, Fantastical Family Night, Rhythm of Life, and the season-closing showstopper Gala Celebration. And get there early, for pre-show picnicking, with your own feast, or purchase food and beverages on-site, including signature wines from local wineries.
2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen
Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival, Guerneville, Sept. 12 and 13, 2015
Johnson’s Beach & Resort on the Russian River is the backdrop for big names like Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings. The fun plays over two stages, with guests invited to bring a blanket and low-back chairs, for picnics from food vendors paired with wine tastings, dancing in the grass, and even canoes, kayaks and paddleboats for rent on the river.
16241 First Street, Guerneville
Tuesdays in the Plaza Concerts, Healdsburg, May 26-August 25, 2015
A true community gathering, hundreds of locals and visitors stake out their blankets and folding chairs early in the day to secure prime viewing of bands playing everything from swing to cool jazz to country and rockabilly. Bring a picnic and wine of browse the many food trucks surrounding the Plaza with temptations like BBQ oysters, pizza, chicken salads, sandwiches, gyros, spanakopita, paella, burgers, sliders, sausages, fries, and ice cream.
Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Friday Night Live at the Plaza, Cloverdale, May 29-August 28, 2015
Cloverdale’s summer-long, free concert series plays on Downtown Plaza as part of The Certified Farmers’ Market. Start with the food and wine/beer offerings, then enjoy the weekly changing showcase of alternative country, pop, rock, blues, American rock, soul, funk, salsa, Latin jazz, indie, zydeco and Cajun French tunes.
The Downtown Cloverdale Plaza
Rodney Strong Vineyards Summer Concert Series, Healdsburg, June through August, 2015
For the past 25 years, fans of this winery’s cheer for intimate performances by world-class musicians in a stunning vineyard setting. Big names this year include Kenny G, Kenny Loggins and Randy Newman. Bring a picnic meal to enjoy on The Green, or purchase an assortment of tasty treats from on-site purveyors, plus Rodney Strong wines.
11455 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg
Sundays & Thursdays at the Windsor Farmers’ Market, June-August, 2015
This weekly event is always packed, with thousands of partygoers celebrating the farmers’ market, food trucks, lawn games, and free music concerts from names like Deke Dickerson, Zydeco Flames, Rosetown Ramblers and Lost Dog Found.
Windsor Town Green
Country Summer, Santa Rosa, June 5-7, 2015
As Northern California’s largest country music festival, the weekend features some dozen big name acts, sprawled across the grassy, five-acre Carnival field at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. State-of-the-art staging and sound are enhanced by two 16-foot video walls, showcasing talent like Jake Owen, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert and Trace Adkins. Concessions serve beer, wine, spirits and Wine Country food alongside an array of western themed and festival activities.
1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa
Funky Fridays at Sugarloaf, Kenwood, Fridays beginning May 22-September 4, 2015
The Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Amphitheater rocks each Friday through the summer, and it’s all to help support the park. The “Music in the Meadows” line-up is eclectic and entertaining, with names like The Bruthas, Ragtag Sullivan, Funky Dozen, and Ten Foot Tone.
2605 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood
Huichica Music Festival, Sonoma, June 12 & 13, 2015
This annual concert at Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma honors the historical site that was once part of the land called Rancho Huichica by Mexican General Mariano Vallejo. The festivities begin 3 p.m. Friday and continue again at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, with music from groups like Shannon and the Clams, Sonny & The Sunsets, Gap Dream, The Fresh and Onlys. Keeping everyone fed are “bunk” sandwiches, salumi, Rancho Gordo beans, craft beers and plenty of wine.
2000 Denmark St., Sonoma
Valley of the Moon Music Festival, Santa Rosa, July 18-August 2, 2015
It’s an authentic taste of centuries old inspiration, as this inaugural three weekends of concerts will be the first in the nation devoted to classical and romantic chamber music on period instruments. Set in intimate, private home plus the new 300-seat concert hall at Hanna’s Boys Center in the Sonoma Valley, the works feature composers such as C.P.E. Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, and Brahms.
17000 Arnold Drive, Santa Rosa
Fort Ross Festival, Jenner, July 25, 2015
Set amid historic crafts, militia cannons, and living breathing history of the fort’s founding in the 1800s, there is also a multi-cultural food court, marketplace, children’s crafts, costumed re-enactments, dance, and the highlight: live music. The natural outdoor amphitheater boasts the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop, with authentic re-enactors will performing periodic songs accompanied by historic instruments and twirling dancers.
19005 Coast Highway One, Jenner
8th Annual Petaluma Music Festival, July 31-August 1, 2015
Plan for a whole day of entertainment, with gates opening at noon and live music continuing until 9 p.m. Spread out on the expansive lawn areas in front of the main stage and garden stage, or grab a VIP Premium ticket for shaded reserved seats under a canopied area complete with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. Eating and drinking is big draw, from gourmet food trucks, Lagunitas Brewing Company beers and Sonoma wines, plus a food pavilion featuring locally grown and produced cheese, bread, chocolate, organic farm produce and more. And then, there’s the music, from Nahko & Medicine for the People to Bronze Radio Return and many more groups. This year, there’s also an opening night party with dinner and a concert by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. As a bonus, proceeds from the weekend will be distributed among Petaluma’s public elementary and secondary schools to support their music programs.
Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma
Sonoma County Fair Concert Series, Santa Rosa, July 24-August 9, 2015
One of the biggest parties of the year, the Fair attracts top-notch performers like Montgomery Gentry, Thompson Square and Bridgit Mendler amid the carnival rides, games, great food and wine.
Sonoma County Fair, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa
Tip: Rock the days and nights away the easy way, with a safe, private ride to and from the shows via Pure Luxury Transportation.
