A&E

The weekly summer concerts at the downtown Plaza provide an eclectic and unusual line-up of bands to please a wide array of musical interests. Though previous Tuesdays have emphasized the aging boomer crowd (formerly described as “the brie-and-chardonnay crowd”), the bands have become increasingly diverse with the passing years....

Last weekend for the play at the Raven, final weeks for the Barrel Room, Cloverdale's Friday Night Live and the Twilight Parade and Future Farmers Fair this weekend, and more...

At a recent performance of Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone, one audience member was heard to murmur to her seatmate, “Is this funny? I think it’s sad,” while other audience members chuckled. It’s a fair question... The Raven Players production runs through May 26 at the Raven Performing Arts Theater in Healdsburg...

Massive music festivals are an acquired taste, as each typically runs three days and is jam-packed with stages, musicians, food trucks and all sorts of sundry goods. However the Cosmico Music Festival is offering a much more thoughtful and chill fest as it ambles out of the summer festival gate early with dates set for May 17-19 at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville....

The 3rd annual Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience begins on Thursday, May 16, but that's not the only thing going on in Healdsburg Happenings this week. More music, meetings, farmers markets and a Fire & Safety Expo in Cloverdale...

Saturday morning there's an Arundo removal party at Rec Park... Saturday night jazz at the Spirit Bar, in the lobby of the Hotel Healdsburg. Saturday, May 11, the Laura Klein Trio plays sparkling jazz standards, swinging bebop, deep Latin grooves and soulful ballads. This and more local events listed here...

There's always a lot going on in Healdsburg, and this time of the year things really pick up. Don't miss the Block Party on Friday, a community event for the 10th Annual AVFilm Festival. Free live music, community partners booths, with food and wine for sale from vendors. It’s Friday, May 3, from 6-9:30pm. Animated feature 'Blue Giant' screens at 8pm in the Raven Theater, 115 North St.

Lights, camera, action: the 10th annual local film festival now known as AVFest opens Friday, April 26, and continues with screenings and events through Sunday, May 5.

More than 30 wineries will participate in the 33rd annual Passport to Dry Creek taste-around, the Community Chorus appears this weekend, Brazilian jazz at the Hotel Healdsburg and other events upcoming nearby.

When the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band—J2B2—takes the stage at the Raven Performing Arts Theater at 7:30pm on Sunday night, it won’t be a tribute band or a nostalgia act but the real thing, American music played to the hilt by four of the best musicians around.