Sonoma County punk, indie musicians rally to raise funds for fire victims

As someone who often finds solace in music, I found myself asking last week during some of the darkest times Sonoma County has ever known: Can the local music scene survive among the ash, dust and smoke?

And the thing that's become evident through this tragic time is that music is more than a scene here; it's a community.

MUSIC SPACES that have hosted countless do-it-yourself concerts opened their doors to evacuees and became safe places where locals could gather. Throughout the week, I saw people huddled together playing music and ran into musicians who were ready and eager to volunteer.

When there were too many volunteers for evacuation centers to accept, benefit concerts were put together in just a matter of days, and pop-up concerts to support members of the community not eligible for federal aid were scheduled.

Social media was full of encouraging posts from members of the Bay Area music community. Green Day, who stomped around the North Bay in the band's early days, encouraged others to donate or stop by 1234 Go! Records in the East Bay to sort donations. The Last Record Store in Santa Rosa offered masks to those who still needed them.

Here are a few upcoming benefit concerts in some of the areas affected by the North Bay wildfires.

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Santa Rosa - Post-punk trio Hard Girls will stop by Atlas Coffee in support of the band's new record “Floating Now.” The lineup includes local bands Brow Bags, Bad Thoughts and Self Care. All proceeds will go directly to a You Caring Compassionate Crowdfunding fundraiser for Tubbs fire victims.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20; Atlas Coffee, 300 A Street, Santa Rosa. Admission: $5. Information: facebook.com/events/426402441090109

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Healdsburg - Two Lions Band, Three for Silver and Fast Heart Mark play at Sonoma Cider to raise funds for rebuildsonomafund.org. The night includes a silent auction of items donated from local business in Healdsburg, music and a plethora of hard cider.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21; Sonoma Cider, 101 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. $10 - $50. Information: sonomacountybenefitconcert.brownpapertickets.com

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Napa - Napa Strong Benefit concert at Billico's Billiards and Darts in Napa is a mini daytime festival to support those affected by the North Bay wildfires. All proceeds will go to the Napa Valley Disaster Relief fund and $1 of every beer sold will go to the Napa Valley Firefighters. The lineup includes Ordinary Sons, Krooked, Dirty Cello and more.

Details: 1 p.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22; Billco's Billiards and Darts, 1234 3rd St., Napa. : $5. Information: allevents.in/napa/napa-strong-benefit-concert/130409564224461

Help us keep the beat. Write Estefany at nightbeats@pressdemocrat.com