Nightbeats: Tiny Desk Contest winner Naia Izumi coming to Lagunitas

LEAVE YOUR DESK FOR TINY DESK - The NPR Tiny Desk Contest takes artists away from stage lights, concert floors and challenges musicians to shine in the purest form - in front of a workspace.

Bob Boilen’s desk has been an ambient setting for dozens of astonishing recorded live performances from artists such as Paramore, Anderson Paak and Sylvan Esso, who played at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma last summer.

The winner of NPR’s yearly Tiny Desk Contest must deliver a video submission performance that stands out among thousands. Past winners include the Bay Area’s own Fantastic Negrito and the New Orleans band Tank and the Bangas, who just played at this year’s BottleRock music festival.

It takes a truly captivating artist to shine amid common office supplies, and this year’s Tiny Desk winner, Naia Izumi, is just that. Shining with a lone guitar and a looped drum track, Izumi’s submission “Soft Spoken,” showcases a soulful style of guitar playing that engages both the eyes and ears.

As a contest winner Izumi, who usually busks on the streets of Los Angeles, will take his act on the road and is bound to make a splash in the music scene that not even the harshest summer heat will dry.

The Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour will hit big cities like Brooklyn and Chicago, but will luckily also nclude a North Bay stop in Petaluma. The upcoming concert also includes performances by La Misa Negra, Eki Shola and SoL DeVeloPMeNT, all local artists who entered this year’s contest. Make sure to take a break from your own work desk to catch these four amazing acts.

Details: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11, Lagunitas Petaluma Taproom, 1280 N McDowell Blvd. Petaluma.The event is sold out; Lagunitas.com

SUMMER CONCERT KICK-OFF - If you’ve seen Dirty Heads or Michael Franti play in Rohnert Park, you’re likely familiar with the SOMO Village Event Center. Back for another season of impressive outdoor concerts featuring big-name artists, SOMO Concerts kicks off its 2018 outdoor summer series with yet another band you’d probably never imagine playing in Rohnert Park.

Forming in 1979, Social Distortion has been a band long enough to be named by Operation Ivy and Minor Threat as godfathers of punk rock music.

Songs about unrequited love like “Story of My Life,” penned by singer and guitarist Mike Ness, capture the universal need for human connection and have become anthems for the brokenhearted. “It Coulda Been Me,”

Catch the Orange County punk rock legends in Rohnert Park for an outdoor concert this weekend.

Details: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2, SOMO Village Event Center, 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park. $40- $175; somoconcerts.com

RATCHET SUMMER - Ratchet is essentially another word for trashy that somehow got turned into a slang term to describe a questionably good time.

With the promise of “champagne facials,” the upcoming event “My Ratchet Summer” couldn’t have a more fitting moniker to explain popping a bottle of champagne mid-party and not caring if it ends up all over your face because you’re too busy having fun.

Stop by Casa del Mar in Santa Rosa to start the summer with a night of drinks and dancing to a set from DJ Fabian.

Detials: 10 p.m. Friday, June 15; Casa del Mar, 3660 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa. Admission: TBA. Information: nochillpromotions.com

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