Great Tunes, Huge Turnout At EarleFest 2016: PHOTOSHOW

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Photos and post by Al Francis:

More than a thousand people come out in the hot sun to enjoy the bands at EarleFest 2016 at the Sonoma Mountain complex near Sonoma State University on Saturday.

More than seven bands, including three-time Grammy winner and two-time Americana award winner Lucinda Williams. filled the afternoon air with songs for the Americana Music Festival, now in its ninth year.

Sharing the main stage were Girls & Boys from Santa Rosa, The Palandins and the Mavericks.

Over on the smaller HopMonk Stage and located under shade trees, the Jon Gonzales+Family put on a fun, jumping show that inspired some to dance in the afternoon heat.

Most concertgoers were of the AARP-age group, but were eager to stand in the hot sun waiting for the doors to open. There were food vendors and merchants inside with flashes of the hippy days with tie-dye, but hauling beach chairs for comfort!

The Earle Baum Center is a non-profit, regional center that provides services to Northern Californians with sight loss. The center is located outside Santa Rosa on 17 acres which was bequeathed by Earle Baum, a farmer who lost his eyesight at 17.

Several attending the concert were sight-impaired.

For more info on the Earle Baum Center to to www.earlebaum.org or for other concerts at the SOMO Village Event Center to to www.somoconcerts.com