Rohnert Park outdoor events ‘like mini-music festivals’

Sonoma Mountain Village is gearing up for its second outdoor concert series at the Rohnert Park site.

The season kicks off May 22 with Wavy Gravy’s 80th Birthday, a benefit concert for SEVA Foundation’s sight restoration programs. Bands playing at the all-day event include Yonder Mountain String Band, Steve Earle, John Popper, Riders of the Purple Sage, and many more.

Sonoma Mountain Village (SOMO) is a 200-acre, sustainable, mixed-use community in Rohnert Park. The 3,000-seat outdoor venue is solar powered with custom, state-of-the-art sounds and lighting technology, with a 1,200 square-foot stage. The SOMO concerts also feature food trucks, craft vendors and nonprofit booths.

“There’s a lot of dancing. A lot of dancing. We strive to make it like a mini-music festival,” said Morty Wiggins, one of the concert promoters.

Wiggins is former vice-president of Bill Graham Presents, which became Live Nation, and a former general manager of A&M Records. About five years ago, he partnered with Steve Senk and started Second Octave Talent Agency. Senk is a longtime licensing and merchandising guru from Sony Music and Live Nation. They currently manage or book bands such as Elaine Elias, Grammy winner for best Latin jazz album of the year, Royal Jelly Jive, The Highway Poets and Girls + Boys.

The SOMO concert series was created along with Lee Smith, former president and chairman of Live Nation. Smith is currently also head of Prescient Entertainment, the exclusive promoter of performing arts events at Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

The SOMO Outdoor Concert Series runs from about mid-May to October, with about a dozen national touring artists each year. Past shows featured Ziggy Marley, the Goo Goo Dolls and Dark Star Orchestra, to name just a few.

Other SOMO shows booked throughout the summer include Allen Stone, Brit Floyd, Grace Potter, and UB40 and The Wailers.

Second Octave will also present the Railroad Square Music Festival, an all-day event taking place June 5. Entertainment includes The Easy Leaves, Royal Jelly Jive, the Dixie Giants, John Courage and many others. There will also be a craft fair, a family area, and food and beer. Last year, more than 4,000 people attended.