It was June in Sonoma—when all everyone expects is sunshine and blue skies for miles—but it rained. And rained. And every event in the area was cancelled. Except one: the second annual Huichica Music Festival.

In fact, it’s our belief that the inclement weather made an outstanding music festival that much more “rock and roll.”

“The music was mesmerizing, the vibe was infectious, and Mother Nature was awesome,” says Gun Bun president and festival co-producer Jeff Bundschu.

After outstanding and idiosyncratic sets by David Williams, CB Brand, Tu Fawning and Breathe Owl Breathe in the cozy Gundlach Bundschu winemaking facility, the 2011 Huichica Music Festival made the move outdoors, where curtains of clouds had temporarily pulled back to reveal a few bona fide moments of blue.

These United States then barreled out a kind of boogie that not even a few rain showers could squelch. The unsinkable, infectious vibe was kept deftly afloat by Richard Swift and Sonny & The Sunsets. It seemed that precipitation only furthered the bonding experience, as crowds crammed into tents, warmed themselves near [the bejkr]‘s brick-oven fire and clinked wine glasses in the rain.  Here’s part two of the video:

A moist day got mushier and still, we thought the 2011 Huichica Music Festival couldn’t be any more perfect. As streaks of sunset rendered Sonoma Valley luminous in the distance, we were alternately mesmerized by J Mascis’ stunning set and the Fruit Bats’ deliriously sweet boot-stomping romp—all featured in part three of the video:

The second annual Huichica proved that despite the deluge, the crowd’s collective spirit and interest in seeing independent artists play Sonoma’s historic winery was far from dampened.

Yes, the setting is gorgeous, the artists are stellar, the wine is superb—but ask what makes Sonoma’s Huichica Music Festival one of our favorites and we’ll tell you: the intimacy with the artists.

The person in the crowd to your left hollering and dancing along to one set may likely be on the stage performing during the next. Mingling with musicians over a glass of Gewurz in a cozy wine cave puts Huichica head-and-shoulders above most other music festivals.

We think this final performance of the 2011 Huichica festival—Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats leaving the stage and singing a capella among the crowd—just about sums up the magic of those kinds of experiences.

David Williams :

CB Brand :

Tu Fawning :

Breathe Owl Breathe :

These United States :

Richard Swift :

Sonny & The Sunsets :

[the bejrk] :

J Mascis :

Fruit Bats & Friends :

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presented by
Huichica Music Festival

filmed + edited by
The Art Dept.

music by
David Williams
CB Brand
Tu Fawning
Breathe Owl Breathe
These United States
Richard Swift
Sonny & The Sunsets
J Mascis
Fruit Bats

We rode headlong into the Sonoma International Film Festival on our (t)rusty ol’ bikes—cameras slung over our shoulder, reporter’s pad in our front pocket, pens gripped between our teeth.  We’ve posting a little recap of each day of the film festival, and here’s yesterday: day four.

Is it really over? We forget what it’s like to exist without the film festival . . . can we survive on non-street food? Welcome back to the real world!

Day four of the festival brought us fascinating Q&A’s with thoughtful filmmakers, comparing notes on favorite films and some last minute screenings of inspiring films. Take a look at the video to hear from some of the award-winners!

Click through to see the other three videos from the other three days . . .

day three:

I think we’re all starting to get the hang of this film fest—was it just us, or did everyone seem to cut a little loose on day three?

Chalk that feeling up in no small part to Sonoma’s own colorful cast of characters (have you all met Rockin’ Paulie?) as well as colorful, iconic stars like Susan Sarandon.  Take a peek at the video—featuring some words from Ms. Sarandon as well as Dr. Frankenfurter playing ping pong . . .

Stay tuned for day four . . . !

day two:

Day two felt quietly busy to us—as if everyone was very serious about this film thing.  Seemed every other person walking around town had a pass flapping from their neck. We caught some screenings, chowed on street food and mingled with German filmmakers.  Day two of the film festival: winning!

Stay tuned for day three . . . !

day one:

We drank bubbly, we chatted with filmmakers, we noshed on gourmet hors d’ouevres prepared atop snack chips, we took in a show at the Sebastiani Theatre and we danced to Beatles covers at Little Switzerland.  It must be day one of the Sonoma International Film Festival.

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Sonoma International Film Festival

day one music by

The Sun Kings

day three music by

Sean Carscadden

Chi McClean

Crossfire

How do you make used coffee filters, old shopping bags, disposed drinking straws, discarded turkey inseminators and tin cans more flashy than trashy? You commission a talented group of artists and designers to create haute couture from the refuse. The Sonoma Community Center did just that and the event culminated in their first annual Trashion Show and Accessory exhibit.

For this video, we followed the process of some of the resourceful artists from concept to runway.

“Every town needs a good baker,” intones Mike from the shipping container in his backyard he’s converted to a professional, artisinal bread-baking shop.  We agree and we feel very blessed that Sonoma’s good baker is Mike!

So, here’s the question: what good is a 125-something-year-old tractor barn if you can’t clear it out once in a while, bring in a wildly popular East Coast art pop band and throw a boot-stomping, jaw-dropping, twinkly-lit, Gewurz-fueled, utterly sold-out show that surely must have blown at least a few historic rafters somewhere off into the eucalyptus trees of sleepy Lovall Valley?

The answer to this question apparently ran through Jeff Bundschu’s head one day, as he stood contemplating the mechanical entrails of a nondescript rustic storage facility on the grounds his family’s esteemed 150-year-old winery. What happened in the weeks leading up to the show (and we take it there was much hauling and rearranging and gutting and maybe even some curse words) isn’t so consequential as what happened that night—which was, by and large, magic.

The barn emerged from its makeover as pitch-perfect backdrop, its wood grain glowing under the necklaces of string lights, its girly calendars and power tools left for the sake of, well, some authentic cred. Good wines warmed the brisk January night and elevated the collective mood of crowd that numbered in the hundreds.

We were completely mesmerized by the electric energy all three bands—Ra Ra Riot, Givers and Pepper Rabbit. Their intimate, charged performances seemed to derive, in part, from the beguiling venue and the downright “friendly” crowd. Who knew, as Ra Ra Riot’s producer/sound guy later blogged, that Wine Country could put on such an essential show?

Just over a couple rolling, vineyard-covered hills from Sonoma, you’ll find the lovely di Rosa preserve—an incredible collection of unique and stunning art by over 800 Bay Area artists. We were sad to hear of the recent passing of founder and collector Rene di Rosa. Sonoma and the world have lost a great supporter of artistic vision, but his legacy will live on through the collection. We had the chance to capture a small part of the art and experience of di Rosa for this short video.

“If you spend a lot of time here, you start to lose track of . . . everything,” laughs Andrew Mariani, proprietor of Scribe Winery. Standing on the balcony of an old hacienda, a colony of swallows catching the updrafts around us and dusk settling on the vineyards, we couldn’t agree more.  Andrew, his family, his friends and a cadre of artists, musicians and chefs are collaborating to continue the story of this colorful and historic winery and farm.  Scribe Winery is continually and actively engaging in the relationship between land, history, wine, food and arts in a fresh, thoughtful and—dare we say—magical way.

THANKS TO Andrew Mariani, Scribe Winery
MUSIC from the resident Stone Mason’s iPod:
Cass McCombs // Catacombs : “Don’t Vote”
the xx // xx : “VCR”

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We were able to return to Scribe Winery’s “Hacienda” to participate in their “last bash” before they remodel. Check out the video:

THANKS TO Scribe Winery
AND 18 Reasons

Take two parts fuzzy fuschia pipe cleaner, 1 part glitter, five parts wine and a stunning and provocative art exhibition. Marinate in the rock n’roll and coarse-ground attitude of the Static People. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night in Sonoma?  The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art hosted its regularly-occuring Mix—this time with a masquerade theme replete with a room of glue, glitter and grand intentions. Be sure to check out the Museum’s Silence, Exile and Cunning exhibit before it’s gone forever.  And, of course, don’t miss the next Mix!

Expanding on Gundlach Bundschu Winery’s summer indie rock concerts, Jeff Bundschu and Eric Johnson (of the Fruit Bats) curated and produced the first annual Huichica Music Festival in Sonoma, California. The weather was incredible, the winery grounds were glowing and the bands were some of the Bay Area’s brightest rising musical stars. Oh and the flatbreads were DELICOUS (thank you, Mike “the Bejker”!) Music, in order of appearance: Tussle, Citay, Vetiver and Fruit Bats.
gunbun.com

Once again, Jacuzzi Family Winery transformed into a NYC runway as Bay Area fashionistas flocked to Sonoma for a glimpse of collections from some of the industry’s hottest new designers. The Second Annual Bryant Park West show—Heels & Wheels—shimmered with flash bulbs, sleek clothes, excellent wine and classic cars—all in the name of Sonoma Valley Teen Services.  Sonoma’s own Sarah Haggberg produced another spectacular event.

DESIGNERS
La Isla // laislabrand.com
Hunter Dixon // hunterdixon.com
Samantha Sleeper // samanthasleeper.com

MUSIC
Steve Cohen & Earl Blue
Matt Van Schie : Journey // mattvanschie.com
Modest Mouse : Dashboard // modestmousemusic.com
Bjork : Alarm Call // bjork.com