Monte Rio Holler: Where tomorrow’s bands are playing today

Have you heard about Monte Rio’s growing music scene?

KJ Bluesman playing on the Wonderland Pizzeria Stage at RioFest.

By Megan Gatlin

For decades, if you wanted to discover great live music in Northern California, you headed for a city. The assumption was that the next great band would be playing in San Francisco or Oakland, not a tiny riverside town with fewer than 1,200 residents.

But something unexpected has been happening in Monte Rio.

Over the past few years, this little town along the Russian River has become one of Sonoma County’s most surprising places to discover live music. Between volunteer-run festivals, intimate venues, and audiences eager to hear something new, Monte Rio has built the kind of music scene that artists dream about: one where people actually listen.

The best example came just a few weeks ago at RioFest, Friends of Monte Rio’s annual free music festival on June 20. More than 3,000 people packed the Monte Rio Amphitheater for the festival’s biggest year yet, proving that world-class music doesn’t need a big city backdrop.

While headliners like Spike Sikes drew enthusiastic crowds, some of the day’s biggest moments belonged to artists many people were hearing for the very first time. Thirteen-year-old Jackson Hagele of Healdsburg had festivalgoers stopping in their tracks with his musicianship and a stage presence well beyond his years, while The Okay Ultras from Santa Rosa, a three-woman vocal powerhouse, made their public debut together, introducing a brand new collaboration that may not stay under the radar for long.

The Okay Ultras performing on the Main Stage at RioFest.

Then there was Subprime Mortgage, a San Francisco band that earned its place on the main stage by winning RioFest’s first annual Battle of the Bands through community voting. Instead of opening for a handful of people, they found themselves performing before the festival’s largest audience ever, a reminder that Monte Rio has become the kind of place where emerging artists are given real opportunities.

The music didn’t end when RioFest wrapped up. Across the bridge at RioFest After Dark, another first-time act took the stage as Sonoma County’s own Generation Alternative, a newly formed ’90s cover band, made its debut before a packed crowd. Between RioFest and After Dark, the day was less about booking familiar names and more about giving new artists their first chance to connect with a local, enthusiastic audience.

That willingness to give musicians a chance has become part of Monte Rio’s identity. At RioFest, volunteers literally built one of the festival stages by hand so more local artists can perform, and this year that stage was sponsored by Wonderland Pizzeria. It’s hard to imagine many festivals where a second stage is constructed by neighbors simply because they want to create another place for music.

For Wonderland Pizzeria, the sponsorship is only part of the story. Just a month after opening, the restaurant has already become one of Monte Rio’s newest live music hotspots. Throughout the summer, live music continues to fill the outdoor space most Thursdays through Sundays, creating the kind of spontaneous evenings that seem to define life in Monte Rio.

Eric Lindell even stopped by unexpectedly for an impromptu performance a few weeks ago, while upcoming shows include Dirty Cello on July 4 and The Mad Honeys on July 25. Wonderland Pizzeria will also feature local Monte Rio artists like KJ Bluesman and Colin Mutchler to keep the community vibe humming. Alongside the music, the menu continues to evolve with additions like the BBQ Chicken & Bacon pizza, new salads, and whatever owners Brian and Kellee happen to be experimenting with in the test kitchen.

Happy crowd at Wonderland Pizzeria enjoying live music.

That same spirit continues on Saturday, July 11, when High Rio Music Festival returns for its second year. After a wildly successful debut, the festival is back through a new partnership with Friends of Monte Rio, cementing its place as another cornerstone of the town’s growing music culture.

Created by Monte Rio Theatre owner David Lockhart and Guerneville musician Mike Rosenblum of PrettyBoy Chance, High Rio blends indie music, local art, food, and community into something that feels unmistakably Russian River. This year’s lineup features PrettyBoy Chance, Awake, Jim Ocean Band, Light Chain, Mild Heroes, and The Joy Project. There will also be with kids’ activities, local vendors, food, craft beverages, and community raffles rounding out the experience.

Every ticket sold and every raffle ticket purchased at High Rio helps support Friends of Monte Rio, the continuing revival of the historic Monte Rio Theatre, and the local artists who give the Russian River its creative heartbeat. It’s a festival built not simply for entertainment, but for reinvesting in the community that hosts it.

The music doesn’t stop when the festivals end.

Every Wednesday night from 6 pm to 10 pm, the Monte Rio Theatre’s Open Mic continues building its reputation as one of Sonoma County’s most welcoming stages for emerging talent. What started as a weekly gathering has become something of a talent incubator, where featured artists like Brian Francis Baudoin share the stage with first-time performers, seasoned professionals, and songwriters testing out new material. More than once, musicians who first stepped onto the Open Mic stage have gone on to perform at larger community events like Monte Rio Revival, RioFest, and other local festivals, making Wednesday nights feel a little like getting a sneak preview of who’s next.

Maybe that’s what makes Monte Rio’s music scene different. No one is trying to manufacture the next big thing. There are no velvet ropes or VIP sections. Instead, there are volunteers building stages, restaurant owners booking live music several nights a week, festival organizers willing to take chances on new bands, and audiences eager to cheer for musicians they’ve never heard before.

For a town of fewer than 1,200 people, Monte Rio is punching well above its weight as a place where artists come not just to perform, but to be heard.

And years from now, don’t be surprised if someone says, “I saw them before everyone else did.”

There’s a good chance they’ll be talking about a summer night in Monte Rio.

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