By Nate Seltenrich, Jennifer Sawhney, Tobias Young

DRIVING MUSIC – One of Africa’s greatest guitarists, “the Hendrix of the Sahara,” came to Petaluma on Friday night for a rousing, ecstatic, transcendent show at the Mystic Theatre. Vieux Farka Touré is the son of renowned Malian multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Touré, a progenitor of the “desert blues” genre and widely considered among the continent’s finest musicians, bar none, upon his death in 2006 … Vieux, 45, decades into his own acclaimed career, has earned recognition for his fluid, seemingly effortless guitar playing that is both proficient and free, his fingers dancing across the strings, evoking a symphony of sounds, textures, and rhythms with a single pass of the hand. His music is a blend of traditional Malian folk with blues, rock, jazz, even reggae, ranging from hypnotic acoustic meditations to psychedelic electric jams. Both were on display – the latter in greater measure – on Friday night before a sold-out crowd that didn’t stop dancing until the final notes rung out just before 11 p.m. … Farka Touré, ably complimented on bass and drums, seemed to really enjoy the show, commenting at one point that he had personally driven the band’s van from their last concert in Bend, Oregon, but that the receptive Petaluma crowd made the eight-hour journey worth it. Seeing said van parked in front of the Mystic after the show, one concertgoer announced, “The god of African guitar drives himself down, that's shameful!” The van’s next stops were in Berkeley, Felton, and Phoenix, and this week Touré plays La Jolla, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles. – Nate Seltenrich

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WASHBOARD MUSIC –  The California Jug Band Association is bringing the 24th Annual California Jug Band Festival, typically held in San Francisco or Sacramento, to Petaluma for the very first time on Saturday, Oct. 3. The free event at Lagunitas Brewing Company runs from noon to 8 p.m. and features musicians from throughout California, including Petaluma’s own Rivertown Skifflers … What’s a jug band? It’s more an idea than a specific setup: a musical tradition built around community, improvisation, and making music with whatever is at hand. Featured instruments may include washboards, washtub basses, kazoos, harmonicas, jugs, and other improvised wonders alongside more conventional string and wind instruments …  The genre originated in Black communities in the American South during the early 20th century and draws on blues, ragtime, and jazz. It’s homegrown music – accessible, humorous, community-minded – and Saturday’s event features a homegrown band performing at one of Petaluma’s most successful homegrown brands. – NS

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ANTIQUE FAIRE – Speaking of old things, the Petaluma Fall Antique Faire happens on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Petaluma. The 40th edition of the annual event is expected to draw around 8,000 people and feature more than 200 dealers selling a huge variety of estate jewelry, linens, furniture, art, kitchenware, vintage decor, books, collectibles, and more. – NS

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NO MORE SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR NOW – Petaluma Voice’s very first story detailed proposed changes to Petaluma City Schools’ alternative education program that included shutting down its largest alternative education high school, San Antonio High School – described by one teacher as a “safety net for the kids who cannot graduate.” The proposal was met by plenty of pushback from staffers and alum alike. While the board did ultimately decide to close the Valley Oaks Independent Study School, San Antonio High was spared. In an email to Petaluma Voice last week, Superintendent Davina Goldwasser said that there will be no “substantive changes” to the alternative education program before the 2028-29 school year. “The Alternative Education Task Force will reconvene its work in January after three new board members are seated,” she wrote. “This will ensure that the new board has time to learn about our alternative education programs, set the direction, and work effectively to represent the desires of our community.” – Jennifer Sawhney

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ICE OUT? – At last week’s Petaluma City Council meeting, attendees – many with the North Bay Organizing Project – held orange signs that read “Keep ICE out of Petaluma" and asked the city’s elected leaders to pass an ordinance to limit the city’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities. Speakers underscored the ongoing fears many in the community experience around customs and enforcement operations that have resulted in several deaths as well as unlawful detentions without due process for thousands of immigrants, including those who are here legally. Speakers suggested that such an ordinance could alleviate stress for some as it would show the city’s support of immigrants … Already listed on the city’s tentative agenda for Sept. 28 is a “Resolution or Ordinance Adopting Policies and Procedures Governing City Interactions with Immigration Authorities Consistent with Federal and State Laws, Including SB 58.” The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 11 English St. The closed session is scheduled for 5 p.m. with the regular session to begin at 6 p.m., or after the conclusion of the closed session. – JS

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ALL HALLOW’S ART FEST – This will be the 31st year of the All Hallow’s Art Fest, the city’s Halloween-themed art show. But this year there will be one thing missing, the fun filled spirit of beloved artist and founder Christy Silacci, a lifelong Petaluman who died in May, said the show’s owner, Stephanie Sherratt. The Halloween-themed art show began in 1995 as Halloween and Vine by Silacci and three other co-founders (who later moved on). Silacci bequeathed the show to Sherratt in 2012, and four years later Sherratt changed the name to All Hallow’s Art Fest … Art purveyors and fans travel from across the country to attend the show, which includes unique artwork with a Halloween twist … In memory of Silacci’s art-filled life, her dear friends will be at her booth. Sherratt and friends intend to celebrate Silacci through a memorial area and are donating part of the raffle proceeds to Forgotten Felines, an organization near and dear to Silacci. She was “always extremely creative and was a renowned folk artist, celebrated for her whimsical, one-of-a-kind creatures and animals,” reads Silacci's obituary. “Her creative process was a labor of love, and she was always on the lookout for ‘found treasure’ when scouring roadsides, junkyards, flea markets, and garage sales to find the perfect elements to include in her characters” … The art fest is always held on the last Saturday of September, traditionally the day before the Antique Fair. This year’s event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hermann Sons Hall (860 Western Ave.) on Sept. 26. – JS

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CHILENO FIRE – A fire began Sunday evening, Sept. 20, west of Petaluma at Chileno Valley and Bordessa roads in Marin County, and grew to 340 acres. The blaze spread quickly, burning fences and grazing land but sparing homes and animals on the Lanatti Ranch ... The smoke settled in the Petaluma Valley overnight, spoiling the air … Crews with the Marin County Fire Department are leading the response on what has been dubbed the Chileno Valley Fire … As of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the fire is 85% contained and forward progress was stopped, according to the Marin County Fire Department’s Facebook page. The fire’s cause remains under investigation. – Tobias Young

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CLASSY BENEFIT – A silent auction and live music by the Beguilers frames the night for the Polly Klaas Foundation's annual gala fundraiser. Tickets are still available for the Saturday, Sept. 26, event, where $60 will buy you the music, plus food platters from local eateries, Petaluma Gap wine, and HenHouse beers ... Money raised goes to two causes: the national nonprofit dedicated to child safety and the return of missing kids, as well as supporting performing arts and maintenance at the Polly Klaas Community Theater (417 Western Ave.), where the event is held. – TY

Jennifer Sawhney is a reporter and co-founder of Petaluma Voice. She can be reached at jsawhney@petalumavoice.org.

Nate Seltenrich is an editor and reporter at Petaluma Voice. He can be reached at nseltenrich@petalumavoice.org.

Tobias Young is an editor and reporter at Petaluma Voice. He can be reached at tyoung@petalumavoice.org.