There may be a plan in the works to help reopen the Sweetwater within the next year. Owners Thom and Becky Steere have been in discussion with Mill Valley Live Arts and Lucy Mercer, who run 142 Throckmorton Theatre, and may be able to combine forces as a nonprofit organization to help secure the much-needed funding for the completion of the remodel at the new location on Miller Avenue. There are still some hurdles to get through, so let's all keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

June is chock-full of awesome, free musical events--grab your lawn chair, cooler and hat and read on. Of course, my vote for best party of the year is always the Fairfax Festival, taking place this year June 13 and 14. Kicking it off on the main stage at high noon Saturday will be Hawaiian/Bolinas rockers Sage, followed by 75-minute sets from Lansdale Station, Jonathan Korty & Friends (keyboardist from Vinyl) and Rancho Deluxe. Meanwhile, the Redwood Stage will feature Drew Gasparini, Kelly Peterson, the Courtney Janes, Frisco Jazz Band and Megan Slankard.

In town that night, the reggae-rock sounds of Bobby G. and Lumanation will light up the Sleeping Lady. 19 Broadway will host the topnotch trifecta of Diamond Ortiz (blues), Calmodee (hip-hop) and Monophonics (funk), while down the street, Peri's Silver Dollar will rock to the sounds of High Heat, the Highway Robbers, 35R, Honeydust and Chrome Johnson. The music continues Sunday. And if that ain't enough to lure you into Fairfax...check your pulse.

Another great musical lineup assembles the same weekend at the Novato Art and Wine Festival. There are too many bands to mention but I recommend catching The Edge, Marin's ska kings, on the main stage Saturday at 4pm and the hot bluegrass sounds of Poor Man's Whiskey Sunday at 3pm. The Log Cabin on Tennessee Valley Road in Tam Valley is hosting another "Creekside Fridays" music series with free music every Friday night from 6:30 to 8pm. Austin de Lone kicks it off June 19, Michael Lamacchia's Organic Jive Collective plays June 26 and James Moseley jams on July 3. More great musicians play every Friday through August so bring your own food or try some of their delicious barbecue and enjoy the free music creekside.

Attention all swing lovers! The Marin Art Festival at the Civic Center fairgrounds will put on a "Swing Sunday" June 21 courtesy of Murphy Productions. Ten dollars will get you in to see Swing Fever at 12:30pm followed by Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums at 2:30pm and Lee Press-On and the Nails at 4:30pm. It's been two years since LPN has been on the scene, so shine up your shoes and welcome them back! Also, every Wednesday night professional swing dance lessons are offered at Peri's Bar in Fairfax for only $10--includes a free drink.

June LIVE: Big B and the Snakeoil Saviors kick off Western Weekend in Point Reyes Station at the Western Saloon on Friday, June 5; then on Saturday, June 13, guitar god Robben Ford descends upon 142 Throckmorton. On June 16, This Old Earthquake returns from recording their new album at Pappy Middleton's Palmyra Studio outside Dallas--bringing their infectious original sound to the Sleeping Lady.

Belle Monroe and her Brewglass Boys pour into Iron Springs Brewery June 17; Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks heat up Petaluma's Mystic Theatre for a CD-release party June 18; New Rider David Nelson and his band hitch up to Mill Valley's Masonic Hall on June 25; trombonist/vocalist Ed Earley (Albert King, Elvin Bishop) brings his bone and his blues band out to Rancho Nicasio for a June 26 show; and the Mother Hips play Hop Monk Tavern in Sebastopol that same day.

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