Despite there being at least 11 different towns, the residents of the Monterey Peninsula are all one. While we tend to go about our business closer to home in our given towns, generally speaking there is nothing that would stop a music fan from driving anywhere in Monterey County, let alone the Peninsula, to hear a band of interest. It’s true, I tend to focus primarily on the core five or six peninsula towns and the many venues and variety of experiences that are sprinkled from Seaside and Sand City to Carmel. Less often do I touch on Marina, Big Sur, Carmel Valley and Salinas/Central Valley. We have a huge county with people from all walks of life and it’s just very difficult to do it all.

So for this column, I’ll break it down in location zones and try to give a bit of love to everyone. I’m going to start with the tip of the Peninsula, which for some folks is kind of out in the boonies so to speak. There is no fast track there, you just have to go the distance if you don’t live in town. What I really appreciate is when the venue/organization sends me information that includes a print ready hi-res photo along with it. That way you have more chance of getting top billing. Isn’t that incentive enough to get your act together?

Thank you to Josina Makau, Cal State Monterey Bay professor emerita, for sending me info and photos about the free PG Pops Orchestra’s Spring Concert, to be held Saturday, March 15, 2 p.m. at the Pacific Grove Performing Arts Center, 835 Forest Ave. PG Pops is a non-profit inter-generational community orchestra featuring members aged 14 — 87. It’s a wonderful opportunity for evolving musicians across life’s spectrum the opportunity to learn, grow and perform together under the leadership of renowned music educators and alongside professional musicians. The orchestra conductor is award-winning Artistic Director and Music Educator Barbara Priest.

The afternoon’s program includes familiar works by John Philip Sousa, Soon Hee Newbold’s powerful and innovative “Gravitas,” Victor Lopez’s uplifting “Fiesta Tropical” including favorites like “La Bamba” and “El Juego Chirmbolo.” Movie themes from Mancini’s “The Pink Panther” and the great all time favorites for Star Wars, Jurassic Park and E.T. all are offered to the community free of charge.

This month’s Pacific Grove First Friday — this Friday — is the 15th Anniversary Celebration for this always popular night on the town. Hit the streets of PG and wander about for entertainment, enlightenment, enjoyment and celebrating 15 years with the PG Art Center for four Gala Openings, PG Museum of Natural History to enjoy the museum “after hours,” check out Studio 171 celebrating its 3rd Anniversary (Forest Ave.). Enjoy Club Night at the PG Meetinghouse 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. featuring the house band PG3, with Scott Soifer on guitar and vocals, Patrick Tregenza on drums and Zach Westfall on bass. Katherine Lavin Band is at Monarch Pub as always. Enjoy refreshments and fun stuff at I Heart You Candles on 17th St. Check out the Spring arrivals at Artisana Gallery, Mermaid Tale and Bay Art With Heart on Grand Ave. And of course you can’t miss a wide array of live music throughout downtown: Jazz, Blues, Folk, Rock, it’s all there.

Sunday, March 16, 11 a.m. — 1 p.m. at the PG Meetinghouse there’s a Bob Dylan Brunch performance by the two Dans, singer/songwriters Dan Frechette and Dan Cioper. I’ve seen Frechette perform Dylan before and he’s literally a knock off of the great folk/rock icon. I’m sure both of them will be great and play as many of your favorites from Dylan’s extensive repertoire as they can fit in.

I’ve yet to make it by Pop & Hiss at 215 Forest Ave. in PG, a colorful and fun scene. I hear that there’s a resell vinyl recording section (thus the name Pop & Hiss), plus it also sells new music and offers live music and DJ sets Wednesday through Sunday. There’s a cocktail bar plus a variety of get togethers. You can always look up the current events and coming attractions on its website, www.popandhiss.net.

For example, on Thursday, DJ Leo is back and there’s a Listening Party with Charley Crockett’s latest recording “Lonesome Drifter,” not to be released until March 14. And on First Friday night, March 7, DJ Steb Montez will be mixing up his favorite happening hip-hop and such. Looking ahead to Saturday, March 15, 8 p.m., there’s live music with Luna Worldcast, who on her website lists the date as Friday, March 14, so please double check before you head over for a set or two of her songs.

There’s also a new beer brewpub in PG called Hops & Fog Brewing Co., located at 511 Lighthouse Ave., a place where you can get your craft beer on, with a nice variety of food and other types of drinks like hard cider and wine. There is occasional live music. Please visit the website at www.hopsandfog.beer. The First Friday offering is DJ Paul Wylde and Mittens-in-the-Mix, bringing old tunes with new beats to dance to.

Moving on to Monterey, once again you’ve got to get over to Wave Street Studios, 774 Wave St., for its live music offerings. Both Friday nights in the next two weeks feature local bands with big sounds, and I love that women are the focal points of both.

This Friday at 7 p.m. local faves The Transducers are presenting a double-bill, featuring singer/songwriter Adrea Castiano as the opening act for their set which will feature primarily if not all original music from their wide array of styles that go into their soulful, funky rock and roll sound. Lead singer/vocalist Taylor Safina, bassist/vocalist Sam Salerno and drummer/vocalist Lisa Rutta have announced that guitarist extraordinaire Jesse DeCarlo has signed on as a permanent member. For some time now they rotated guitarists after the previous guitarist Jason Stout decided to change directions. There is a cover charge for the all ages, sound/video recording concert, $20 adv. plus convenience fees online at eventbrite.com. Or $25 at the door.

Next Friday, SLV Presents brings the last concert in its first three-part series of shows at the WSS called Heart on Her Sleeve, 7 — 10 p.m., $20 adv/$25 door. Two fabulous ensembles appear, River Voices, featuring the music and vocals of Jaqui Hope and Linda Arceo, backed by a solid rhythm section of bassist Rory Glass and drummer John Nava. They usually also have violinist Laurel Thomsen. Opening the evening is singer/songwriter duo Ripatti & Rose. Every live concert at this location is also a video and audio recording session, presented in its beautiful facility with really great sound. Keep up to date with what’s going on at WSS at www.sites.google.com/view/wavestreetstudios/home.

Also, in downtown Monterey at Wendi Kirby Music Studio, Thursday, 7 — 8:30 p.m., two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling unveils his innovative Looper Show, where he blends classical virtuosity with the world of jazz, pop and folk music. As a solo performer and only his violin he’s able to create layers of sound, transforming solo performance into a full-bodied orchestral experience. The set includes the music of Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, The Verve and Astor Piazzolla and more. Please visit Tolling’s website to read the full story of his illustrious background and various projects at www.madstolling.com. Tickets are $44.52 available at www.Eventbrite.com, under search Mads Tolling.

Plus, on Sunday, 7 — 8:30 p.m., at Kirby’s Studio, one of our best local singer/songwriters with a country twist is celebrating his birthday. Come party with Casey Frazier, an Americana artist with roots in Denver and Nashville before he made the Monterey Peninsula home. He’ll be there with his band. Tickets are $39.19 at eventbrite.com.

Do be sure to visit www.goldenstatetheatre.com for info on upcoming shows with legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld, you might find some tickets still for the late show Friday at 9:30 p.m.; Monday, another good one with Americana musicians David Rawlings and Gillian Welch at 8 p.m., it’s going to be awesome; plus Tuesday, March 18, 8 p.m., with hard rockers Steel Panther w/Moon Fever; and Wednesday March 19, 8 p.m. jazzy fun music with the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Salinas has upped its game in the live music department with Stonies Taphouse and Bistro, 1366 S. Main St.; The Fox Theatre, 241 Main St., (www.foxtheatersalinas.com) and Heirloom Pizza Co., 344 Main St.,(www.heirloompizzapie.com/salinas/live/).

Stonies does not have a current event schedule online, but I mostly hear about it when Los Survivors come to play.

All I can dig up is a Facebook page with events listed for the band which has a number of musicians you local music fans all know and love, including guitarist Tom Ayres, bassist Brain Shaw and percussionist John Nava. If you’re in Salinas, give the eatery a call at 831-202-0632 to ask them what’s going on.

The Fox Theatre has been open for live music and other events for quite some time, and while there is a variety of music to be experience there, presenter Anthony Lane tends to cater to the Salinas Latino audience, which is great. This week is an example with its Saturday, 9 p.m., Oaxaca En Tu Ciudad triple bill, featuring Banda Tierra Mojada, Banda La Villa de Sola de Vega and Grupo Ferrer. Tickets for the concert are $60 available at www.tickets831.com. You can reserve a table by calling 831-262-5800. This show is for those 18 and over.

On Friday, March 14, 9 p.m., The Fox Theater presents Las Herederas, with singers Betty Solis and Marilyn Odessa. All the information can be looked up at the theater’s website posted above, and the $80 tickets are available at www.tickets831.com.

Heirloom Pizza Co.’s website keeps up its schedule at the address above, so be sure to keep checking in there to see what’s up. I’ve heard there’s a good stage and sound set up, with full bar and a good menu. One show coming right up on Sunday, March 16, with doors at 4 p.m. and music until 9 p.m., I’d highly recommend is Miles Schon & Will Champlin, the sons of two San Francisco rock legends, Neal Schon from Journey and Bill Champlin from Sons of Champlin. Drummer Tony Providence (former Prince band member) joins them. Tickets are $25 (GA, limited seating) — $100 (for a table of four), available on the venue website. This show is for those 21 and over.

Tickets go on sale for country music superstar Blake Shelton’s heading concert for the 2025 Big Week Kick-Off Concert Thursday at 10 a.m. at www.carodeo.com The show is being held several weeks earlier than normal on June 27. Tickets are $60 — $105.