By Tim Curley For The Sonoma Index-Tribune
Long before AI, or “A-1” as U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon calls it, our nation’s farmers used the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” to inform important decisions about how to properly manage their crops. They consulted the publication about when to plant, when to cull and weed, perhaps even when to harvest.
Music lovers of the Valley of the Tunes need only read here, the Farmers (Market) Almanac, to learn who is playing at the Tuesday Night Farmers Market any given week. Mentioned are predicted weather conditions, sky and planetary issues, and astrological predictions. Also mentioned, of course, is the music, itself.
This is it, folks.
This coming Tuesday, Sept. 30, is the last Sonoma Tuesday Night Market of the 2025 season. The gem of all free and live performances of strong local music and musicians comes to a close, and we shall miss it when it’s over.
Entertaining us on the final evening will be a superb North Bay band, Spike Sikes and his Awesome Hotcakes.
At the top of the band’s website is the phrase, “Brass and Soul and a whole lot mo’.” I could say that sums it up … but I’ve all this space to fill!
Sikes is one of the hardest-working musicians in Sonoma County and chances are you’ve seen him before. A second or third or fourth timeseeing the ‘Cakes is still a treat, as they are one rocking bunch.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Sikes bathed in country and R&B music as a kid. He later studied jazz at the University of North Texas, the first university in the United States to offer a degree in jazz studies (1947)and it is still considered one of the top jazz schools in the country.
Sikes came out well-versed in jazz theory, composition, and performance. He takes all that book learning, combines it with his El Paso roots, folds in some East Bay funk, stirs in a bit of the blues and creates an irresistible amalgam of styles: jump, swing, rock ‘n’ roll, and dance tunes.
“We’ll bring our mix of feel-good jump/jazz/soul-blues,” Sikes said of his band’s Sept. 30 performance at the final Tuesday Night Farmers Market of the season. “While most of our music is original material, we’ve been known to sprinkle in everything from Ray Charles to Thelonious Monk.”
Sikes fronts the band, singing and playing his guitar. The group’s other members, a.k.a. the Awesome Hotcakes, are Ray Fernandez, saxophone and horns leader; Tracy Rose, drums; Mark Milazzo, bass; George Humphreys, keys; Rick Clifford, saxophone; and Tony Davids, trombone.
The astrology of the band, in addition to the obvious leadership, is all Sikes.
He is a Scorpio. “Born 10/27, the same day as Dylan Thomas,” he said.
A band lead by a Scorpio is bound to be highly energetic and fun to watch. Scorpios are said to be intensely passionate, deeply emotional, and possessing a magnetic charisma. Sikes’s band, following his lead while performing, is all that … wonderfully creative and deeply devoted to the groove.
Scorpios are also said to be highly intuitive. Sikes reveals this intuition while functioning as a bandleader; contrary to the steamy set the band is anticipating Tuesday night, a crowd might need a slow song to recover from the blistering musical attack they’re likely to experience. Sikes can feel that unspoken need, and a slow song it is.
The weather for the closing night of the market will be delightful, as usual. An expected high temperature of 81 degrees will be chased by a low of 53 degrees later in the evening.
The sun will set at 6:54 p.m., just as Sikes and the ‘Cakes hit the home stretch of their set.
The record temps for Sept. 30 are impressive; a high of 102 degrees in 2001 and a low of 37 degrees in 1954.
The No. 1 hit on this date in 2001 was “Fallin,’” by Alicia Keys. In 1954, the No. 1 hit was a bit different and the Top 10 was, looking back, pretty pre-rock ‘n’ roll stogy.
Holding the top spot then was “Hey, There” by Rosemary Clooney. Others musical acts in the Top 10, at that time, were: The Crew Cuts, Doris Day, Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, and Nat King Cole.
America had to wait until 1956 to experience the new sound of rock ‘n’ roll as it topped of the charts on Sept. 30 with ElvisPresley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” holding down the top slot.
Thanks to Mary and Gerard Serafini for booking the bands; the Sonoma Jazz Society for the four jazz evenings at Grinstead, Music in Place for the kid’s concerts in Grinstead, Jim Mona and John “White Cloud” Marshall for taking excellent care of the all-important sound needs of the event; Jerry Wheeler, the affable hands-on Market manager, and lastly the Sonoma City Council, who approves the funds necessary to provide the wonderful gift of a free, weeklycommunity gathering for Sonomans.
About eight years ago, after a particularly enjoyable season with great music and wonderful weather, an unusual thing happened: A stubborn group of local music lovers gathered, as they had since May, at the Horseshoe on the Tuesday after the season closed, not ready to give up the good times they had enjoyed that season.
That could happen again next week, as this year’s music program was particularly memorable. What a treat it has been. See you in May for the 2026 season!