Rancho Nicasio

This historic roadhouse in the geographic center of Marin County dates to 1941, but its identity as a live music destination was forged when blues singer Angela Strehli and her husband Bob Brown took over in 1998. Nestled on the tiny town square of Nicasio, the venue books roots music, blues, Americana, and jazz acts on Friday and Saturday nights, with summer barbecues on the lawn drawing up to 500 listeners. Past performers include blues piano pioneer Pinetop Perkins, country outlaw Billy Joe Shaver, and the Kronos Quartet. The combination of ranch-country setting, classic American cooking, and world-class roots music makes Rancho Nicasio one of the most distinctive listening rooms in Northern California.