Sacramento Venue Guide: A Sampling of The Capital’s Offerings for the Concert Goer

While San Francisco and Los Angeles have long dominated as hubs for live music in California, Sacramento’s music scene is quietly thriving with a healthy selection of small to arena-sized venues. On any given night, you can find a punk show in a dive bar, a jazz trio in a speakeasy or open mic nights at a winery or cafe.

Sacramento’s venues — both new and old — are doing the work to keep the scene alive. From DIY gallery spaces to state-of-the-art stages, these spots aren’t just places to see national touring acts; they are also home to an eclectic local community of musicians and bands.

Arena venues

Most cities are lucky to have a venue big enough for arena acts within driving distance. Sacramento has the Golden 1 Center in Downtown Commons (DOCO). From Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny to Tool and System of a Down, it attracts arena-level touring artists to fill its 17,680 seats. This puts the city on the map for fans who might not otherwise think of Sacramento as a music destination.

Technically, the Golden 1 Center isn’t the only venue capable of accommodating arena-sized (more than 5,000 people) events in the Sacramento area.

Nearby, Cal Expo regularly hosts outdoor festivals and touring acts, often in conjunction with the state fair: Heart Health Park and the Miller Lite Grandstand can hold 12,000 and 18,000 people, respectively. Expect the latter to be at or near capacity during the multiday Country in The Park festival this month.

For truly massive crowds — and prime crowd-surfing real estate — Discovery Park hosts Aftershock Festival and Golden Sky Country Music Festival. These festivals draw tens of thousands of metalheads, country fans and festivalgoers from across the country and internationally, occasionally offering smaller or local artists an opportunity to perform.

For those looking to follow their favorite artists on tour — Wheatland’s Toyota Amphitheatre is a 45-minute drive, and Bay Area venues like Chase Center, Shoreline Amphitheatre and The Greek Theatre in Berkeley are all just a few hours away.

Small venues: the heartbeat of the city

In order to truly put your finger on the pulse of Sacramento’s music scene, the only option is to visit its smaller venues. These are the places where local acts build their followings and where the community can play a direct part in sustaining the local music culture. These venues can be intimate, loud, unpredictable — in a good way — and they can feel like home.

Cafe Colonial is arguably the city’s most iconic punk venue. Located on Stockton Boulevard, its no-frills setup and loyal community make it a go-to spot for local and touring punk, metal and hardcore bands, but it welcomes artists of all genres from singer-songwriters to experimental math rock. The cafe is great for both newer bands getting accustomed to playing live and seasoned professionals looking for a more intimate space.

The Starlet Room and Harlow’s on J Street make for one of the city’s most consistent pair of small venues; and they’re located in the same building. The Starlet Room’s polished and cozy interior is perfect for indie bands, singer-songwriters and up-and-coming hip-hop artists, while Harlow’s open floor space and private booths can secure bigger touring acts or host parties featuring some of the city’s favorite DJs.

The Torch Club on 15th Street has been family operated since its opening in 1934 (now in its fourth location). It’s a staple in the local jam scene, featuring a blues jam and Sunday Sessions with LabRats every Sunday, and the folk-bluegrass-psychedelic-fusion band Mind X every Thursday night.

“It’s really exciting. A lot of the older musicians are mentoring younger folks who are now filling those shoes and playing on our stages,” says third-generation Torch Club owner Marina Texeira. “We’re seeing a big uptick [in younger musicians] playing different genres. … I think a lot of people took [the isolation of COVID] to hone their craft. Now they’re excited to be out playing on stages again.”

Another piece of Sacramento music history, Old Ironsides, has been serving energetic tunes and spirits ever since it became the first Sacramento bar to obtain liquor license after prohibition.

Art lovers will appreciate Self Designs Art Gallery, which has moved from its location in Oak Park to a second story studio space right across from DOCO. This multi-use gallery welcomes everything from hip-hop showcases and poetry nights to experimental jazz shows. Its open layout, kaleidoscopic lighting and rotating art installations make for an immersive experience.

What better place to see your favorite local garage band than in a garage? While not a venue, per se, Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen supports local artists by featuring them in a Second Saturday series that runs from May to September. There’s no cover charge, but proceeds from drink and snack sales help keep the volunteer operation going.

The owners of Palm Tree Brewing Company are responsible for reopening the doors of The Boardwalk in 2022 after the venue closed earlier that year. With improved lighting and sound, everyone from national acts to the local garage band are sounding and looking better than ever.

Goldfield Trading Post has two locations — one in Midtown and the other in Roseville. While the floorplan might vary, both spots are welcome additions for blues, metal, country and hip-hop fans who want a respectable selection of food and drink to go with their jams.

Butterscotch Den in Oak Park has all the makings of a great underground spot. The dim lighting, intimate stage and red curtains all contribute to a laid-back speakeasy vibe. Jazz fans can find the Maloney Jazz Trio here every Tuesday and Thursday, and those who swear by vinyl mixing can enjoy oldies and rock steady courtesy of the Soul N’ Steady DJ duo.

Shady Lady Saloon in the R Street Corridor also taps into that 1920s speakeasy aesthetic, but offers a lot more space for dancing and mingling. Located a few doors down from Ace of Spades, the saloon has built a reputation as a hub for jazz, soul and swing, but it regularly features DJs who play cumbia, hip-hop and lofi selections.

For a more intimate dining-concert experience, consider Twin Lotus Thai on Folsom Boulevard. The restaurant regularly hosts jazz nights in its dining room: reservations required.

The Side Door’s cozy 110-capacity listening room is great for those wanting to immerse themselves in acoustic and roots-based performances; though the space is no stranger to oldies and jazz artists.

On the edge of the county, Old Folsom is home to a few spots that have been nurturing local blues, rock and country bands. Powerhouse Pub in Folsom has a busy calendar of original acts spliced in with cover bands and karaoke nights. Gaslight Company has kept its Wednesday open mic nights going for over a decade, and is welcoming to all sorts of artists from folk to metal and reggae. Folsom Hotel — which is a saloon, not a hotel — pumps high decibel levels out its doors with bluegrass, dance nights and seasoned touring country artists.

Midsize venues

What about those middle tier venues bigger than the dive bar but smaller than the arena?

Sacramento Memorial Auditorium is one of the city’s most historic venues. The space will host touring artist Luis “El Flaco” Angel this August and Norteño group Intocable in June. A few blocks away, the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center boasts a more modern design. While it hosts its fair share of conferences, speakers and comedians, you are just as likely to see larger metal acts, orchestras paying homage to video game and movie franchises and Tony Award winning musicals.

The Backyard — located behind Rock & Brews and Cal Expo — can be the perfect solution for those seeking an outdoor concert space year-round.

For those wanting similar crowd sizes, but indoors, Sacramento’s newest midsize venue Channel 24 offers a generous amount of standing room, while balcony seats provide a clearer view of performances.

“We’re certainly dedicated to being part of the community and fostering growth for artists out here,” Channel 24 General Manager Jon Gunton says. “A local support act opened for Wallows on two sold-out nights … opportunities like that, where local bands are part of the bill, are a big plus for us.”

The Zittel Family Amphitheater is home to the Twilight Concert Series which runs from June to August and features a different act every Wednesday. And a couple miles away is the Rodeo Park which hosts the Folsom Pro Rodeo every year and features live country music in the saloon each night.

There are also a handful of midsized venues just outside of city and county limits. The Mondavi Center is on the UC Davis campus and is especially good at hosting artists from a wide range of cultures. The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln has great viewing angles of the stage and video projections that fill in any blind spots. The Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College stages performances from professional and student music and dance groups.

Anyone who is involved in the Sacramento scene knows that this list barely scratches the surface of live music in the city. For every venue with a website and a ticketing system, there are at least a couple backyard and house shows being organized by dedicated independent promoters. The DIY scene here is active and resourceful. You are just as likely to find your new favorite artist in a basement or book store as you are under an overpass in Lincoln: This is based on personal experience.

Local promoters are doing a lot of legwork to build niche communities throughout the region. Be sure to follow Fluxx Zine, 916 Growth Gigs, Nicole Gentry Presents, Sac Indie Music, ANK Entertainment and Sacramento Punk Shows to name a few.

“My goal is community-based — I want to expose as many people as possible to the great artists I know,” Nicole Gentry, a local event organizer, promoter and musician says. “When the venue is invested in providing art to the people, it’s a little easier to get things done.”

At the moment, the scene isn’t overly focused on clout and its artists are doing a good job at avoiding crab mentality. Small venues are taking more chances on new artists and audiences are more likely to come to a show even if they don’t recognize any of the names on the bill.

Historically, Sacramento hasn’t flaunted its music culture like California’s more famous cities: but it should.