Hear It Live

from 2022 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS' GUIDE

by Sacramento Magazine

Museums and Performing Arts

Sacramento teems with live music venues large and small, indoors and out.

FRANZ FERDINAND, CESAR CHAVEZ PLAZA

Music is more than a soundtrack

to Sacramento’s sights. Rhythm, melody and harmony are fused into the city’s identity just as thoroughly as are tomatoes, trees and outdoor adventure. Hear for yourself at some of these live music venues.

Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub—Since 1982, Harlow’s has presented acclaimed local acts and nationally renowned musicians in a casual art deco setting. If it’s a special date, spring for the raisedbooth VIP seating with bottle service. Take to the dance floor, too, and visit the patio, replete with fire pits and full bar service. The second-floor Starlet Room also features live music. 2708 J St.; (916) 441-4693;

harlows.com

Golden 1 Center— More than just the home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, Golden 1 Center can accommodate the biggest blockbuster acts. The state-of-theart “green” arena was unveiled with much fanfare in 2016 at a cost of roughly $534 million. It seats 19,000. Upcoming acts: Eric Church (May 11), Sean Mendes (June 30) and The Lumineers (Aug. 2). 500 David J. Stern Walk; (888) 915-4647;

golden1center.com

Ace of Spades—This Live Nation venue stages high-energy shows for music lovers of all ages. An anchor for R Street nightlife, Ace of Spades is known for booking hip-hop, contemporary alternative rock and throwback acts. Enjoy the full bar and tasty food items. 1417 R St.; (916) 930-0220;

aceofspadessac.com

Memorial Auditorium—The Memorial Auditorium, which opened in 1927, lends a stately quality to the SAFE Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts District. The auditorium recently underwent a major renovation, making it both a venerable and progressive location for concerts. 1515 J St.; (916) 808-5181;

safecreditunion conventioncenter.com

SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center—This renovated and expanded facility reopened triumphantly with “Hamilton” in 2021. The $120 million renovation enhanced the theater’s esthetic appeal, improved its lobby and made it more accessible. In addition to serving as the home of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and Broadway on Tour, the center hosts lectures and all manner of musical presentations. 1301 L St.; (916) 8085181; safecreditunion

conventioncenter.com

Cesar Chavez Plaza—Concerts in the Park is a free music series presented by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership that showcases some of the best regional talent. It runs Friday evenings from May to July (except the week of July 4). 910 I St.;

godowntownsac.com

Capitol Mall—The Farm-to-Fork Festival is part of the larger Farm-to-Fork celebration of the region’s agricultural bounty. The street festival takes place Sept. 23 and 24, with musical performances throughout. Further information on this year’s acts will be posted in the summer. Capitol Mall, between Third and Seventh streets; farmtofork.

com

Discovery Park— This scenic venue, located at the point where the Sacramento and American rivers converge, hosts massively popular outdoor concerts and festivals. The Aftershock Festival takes place Oct. 6 to 9, bringing to town some of the biggest rock and heavy metal bands. This year, expect to see chart-topping bands such as Kiss, My Chemical Romance and Slipknot. The following weekend, the GoldenSky Country Music Festival debuts 1600 Garden Highway; aftershock-

festival.com

The Sofia—More formally known as The Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Performing Arts, this new, stateof-the-art complex is known as home of the B Street Theatre and also hosts a thriving live music scene with internationally acclaimed musicians such as Keiko Matsui and John McCutcheon. 2700 Capitol Ave.; (916) 443-5300;