Sacramento, CA

WHERE I-80, I-5 AND CA-99 CONVERGE LIES CALIFORNIA'S CAPITAL CITY, the grand metropolis of the Central Valley. Sacramento's location and extensive history create a crossroads of sorts for musical culture, encouraging the existence of eclectic venues from the hip lounges in nostalgic Old Sac to the larger rock clubs prominent throughout the area. Nearby colleges Sacramento State and UC Davis promise a strong student turnout and often host shows themselves. Music events like Friday Night Concerts in the Park, NorCal NoiseFest, and the experimental Sacramento Audio Waffle deliver something for every musical bent. Established musicians Cake, Blackalicious, and the ever-popular Jackie Greene all draw origins from Sacramento, and many more have some claim to the place. From jazz to hip-hop, no genre is underrepresented. Artists traveling between the Bay Area, the Central Valley, Reno and Redding will find Sacramento a most convenient stop over.

GUIDE TO GIGGING IN SACRAMENTO

BOOK A GIG: VENUES

OLD IRONSIDES
1901 10TH STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
(916) 443-9751
www.theoldironsides.com
A Sacto staple popular in the indie scene. Sign-up for Wednesday's open mic starts at 8:30 p.m. Booker Jerry Perry also coordinates Friday Night Concerts in the Park and the local scene publication Alive and Kicking. Email jerry@alivenkicking.com, or call
(916) 448-2582 at least one month in advance.

HARLOW'S
2708 J STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95816
(916) 441-4693
www.harlows.com
A classy downtown venue hosting all genres, particularly hip-hop, R&B and jazz. Call booker Danny Torza at extension 11 for more info, or send an email to harlows@
harlows.com at least one month in advance.

MARILYN'S ON K
1107 NINTH STREET, SUITE T-100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
(916) 446-4361
www.marilynsonk.com
Near the Capitol, Marilyn's hosts singer/songwriters and rock bands up to five nights a week. Email the general manager Jane Gribben at booking@marilynsonk.com. Artists
new to the club should utilize their web form.

THE SPEAKEASY LOUNGE
117 J STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
(916) 443-5051
www.myspace.com/speakeasylounge
Below Café New Orleans in Old Sac, Speakeasy features music at least twice a week from most genres. Email booker Wendy Thomas at thespeakeasylounge@gmail.com
with a MySpace link, or mail a promo kit to her attention.

JAVA LOUNGE
2416 SIXTEENTH STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95818
(916) 441-3945
www.thejavaloungeisrad.com
Voted "Best All-Ages Venue" in Sacramento News & Review's "Best of Sacramento 2007" guide. Send an email to Kevin Seconds at javaloungebooking@gmail.com at least one week in advance.

THE BOARDWALK
9426 GREENBACK LANE
ORANGEVALE, CA 95662
(916) 988-9247
www.boardwalkrocks.com
The Boardwalk is renowned for hosting bands on the verge of taking off, and shows are all-ages unless specified. Contact booker Mark Earl at

booking@boardwalkrocks.com or call (916) 722-5784.

BLUE LAMP
1400 ALHAMBRA BOULEVARD
SACRAMENTO, CA 95816
(916) 455-3400
www.bluelamp.com
A venue that features all genres up to five nights a week. Contact Ed Stoner at booking@bluelamp.com or call (866) 575-9405. EPKs are preferred, but mailed press kits are also welcome.

PROMOTE A GIG: MEDIA

KSSU 1580 AM
6000 J STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95819
(916) 278-5882
music@kssu.com
www.kssu.com
Sac State's student-run radio station offers indie artist rotation. See their contact page for the appropriate genre contact, or email music@kssu.com for more info. Additionally, KSSU prints The Local Slice, a free format magazine. Contact editor Sarah Hannon
at news@kssu.com or (916) 278- 3343 for coverage consideration.

SACRAMENTO NEWS & REVIEW
1015 TWENTIETH STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
(916) 498-1234
www.newsreview.com/sacramento

Sacramento's premier alternative weekly. Email arts editor Jonathan Kiefer at jonk@newsreview.com for coverage consideration. Artists can add their profiles and events online.

RECORD STORES
R5 RECORDS
2500 SIXTEENTH STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95818
(916) 441-2500
www.r5records.com
Recently opened by Tower Records founder Russ Solomon, R5 sells music on consignment, hosts in-store shows up to three times a week, and has a bulletin board for show fliers. Email Christina Mestas at christina@r5records.com for more info.

DIMPLE RECORDS
2433 ARDEN WAY
SACRAMENTO, CA 95825
(916) 925-2600
www.dimple.com
The area's definitive indie record store, Dimples has six locations in and around Sacramento. Stores offer consignment services and have in-stores often. Email justin@dimple.com.

GEAR/ REPAIRS

SKIP’S MUSIC
1209 MCHENRY AVE
MODESTO, CA 95350
(209) 522-1003
www.skipsmusic.com
Community-oriented Central Valley chain of instrument retail, rental and repair stores. Open M-F 11-8, Sat 10-6 and Sun 12-6. Minor repairs on guitars can usually be done in store same day.