Electric Christmas is an annual winter concert presented by Sacramento alternative-radio station Radio 94.7, featuring a multi-act bill of national and international indie-rock, electro-pop and dance acts at large Sacramento arenas.[1][2]
At a glance
- Presented by Sacramento's alt-radio station Radio 94.7.[1]
- Annual holiday-season concert; the Dec. 8, 2016 edition was billed as the fourth annual.[2][3]
- Has been staged at Sleep Train Arena (2013, 2014), Sacramento Memorial Auditorium (2015), and at the downtown Golden 1 Center (2016, 2017).[1][2][4][5][6]
- Multi-act bills drawing "festival-level" national and international touring artists.[2]
- Sacramento turntablist DJ Zephyr served as the between-sets house DJ at the 2016 edition.[7]
What it is
Electric Christmas is a yearly concert produced by Radio 94.7, described as Sacramento's alternative-radio station.[1] It assembles a multi-band bill of indie-rock, electro-pop, "radio rock," indie/pop/soul and dance acts for a holiday-season show.[1][2] Submerge characterized the 2016 lineup as "festival-level bands."[2] Tickets were positioned as affordable, starting around $44 in 2014 and at $36 for the 2016 edition.[1][2] The 2015 edition was priced at $55.[6] Ticketing and information were handled through outlets such as Radio947.net and Electricconcert.com.[1][2]
History and editions
The event recurs annually around early-to-mid December. The inaugural Electric Christmas was held on December 4, 2013 at Sleep Train Arena, with a lineup of Cage the Elephant, Alt-J, Grouplove, Capital Cities, The Features, and MS MR.[5] Submerge described the Dec. 8, 2016 show as the "fourth annual" Electric Christmas, consistent with a 2013 first edition.[2][3]
- Dec. 4, 2013 — Held at Sleep Train Arena. Lineup: Cage the Elephant, Alt-J, Grouplove, Capital Cities, The Features, and MS MR.[5]
- Dec. 10, 2014 — Held at Sleep Train Arena. Top-billed by Bush, with Young the Giant and Fitz and the Tantrums, plus Vance Joy, Big Data and Joywave. Tickets started around $44; doors at 5:30 p.m., music at 6:30 p.m.[1]
- Dec. 9, 2015 — Held at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Headlined by Bastille, Cold War Kids, Robert DeLong, and Saint Motel. Tickets were $55.[6]
- Dec. 8, 2016 (fourth annual) — Held at Golden 1 Center, the then-new downtown Sacramento arena. The all-ages show started at 6 p.m. (with music beginning at the announced 6:30 p.m. start time[3]) with tickets at $36 (on sale Oct. 14, 2016).[2][7] The lineup featured Capital Cities (Los Angeles), Milky Chance (Germany), Glass Animals (UK), The Naked and Famous (originally New Zealand, by way of Los Angeles) and Warpaint (Los Angeles).[2][7] Submerge reported the show as sold out.[7] Despite rainy weather, thousands of indie music fans attended, with the show concluding around 11 p.m.[3]
- Dec. 7, 2017 (fifth annual) — Held at Golden 1 Center for the second consecutive year. Headlined by The Lumineers with Portugal. The Man and Walk the Moon.[8][9][10] Radio 94.7 reduced the number of performing acts from five to three compared to prior years, and the show was sold out.[9] Holiday production elements included a Santa Claus character roaming the arena and artificial snow falling from the rafters during "Let it Snow."[9] During their encore, The Lumineers covered Tom Petty's "Walls (Circus)" as a tribute.[9]
Venues
The 2013 and 2014 editions were held at Sleep Train Arena.[1][5] The 2015 edition moved to Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.[6] By 2016 the event had moved to Golden 1 Center, the newly opened downtown Sacramento arena (located at 500 David J Stern Walk), which Submerge framed as making the venue's programming "a whole lot more hip" alongside the building's baby-boomer and sports bookings.[2][7] The 2017 edition was again at Golden 1 Center.[8][9][10]
The 2016 show
At the fourth annual edition, Sacramento's own DJ Zephyr — a turntablist and hip-hop producer — served as a one-man house band, playing between sets to keep the crowd moving during changeovers.[7] Submerge praised the sound production and the acts' adherence to set times.[7] The evening opened with Warpaint and The Naked and Famous, continued with Glass Animals and Milky Chance, and closed with Capital Cities, who performed with an expanded live lineup including trumpet and jazz vibraphone.[7] According to Dorks and Losers, rainy weather did not deter the crowd, with thousands of indie music fans attending and the show running from the announced 6:30 p.m. start through to approximately 11 p.m.[3]
The 2017 show
The fifth annual Electric Christmas marked the second consecutive year at Golden 1 Center.[9][10] The Golden 1 Center press release described The Lumineers as "the independent American trio out of Denver," Portugal. The Man as an "American rock band" from Wasilla, Alaska, and Walk the Moon as an "American indie-rock band" known for their breakout hit "Shut Up and Dance."[10] The show was sold out, and Radio 94.7 trimmed the bill to three acts compared to the five-act lineups of earlier years.[9] Holiday staging included a Santa Claus character and fake snow that fell from the rafters during "Let it Snow."[9] The Lumineers closed their encore with a cover of Tom Petty's "Walls (Circus)" as a tribute.[9]
Notable recurring relationship
Electric Christmas has served as a Sacramento tour stop for acts profiled by Submerge in the run-up to their appearances, including Capital Cities ahead of the 2016 show and The Lumineers ahead of the 2017 show.[8][4] Capital Cities used the date to road-test material from their forthcoming album, having recently expanded their live band with vibraphonist Justefan (Justin Thomas) and a classical guitarist.[4]