Where the Sound Lives
Venues
The stages, clubs, bars, and parks where Sacramento's music scene comes alive. Know before you go.
83 venues
Concert HallAce of Spades
R STREET CORRIDOR
Sacramento's go-to midsize venue on R Street. Books rock, hip-hop, and EDM. Key stop for touring acts and a pillar of the local rock and metal community.
Aftershock Festival
DISCOVERY PARK / NATOMAS
Annual rock/metal festival at Discovery Park every October.
Armadillo Music
DOWNTOWN DAVIS
Record store in Davis. Does all ages in-store performances.
Attic Venue
ROSEVILLE
All ages shows in Roseville.
Audio Nerd
ROCKLIN
Record store and gear shop in Rocklin that hosts all-ages punk and metal shows. Draws from the broader Sacramento underground scene despite being technically outside city limits.
Blue Lamp
SACRAMENTO
Longtime Sacramento blues, rock, and local music dive on Alhambra.
Jazz ClubButterscotch Den
OAK PARK
Intimate 75-cap jazz speakeasy in Oak Park. Features the Maloney Jazz Trio on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus Soul N' Steady DJs. Candlelit and classy.
C Street @ Second
DAVIS
Outdoor street venue in downtown Davis at the C Street and 2nd Street intersection. DMF stage location.
Music VenueCafé Colonial
SACRAMENTO
Iconic Sacramento punk venue booking 250 bands per year. Part-owned by Jim Cornett. The go-to spot for local and touring punk, metal, and hardcore acts.
Cal Expo
SACRAMENTO
Large outdoor festival grounds and fairgrounds — host to X Games music stages, Aftershock, Country in the Park, and other major Sacramento events.
Concert HallChannel 24
MIDTOWN (24TH STREET CORRIDOR)
Sacramento's newest midsize venue featuring balcony and standing room. Managed by Jon Gunton. Fresh sound, modern build.
Cinders Bar
SACRAMENTO
Occasional 21+ shows.
Clairvoyant Co.
AUBURN
New venue in Auburn.
Concerts in the Park
DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO
Free Friday night summer concert series in Cesar Chavez Plaza.
CornerSpot Karaoke
SACRAMENTO
Live music shows in an outdoor space.
Crest Theatre
DOWNTOWN
Historic theatre doing movies and events big and small.
Dawgpound Skateshop
DEL PASO BOULEVARD
Sacramento skateshop and physical distribution point for local tapes and records. Stocks releases from labels including Mullet Death Records (Secretion tapes). May also host shows.
Deep Skate
SACRAMENTO
Skateshop and all-ages show space at 7000 Franklin Blvd #618, Sacramento. All-ages format, $15 cap. Hosted underground punk/hardcore shows (Test Dream, Extinguish, Wise Guy, Uni, Torena — Jan 26, 2024).
Delta of Venus
DAVIS
Davis cafe/restaurant with live music. Long-running DMF venue.
Demo Spot
MIDTOWN
Multipurpose gallery, bookstore, music venue and event space founded by Esther Wang. Set between a cigar shop and Farmers Insurance on 16th Street. Hosts monthly art exhibitions, music events, pop-ups, and DIY shows. Curated zines and printed matter from local artists and independent presses.
Festival GroundsDiscovery Park
SACRAMENTO
Massive outdoor festival grounds hosting Aftershock and GoldenSky festivals. 50,000+ capacity. Where Sacramento goes big.
DNL Studios
SACRAMENTO
All ages performance/recording/practice space.
Doll Slum
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento DIY venue. Referenced for Punks for Palestine benefit show featuring Aruspex and others (January 2024).
Downtown Davis (Davis Music Fest)
DAVIS
Multi-venue outdoor festival footprint across downtown Davis, CA. Annual Davis Music Fest presented by the all-volunteer Davis Live Music Collective. Three-day, multi-genre event held mid-June. All proceeds benefit local arts education nonprofits. All ages.
F.O.E. Hall
SOUTH SACRAMENTO
Eagles Hall Aerie 9 — Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge hall in South Sacramento. Used for local DIY shows and community events. Founded 1899. Spacious hall format.
Saloon & Music VenueFolsom Hotel
HISTORIC FOLSOM
A saloon (not actually a hotel) in Historic Folsom hosting bluegrass and country music.
Pub & Music VenueFox and Goose
R STREET CORRIDOR / MIDTOWN
Historic Sacramento pub hosting live music across genres. A longtime fixture of the R Street corridor.
Bar & Music VenueGaslight Company
HISTORIC FOLSOM
Folsom venue known for its Wednesday open mic nights running over 10 years. Hosts all genres.
ArenaGolden 1 Center
DOWNTOWN COMMONS
Sacramento's major arena venue in the Downtown Commons district. Hosts national touring acts, NBA games, and large-scale concerts.
Golden Bear
MIDTOWN
21+ bar with variety of live music Sunday nights.
Bar & Music VenueGoldfield Trading Post
SACRAMENTO
Two-location venue (Midtown and Roseville) with food and drink. Books blues, metal, country, and hip-hop. Half bar, half music venue, all Sacramento.
Green Room Social Club
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN PLACERVILLE
Live music in Placerville.
Casino VenueHard Rock Live
SACRAMENTO
Casino-based concert venue with approximately 2,500 capacity. National touring acts in a casino setting.
Music VenueHarlow's
MIDTOWN
Midtown Sacramento's premier live music venue.
Performing Arts CenterHarris Center for the Arts
FOLSOM
Arts center at Folsom Lake College hosting professional and student performances.
Heart Health Park
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento Republic FC stadium at Cal Expo, also a venue for festivals and large concerts including the Holo Holo Sacramento Music Festival.
Music VenueHoly Diver
MIDTOWN
Key venue for Sacramento's rock and metal community. Part of the circuit alongside Ace of Spades and The Boardwalk.
Lounge ON20
SACRAMENTO
Rooftop jazz lounge atop the Citizen Hotel.
Luna's Cafe
SACRAMENTO
Folk, poetry, and acoustic room in Midtown.
Marilyn's on K
SACRAMENTO
K Street bar/venue hosting cover bands and tribute acts.
Performing Arts CenterMondavi Center
DAVIS
Regional performing arts center at UC Davis focusing on world music and cultural acts.
Mulvaney's B&L
SACRAMENTO
Midtown restaurant that occasionally hosts acoustic and jazz sets.
All-Ages VenueMusicLandria
SACRAMENTO
501(c)3 nonprofit serving as a drum hub, all-ages venue, and makerspace. Alcohol-free. Offers memberships, mentorship, and artist residencies.
Odd Fellows Upper Hall
DAVIS
Davis Odd Fellows Lodge upper hall. Used as a stage during DMF and other community events.
Bar & Music VenueOld Ironsides
MIDTOWN
Historic Midtown venue — the first Sacramento bar to receive a liquor license after Prohibition. Hosts punk, indie, and everything in between.
Old Soul (Oak Park)
OAK PARK
Coffee shop in Oak Park running a weekly Sunday jazz series. Alex Jenkins Trio plays here regularly. Part of a separate jazz ecosystem that runs parallel to the punk/underground coverage.
Pangaea Two Brews Cafe
SACRAMENTO
Curtis Park craft beer and coffee spot that hosts local shows.
Phono Select
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento record store and music hub. Described by Lee Osh as "the whole world's bestest record store." Stocks local CDs, cassettes, and vinyl. Hosts outdoor festivals including Charles Albright Fest (August 2024). Key physical discovery point for the Sacramento underground.
Pub & Music VenuePowerhouse Pub
HISTORIC FOLSOM
Folsom pub hosting blues, rock, originals, covers, and karaoke. A go-to for the Folsom live music crowd.
Press Club
MIDTOWN
21+ bar with live music in downtown Sacramento.
Pus Cavern Recording
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento recording and rehearsal studio. DIY underground institution — records punk, metal, and hardcore bands in the local scene. Lockout rehearsal available.
Red Museum
MANSION FLATS
Alternative music/art/event space.
DIY VenueSac Bicycle Kitchen
MIDTOWN SACRAMENTO
Volunteer-run DIY space hosting a Second Saturday music series May through September. Garage bands and community energy.
Sacramento Community Center Theater
DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO
Downtown performing arts theater — now part of SAFE Credit Union Convention Center.
Historic HallSacramento Memorial Auditorium
SACRAMENTO
Historic 3,800-capacity auditorium hosting touring acts, cultural events, and community gatherings since the 1920s.
Sacramento Turn Verein
SACRAMENTO
Historic German-American cultural hall in East Sac. Hosts music events.
Sacyard Taphouse
EAST SACRAMENTO
Brewery with live music.
TheaterSAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO
Modern performing arts center hosting metal, orchestras, musicals, and large-scale performances. 2,500 capacity.
Gallery & VenueSelf Designs Art Gallery
SACRAMENTO
Multi-use gallery across from DOCO with rotating art exhibitions. Hosts hip-hop, poetry, and experimental jazz performances.
Bar & Music VenueShady Lady Saloon
SACRAMENTO
1920s speakeasy-vibe venue on R Street near Ace of Spades. Books jazz, swing, soul, and DJ sets. Cocktails and atmosphere.
Shine Sacramento
MANSION FLATS
Community cafe and venue near Alkali Flat, hosting acoustic and poetry nights.
Silver Lining
MIDTOWN
Piano bar in downtown Sacramento that hosts a variety of events.
SMASH Sacramento
SACRAMENTO
All ages DIY shows in a rage room.
Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts
SACRAMENTO
Home of B Street Theatre. Intimate performing arts venue.
Sol Collective
SACRAMENTO
Cultural and community arts space on 21st Street. Hip-hop, spoken word, workshops.
Sophia's Thai Kitchen
DAVIS
Davis restaurant with live music programming. Recurring DMF venue.
Sudwerk Brewing Co.
DAVIS
Davis brewery with outdoor stage. Hosts Davis Music Fest sets — see the festival entry for context.
Cafe & Practice SpaceSweet Music Studio Cafe
SUNRISE MARKETPLACE, CITRUS HEIGHTS
New venue opened January 2026 by Evelyn Guizar. Combines a cafe with practice and rehearsal space. Coffee, beer, wine, and community.
Outdoor VenueThe Backyard
CAL EXPO
600-capacity outdoor venue behind Rock & Brews near Cal Expo. Open-air shows in the Sacramento sun.
Music VenueThe Boardwalk
SACRAMENTO
Rock venue reopened in 2022 by Palm Tree Brewing with improved sound and lighting. Part of Sacramento's rock and metal venue circuit.
The Bunker
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento DIY venue. Hosted Anime Aliens and Rent Romus show (March 29, 2024).
The Colony
TAHOE PARK / STOCKTON BLVD
All-ages punk/DIY venue near Cafe Colonial.
Listening RoomThe Side Door
CURTIS PARK
110-capacity listening room focused on acoustic, roots, and singer-songwriter performances. Quiet crowd, quality sound.
Listening RoomThe Starlet Room
SACRAMENTO
Polished, cozy 150-cap venue above Harlow's. Owned by Jim Cornett. Books indie, hip-hop, and singer-songwriter acts in an intimate setting.
barThe Torch Club
DOWNTOWN
Family-run blues bar since 1934, now in its 4th location. Owned by Marina Texeira (3rd generation). Blues jam Sundays, Mind X Thursdays. A Sacramento institution.
Casino VenueThunder Valley - The Venue
LINCOLN
Casino-based concert venue in Lincoln with great sightlines. Books national touring acts in the Sacramento region.
Outdoor AmphitheaterToyota Amphitheatre
WHEATLAND
Major outdoor amphitheater about 45 minutes from Sacramento in Wheatland. National touring acts all summer.
Restaurant & Jazz VenueTwin Lotus Thai
SACRAMENTO
Thai restaurant with intimate jazz dinner performances. About 50 capacity, reservations required. Dinner and live jazz in one.
Two Rivers Cider
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento cidery and tap room. Loft above the tap room was used by Cider Sessions as a live-recording space (2019–2020). Continues to host live music.
Uptown Takeout
NORTH SACRAMENTO
Sacramento venue referenced in 2025 scene data. Details thin — research address and show history.
Verge Center for the Arts
SOUTHSIDE PARK
Artist studios and gallery in Southside Park, occasional live performances.
Watermelon Music
DAVIS
Davis music store with occasional all ages live music.
Outdoor AmphitheaterZittel Family Amphitheater
HISTORIC FOLSOM
Outdoor amphitheater in Historic Folsom hosting the Twilight Concert Series on Wednesdays from June through August.
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