SacMusicBlog

Sacramento semi-legend Sal Valentino first found fame as the singer and main man in the 60s band The Beau Brummels (Laugh Laugh, Just A Little) and also the cult favorite Stoneground. Now he is performing as a singer-songwriter. As for Ricky Berger, she is one of Sacramento’s unique women singer to blend pop, country, jazz, and her own charismatic style. More information about the show can be found here.

To complete the evening, Sal and Ricky will join forces for a medley of duets that span countless generations across the entire musical spectrum. This vocal pairing combines all of the essential ingredients for a perfect evening: experience, new vision, the joy of timeless songs, and of course the lush strings directed by local Sacramento icon, David Houston.

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Of course, we like the music best, but the whole event will be fun and it’s free!

Local musicians Ricky Berger, Autumn Sky, Katie Jane, and Drew Walker will be playing. For a schedule of who plays when, what art will be there, fashion, crafts, and other info, go here. They describe it as “A creative block party, hosted by Westfield Downtown Plaza, featuring artists, craft vendors, live music, food, drinks, a beer garden and more. And it’s all free. Twenty to 30 local artist/craft/fashion/pet vendors.” What’s not to like?

Saturday, 11/21, 12-6pm at Westfield Downtown Plaza.

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More free concerts in parks! Is this a great town or what?!! Gather round Fremont Park at 1515 Q Street on Thursdays for free music from some fine local bands and artists. Food will be available from Hot Italian also. Shows run from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. The lineup:

Aug. 20 – Blvd Park – alternative folk
Aug. 27 – Kate Gaffney – country folk blues
Sept. 3 – Richard March – country
Sept. 10 – Ricky Berger – jazz folk
Sept. 17 – Syncro – funky soul
Sept. 24 – Walking Spanish – Americana blues rock

Hot Lunch Concert Series web site

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There’s still a few chances to check out a FREE concert this summer at Cesar Chavez Park in downtown. These shows are still coming up, starting with the one tonight!

July 17 – The Snobs, The No Goodniks, Phantom Jets, The Cockfight Kings
July 24 – Baby Grand, Ricky Berger, Pop Lollys, Dog Party
July 31 – Brodys, Goodness Gracious, The Broken Poet
August 7 – Rowdy Kate, Hellbound Glory, Flounder

Lots of great local music, see you there!!

The free Friday Night Concerts are back! Same place as previous years, at Cesar Chavez Park at 10th and J Street. The shows run from 5 PM top 9 PM.

Here’s the lineup for this year:

May 1 – Sol Peligro, Retrograde Revolution, La Noche Oskura
May 8 – Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, The Fortunate Few
May 15 – Warp 11, The Kimberly Trip, I Scream on Sundae
May 22 – Two Sheds, Agent Ribbons, Silver Darling, Buildings Breeding
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The annual Sacramento Music Awards (The Sammies) were held on July 17th at the Crest Theater. You can view the results on the Sacramento News & Review site. Our friend and fellow music lover Mike D attended, here is his take on the evening:

The Sammies were different this year.  A different MC.  There were only about 6 or 7 groups that played.  But each group played about 5 songs.  I would rather have seen more groups playing 2 or three songs.  My favorite was Butterscotch, fronted by a black chick who did a bunch of base noises and brass noises just with her mouth, while playing another instrument and singing.  She could do the whole thing without any help, but on several of her songs she had a couple others filling in the cracks.  She did different things, some jazzy, some hip hoppity. 

Also saw The Losin’ Streaks (metal – a couple big guitars), The Evening Episode, An Angle (basic rock and roll – I liked them), Live Mannikins (four hip hop dudes – they were also good), Ricky Berger (kind of cute, softer, talented, somewhat quirky), The New Humans (I don’t remember much about them).  Some very attractive women called the Body something or other giving out the awards.

So did you go? And if so what did you think?

It’s almost here! This coming Thursday, the 17th, will be the annual Sacramento Music Awards (the Sammies) at the Crest Theater. Performers this year include Butterscotch, The New Humans, Ricky Berger, Live Manikins, Th’ Losin Streaks, An Angle and The Evening Episode. For more info, visit the Sammies site. See you Thursday!