Hear that? It’s the scintillating sound of Sac’s live music venues beckoning you to a performance you’ll never forget.
The concert scene is truly unmatched in our area — from Golden 1 Center to Ace of Spades, there’s a stage for any type of tune. To get to know them all, you must do three things.
Put your hands in the air, wave ‘em like you just don’t care, then lay your eyes (and ears) on our guide.
Arena
Golden 1 Center
| 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento
Capacity: 17,608
The home of the Sacramento Kings has also become the region’s premier arena for musical performances — and is also the site of Kanye West’s infamous final tour date
.
Outdoor setting
Toyota Amphitheatre
| 2677 Forty Mile Rd., Wheatland
Capacity: 18,500
Known by many names in its 20+ year history, Toyota Amphitheatre has played host to a wide swath of tours + performers over the years — from Tim McGraw to Warped Tour, and everything in between.
The SAFE Credit Union Convention Center includes both the Performing Arts Center and Memorial Auditorium.
Photo by SACtoday staff
Concert halls
The Venue at Thunder Valley
| 1200 Athens Ave., Lincoln
Capacity: 4,500
One of our region’s newest venues — Thunder Valley is quickly becoming a hot destination after opening its doors with a sold-out weekend of performances from Bruno Mars, The Eagles, and Carlos Santana.
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
| 1301 L St., Sacramento
Capacity: 2,188
In addition to concerts, the Performing Arts Center also hosts plays, stand-up comedy, speakers, ballets, and more.
Hard Rock Live
| 3317 Forty Mile Rd., Wheatland
Capacity: 2,500
Whether it’s a rock concert, trade show, or MMA bout, Hard Rock’s venue is sure to offer both great acoustics + a great view.
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
| 1515 J St., Sacramento
Capacity: 3,867
What do Bob Dylan, Primus, the Rolling Stones, and Michael Buble have in common? They’ve all performed at the Memorial Auditorium.
Some of the sweetest guitar licks in all of Sac can be found right here.
Photo by SACtoday staff
Intimate spaces
Ace of Spades
| 1417 R St., Sacramento
Capacity: 1,000
This all-ages venue is a Sacramento staple, and is perfectly nestled among some of the best bars + restaurants the city has to offer.
Harlow’s
| 2708 J St., Sacramento
Capacity: 530
Blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll are king at this venue — complete with a bar + kitchen.
The Boardwalk
| 9426 Greenback Ln., Orangevale
Capacity: 1,250
Since 1987, acts such as Fall Out Boy, Joan Jett, Too $hort, Tech N9ne, and Paramore have graced the Boardwalk’s stage.
Torch Club
| 904 15th St., Sacramento
Capacity: 100
When people say “Every day I have the blues,” they’re really talking about the infectious tunes at this cocktail bar.
Cafe Colonial
| 3520 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento
Capacity: 150
Cafe Colonial is a great place to grab a bite to eat and discover your new favorite band.
Aftershock is always a headbanging good time.
Photo by @warren.b.mcleod
Music festivals
Aftershock
| 1600 Garden Highway, Sacramento
Attendance: 160,000
The West Coast’s largest rock festival has its home in the City of Trees.
Sol Blume
| 1600 Garden Highway, Sacramento
Attendance: 46,000
Vibe with these R&B sounds for two days of music and love.
GoldenSky
| 1600 Garden Highway, Sacramento
Attendance: 60,000
After its first two years, GoldenSky is quickly earning its spot in our hearts as the region’s preferred country music festival.