Nightlife & Entertainment picks

Pop the night away

Concerts at the Golden 1 Center

An absurd number of big-name pop stars are coming to the Golden 1 Center this summer. Some are contemporary favorites, others are old-school royalty, and a few may surprise you for still performing at all—in other words, yes, Enrique Iglesias is still culturally relevant and reuniting with Pitbull on Thursday, June 8. Other dates to keep in mind: Bruno Mars on Tuesday, July 18; Lionel Richie with Mariah Carey on Saturday, July 22; Daryl Hall and John Oates with Tears for Fears on Sunday, July 23; John Mayer on Thursday, July 27; Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on Friday, July 28; Ed Sheeran with James Blunt on Tuesday, August 1; Neil Diamond on Wednesday, August 2; and Lady GaGa on Tuesday, August 15. Oh, and on the unusually not-pop side of things, Tool returns to town on Friday, June 23, in case you missed out on last year’s Aftershock Festival. Overall, that’s a lot of Grammy Awards and star power about to grace downtown Sacramento’s biggest stage. Ticket prices vary—obviously.

500 David J Stern Walk, (916) 701-5400, www.golden1center.com. J.B.

Laugh off the patriarchy

Fem Dom Com

Laugh your tush off at Fox & Goose’s only regular comedy showcase, Fem Dom Com. The name stands for female-dominated comedy, as every lineup matches up four funny women with one token male. This formula is the opposite of most Sacramento standup comedy shows, which too often feature only one woman on the bill—if any at all. You can expect a fresh energy, vibe and point of view, all the while fighting the patriarchy in perhaps the most fun way possible. Sacramento comics Jaime Fernandez and Emma Haney host the show and often recruit rad ladies from out of town to perform alongside local favorites. Check the Fox & Goose’s calendar for exact times and dates.

1001 R Street, (916) 443-8825, https://foxandgoose.com. J.B.

All that jazz—and more

Sacramento Music Festival

Over the years the Sacramento Music Festival has evolved—it morphed out of the long-running Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, after all. The annual festival, which has has expanded to include myriad genres, kicks off over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and will feature more than 50 bands with a focus on jazz, Latin, brass and swing music. Sponsored by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, this year’s featured bands include Todd Morgan & the Emblems, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, High Street Band, Zydeco Flames, Sister Swing, Steelin’ Dan, and many more. The festival happens at venues throughout Old Sacramento, and a schedule as well as various ticket options—including full passes—are now available online.

Friday, May 26, through Monday, May 29; $10-$300; www.sacmusicfest.com. M.K.

The concert that rocks the block

PorchFest

House shows take on a whole ‘nother level of summery vibes at PorchFest, when musicians play on literal porches to anyone who happens to be on the block, for free. This year, the event was rescheduled from May to September 17 (noon-6 p.m.) because of “too much pushback from East Sac residents,” according to PorchFest’s Facebook page. Now, the location is up in the air, and the organizers are polling for solid neighborhoods. In its first two years in Midtown, the concert series also took place during early fall, a perfectly temperate time for open-air tunes. Past performers include Joe Kye, Be Brave Bold Robot, Dog Rifle, So Much Light and the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera—established local acts that are pleasing to most ears and shouldn’t have the neighbors clamoring through their windows to shut it down. What a perfect way to ease from summer into fall. Want to get involved? Organizers are currently looking for volunteers.

www.sacporchfest.com. R.H.

Explosions in the sky

Fireworks at Raley Field

Traditionally, we gather around the tree for Christmas and the dinner table for Thanksgiving. So for America’s birthday, it’s fitting to convene at Raley Field. The Cats will be out of town on July 4, but the ballpark will still host pushup and hot-dog-eating contests (hopefully in that order), live music and arguably the best fireworks show in town. Starting at 6 pm, there will be a bevy of food-truck options including Drewski’s, Cowtown Creamery and Cousins Maine Lobster. A $10 ticket gets you access to all that, plus a primo seat for when the colorful explosions in the sky begin at 9:30 p.m.

6 p.m. Tuesday, July 4; $10; 400 Ballpark Drive in West Sacramento, www.raleyfield.com. J.F.

Sunshine and good times

The Barn

One of Sacramento’s newest multi-event venues, the Barn will be holding several events over the summer, from farmers markets to live music. The expansive, eye-catching outdoor space, which sits on the bank of the Sacramento River in West Sacramento, makes for a lovely way to enjoy the region’s copious summer sunshine. Dates have yet to be finalized but are expected to be available through its website by late May. Events this summer will include three farmers markets on Thursday evenings sponsored by the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. As The Barn undergoes renovation it will move into its second season playing host to Drake’s Brewing Co., which will fully open in the fall. In the meantime, watch for the Off the Grid Food Festival which returns to The Barn, and will feature weekly Saturday night events with live music, food trucks, and libations. Off the Grid begins in late May, though no date has yet been confirmed.

985 Riverfront Street in West Sacramento, http://barn.thebridgedistrict.com. M.K.

Double punk trouble

Rancid and Dropkick Murphys

In 1998, Rancid guitarist Lars Frederiksen produced Dropkick Murphy’s first full-length album, Do or Die. Nearly 20 years later, this double-bill reunites them in a display of the diverse sounds that fit under the punk umbrella. Hailing from Berkeley, Rancid takes many of its cues from the ska-loving legends the Clash, while also possessing a mastery of catchy hooks—“Time Bomb” chief among them. And perhaps no band is more associated with any city than Dropkick Murphys are with Boston. Mashing Celtic folk, growly guitars and raunchy storytelling, the band scored the Red Sox historic title run as well as Scorsese’s mob epic The Departed. Local punk legend Kevin Seconds opens the show.

6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 19; $45; Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street; www.sacramento memorialauditorium.com. J.F.

Let it glow

Blacklight Slide Glow-in-the-Dark Party

We’re not sure what the event organizers put in the water to make it glow neon, but the Blacklight Slide Glow-in-the-Dark Party, which takes place in early September, is at the tail end of what will likely be a long, hot summer after a long, wet winter. So what the heck, get crazy. End the summer on a glowing note at this deejayed party, which is kind of like a rave held at a water park: dancing and unlimited trips down a black-light waterslide with illuminated liquid. Tickets are $50 and include a glow-in-the-dark temporary tattoo and towel. Heads-up, crazy peeps: It’s a family-friendly event, but slide riders must be 42 inches tall (or 5 years old), and it’s BYOIT (bring your own inner tube).

6 p.m., Saturday, September 9; Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive in West Sacramento; www.blacklightslide.com/sacramentoca. S.