Who’s playing at Sacramento-area music festivals this summer? Here’s the lineup
As the weather gets warmer, star performers are headed for Sacramento-area stages.
A variety of music festivals are planned for the spring and summer, and some of the lineups have already been announced.
Here are some of the big names playing at each event, when they’ll perform and how much tickets cost before fees:
Elk Grove Spring Music Festival
When: May 11
Where: Laguna Town Hall amphitheater, 3020 Renwick Ave. in Elk Grove
Noel Goudin will headline a new R&B music festival, the Elk Grove Spring Music Festival.
Also performing during the outdoor event, which runs from noon to 7 p.m., are Agape Soul and Carla Fleming.
According to the festival’s EventBrite page, there will also be food trucks, beer, and a wine and spirits garden.
Admission starts at $55, while tickets for kids ages 10 to 17 are $35 and children 5 to 9 years old are $20.
VIP tickets, which include a table and hospitality tent, are $85 apiece.
Country in the Park
When: May 17 and 18
Where: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento
Radio station New Country 105.1 is hosting the 24th annual Country in the Park with headlining artists Brantley Gilbert, Dustin Lynch, Jake Owen and Walker Hayes.
Other performers include Michael Ray, Chase Matthew and Ingrid Andress.
There will also be line dance lessons, a mechanical bull, ax throwing and a food festival with more than 30 food trucks, according to the Country in the Park website.
Two-day general admission tickets are $85 and single-day tickets are $46.
There’s a two-day Pit Pass for $230 that grants concertgoers access to the pit area in front of the stage, plus a private bar.
VIP passes, which are $290, get you fast-track entrance, access to two VIP lounges, complimentary dinner, indoor bathrooms and exclusive bars.
Single-day Pit Passes and VIP tickets are $130 and $160, respectively.
Bottlerock
When: May 24 to 26
Where: Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St. in Napa
This year’s Bottlerock music festival features Stevie Nicks, Megan Thee Stallion, Pearl Jam, Kali Uchis, Ed Sheeran and Queens of the Stone Age.
Other performers during the three-day festival include Nelly, T-Pain, Dominic Fike and Norah Jones.
Three-day tickets are sold out, but you can still get one-day general admission tickets for either Friday or Sunday for $233. Tickets for Saturday were sold out as of early April.
One-day and three-day VIP tickets are also sold out.
Concerts in the Park
When: Every Friday from May 3 to July 2
Where: Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I St. in Sacramento
Concerts in the Park is described as “California’s largest, longest-running free music festival,” according to Downtown Sacramento’s website.
You can catch a free show from 5 to 9 p.m. every Friday, starting May 3.
Typically, the night begins with a DJ performance, followed by opening acts and then a headlining act.
Artists playing this summer include Destroy Boys, Royel Otis, Arden Park Roots, Michael Marcagi and Nate Curry.
The lineup also includes Kool John, Claire Write and Blame My Youth.
This year, the festival will extend from the plaza at Ninth and J streets to 10th Street, organizers said on Instagram.
AAPI Night Market
When: May 31
Where: Capitol Mall in Sacramento
The Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce is hosting its AAPI Night Market at Capitol Mall in May.
The event celebrates local Asian American and Pacific Islander culture with live entertainment and vendors.
This year’s musical headliners are Tokimonsta and P-Lo. Honor Kung Fu Academy, Soosh! and Koyasan Spirit of Children Taiko Drumming will also perform.
Admission costs $25, or $20 for students, seniors and Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce members. Kids 6 and under are free.
VIP tickets are $150 and give you access to a VIP lounge, designated restrooms, premium stage viewing, event merchandise and complimentary food and drinks.
Tickets are available online.
Sad Summer Festival 2024
When: July 11
Where: The Backyard, 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento
The Sad Summer Festival is coming to Sacramento’s newest outdoor music venue, The Backyard.
The festival is celebrating its fifth anniversary on tour and will feature bands such as Mayday Parade, The Maine, The Wonder Years and We The Kings.
Admission starts at $59.50. Children under 5 years old are not allowed.
California State Fair
When: July 12 to 28
Where: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento
The California State Fair will present the Toyota Concert Series, featuring a different headlining artist every day of the fair.
The concerts are free with state fair admission. There’s also reserved seating for $25.
Organizers have started rolling out the lineup for the concert series. So far, headliners include rapper Flo Rida, country singer Chris Young and rock band Bush.
There’s a total of 17 shows.
Last year, the fair presented a star-studded lineup including Ashanti, LeeAnn Rimes, Third Eye Blind and Fitz and the Tantrums.
Farm-to-Fork Festival
When: Sept. 20 and 21
Where: Capitol Mall, Third to Seventh streets in Sacramento
The Farm-to-Fork music and food festival returns to Capitol Mall this fall.
As of Tuesday, the free festival hadn’t announced its lineup for 2024. Last year’s musical acts included Cannons and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals.
Holo Holo
When: Sept. 21 and 22
Where: Heart Health Park at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento
Traveling music festival Holo Holo returns to Sacramento for a celebration of island and reggae music.
The two-day festival features performances by Kolohe Kai, J Boog, Maoli, The Green and more.
Holo Holo will stop in Las Vegas in April and San Diego in July.
General admission tickets for two days of Sacramento concerts are $163, or $113 for children ages 4 to 10.
Single-day passes for Saturday or Sunday are $106, or $81 for kids.
VIP passes for both days start at $348 and single-day VIP passes are $168.
Sol Blume music festival postponed to 2025
Sol Blume, Sacramento’s annual R&B, soul and hip hop festival, was originally scheduled to take place in May at Discovery Park.
However, winter rains resulted in flooding at the park, forcing organizers to postpone the event.
“Although the park is no longer flooded, the damage remains,” organizers said on an Instagram post on April 19 — two weeks before the festival was to take place. “Due to significant site damage and growing safety concerns, we will not be able to host this year’s festival.”
Sol Blume will now take place Aug. 15 to Aug. 17, 2025, organizers announced on social media.
The festival is also permanently moving to late summer, instead of May, to avoid weather-related issues in the future.
The Sacramento Bee reported a day before the announcement that Sacramento County officials informed the organizers — ENT Legends — in early May of the park conditions and advised against the event.
Sol Blume’s 2024 lineup included Snoh Aalegra, Kaytramine and SZA.
Those who purchased tickets for the 2024 festival will get an automatic upgrade in pass tiers for the 2025 event.
Emails regarding refunds will be issued to customers starting noon on Nonday, according to Sol Blume. Individuals have until May 17 to request a refund.
Did we miss a music festival? Let us know below.
This story was originally published April 9, 2024 at 2:07 PM.