The following is the Aug. 13 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
This just in: A new episode of “The Stacks” airs on YouTube today. The new local concert series brings you The Snares, a local psych-rock band, at Amatoria Fine Art Books. If you opt to stay in this weekend, it’s a great watch.
Looking for offline plans? The Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee is just a distant memory for longtime locals, but we’re swinging all the same this week. Read on for a guide to local groups that specialize in swing and big band sounds.
Also, we’ve got scoop on a book festival that’ll make your heart throb, a family-friendly festival with a dose of “Uptown Funk” and a poignant exhibit spotlighting local Japanese American history.
Let’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” and get moving!
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In your inbox every Thursday, Abridged's entertainment newsletter from Chris Macias highlights things to do in the Sacramento region.
Swing out, Sacramento County
The details:
- Movement Brewing, 11151 Trade Center Drive, Suite 104, Rancho Cordova
- 6 p.m., Aug. 15 (Saturday)
- Free
From classic swing and big band styles to Western interpretations and beyond, now’s a good time to practice those Lindy Hop steps or simply soak up jazz in stage band settings.
Start by checking out Sacramento’s Swing Collective, which performs Saturday at Movement Brewing in Rancho Cordova. The long-running group features up to 19 musicians, with a repertoire focusing on tunes popularized by the likes of the Count Basie Orchestra and Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Meanwhile, Midtown Stomp in West Sacramento is an epicenter of the local swing scene with its weekly dance lessons. It also hosts events with both live bands and DJs.
“From my vantage point, the Sacramento swing scene is experiencing a resurgence,” Swing Collective trumpeter Walter Benjamin wrote in an email. “(Sacramento) is fortunate to have several strong swing bands in the area … The community feels collaborative, not competitive and that’s part of what makes Sacramento special.”
Benjamin listed the Cunha Big Band, Moonlight Swing Living History Band and Metro Swing Band as core ensembles in the local scene. If classic swing like this is your thing, look for gigs from the Fred Morgan Big Band and Dick Harris Big Band as well.
Also, keep your ears peeled for the latest iteration of the Harley White Orchestra. The line-up includes nine to 10 musicians, including members of the fusion favorites LabRats, and is based on the size of the original Cotton Club Orchestra. Its latest program is a “Harlem Hit Parade” for swing dancers.
Here are more acts to get your swing and big band fix:
- Hank Biggs Band for swing and jump blues.
- Vibe Street Band swings on the cutting edge, including a big band arrangement of John Coltrane’s “After the Rain” with original lyrics.
- Dyana and the Cherry Kings mix swing with rockabilly tunes with era-appropriate fashion.
- Peter Petty and his various ensembles. Think powerhouse vocals with a stage persona that threads Cab Calloway and David Bowie.
Looking ahead, the Swing Collective is teaming with Moonlight Swing and the Fred Morgan Big Band on Sept. 19 for a three-hour dance at Mandarins Event Center. That joint will definitely be jumpin’.
“Performing in a big band is like being at the heart of a hurricane,” Swing Collective guitarist Ken Campbell wrote in an email. “It’s oversized, it’s loud, there’s a lot of furniture blowing around! I love the specific role of a big band guitarist. You’re a rhythm driver and also a percussionist, in a way. Way different than playing lead guitar in a rock band!”
A weekend of passionate prose
The details:
- Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St., Sacramento
- 11 a.m., Aug. 15-16 (Saturday and Sunday)
- $67.09-$163.99
Speaking of jazz, one of my favorite standards is “My Romance,” especially Bill Evans’ interpretation. All things love (and heartbreak) is also the theme of KnottyCon, which will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.
It’s a convention dedicated to romance books, with appearances from best-selling authors such as Naina Kumar and Lana Ferguson. The event also features writers’ workshops, vendors and panel discussions related to the romance genre. Head over and swoon away.
Where Natomas meets ‘24K Magic’
The details:
- South Natomas Community Center Park, 2921 Truxel Road, Sacramento
- 5 p.m., Aug. 15 (Saturday)
- Free
Need an evening out with the family, or just want to unwind with live music and some grub? If so, drop by the 16th annual Celebrate Natomas on Saturday.
South Natomas Community Center Park will be filled with bounce houses for the kids to burn energy, along with food trucks and a beer garden for grown folks to get their fill. Q-VO Band and its repertoire of oldies and soul will keep the crowd grooving, along with Bruno Mars covers from Finesse and young musicians from School of Rock.
Explore the roots of a local Japanese American community
The details:
- 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse, 36446 Riverview Drive, Clarksburg
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays through the end of 2026
- Free
One of the highlights of Sacramento summers is the Buddhist Church of Sacramento’s Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar, which celebrated its 80th anniversary last weekend. To dig deeper into the history and culture of the local Japanese American community, head to the 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse.
Its ongoing exhibit, “Roots and Resilience: The Japanese Farm Families of Clarksburg,” features a wealth of archival materials from the early and mid-20th century that depict this immigrant community through its challenges and triumphs. The exhibit is open Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the year.
More events you won’t want to miss
- A charming production of “Grease” at the Woodland Opera House from Aug. 13-16 (Thursday-Sunday)
- All-ages Kawaii Rave with anime remixes and cosplay at Goldfield Trading Post in Roseville on Aug. 14 (Friday)
- Take a watercolor on rice paper class at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center on Aug. 14 (Friday)
- Fill up at the Cultural Food and Art Expo at Leone Equestrian Center off Highway 16 in Sacramento County on Aug. 16 (Sunday)
Before I go,
Thanks again for all the great tips you’re sending to christo916@gmail.com. Keep them coming and see you next week!
