The following is the April 16 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.
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Are you ready for the weekend?
Anyone else counting down to May 1? That’s when this year’s Concerts in the Park season launches at Downtown Plaza Park (formerly called Cesar Chavez Plaza) and runs through June 26. It’s been a Sacramento tradition for more than 30 years, with free live music and a mighty beer garden to wind down the work week.
And there’s plenty going on in the meantime. This week, we’ve got the goods on a charitable music festival run by local high school students, a tribute to a jazz giant, poetry, choral music, a kid-friendly rave and more.
Let’s go!
A festival that feeds your ears and those in need
The details:
- Christian Brothers High School, 4315 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Sacramento
- 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., April 18 (Saturday)
- Pay what you can, $5suggested donation
The Feed the Beat festival is more than an afternoon of music from Christian Brothers High School students and alumni. It’s a lesson in philanthropy, collaboration and community care. Feed the Beat is organized entirely by students, from booking the food trucks and planning the musical program to lining up vendors and securing donations. All proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels in Sacramento.
Christian Brothers band teacher Ross Hammond says the idea came from Eddie Torres, a junior and bassist. As the festival nears, Hammond believes the student organizers are learning important life skills about teamwork and serving the greater good.
“Learning though experience how to collaborate with one another and coordinate events on their own is invaluable,” said Hammond in an email. “These are all great things to have in their toolbox as they navigate how to play music after high school.”
The musicians are all connected to Christian Brothers, including the House Band that gigs around Sacramento along with the Honors Band and more student ensembles. Some acts feature alumni like Hammond (class of ’95) with the all-star local band Senior Dog Appreciation Society. Along the way, plan for a variety of musical styles including jazz, R&B, rock and funk to set the soundtrack. No Sousa marches or traditional concert band literature here.
“I love seeing them figure out how to make opportunities for themselves,” Hammond said. “High school students are very busy with a full set of classes, sports, clubs, etc. This kind of event is 100% on their own time, which is limited, and they figured it out. I’m really proud of them.”
Honor a century of Coltrane
The details:
- Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, 523 Mrak Hall Dr., Davis
- 7:30 p.m., April 16 (Thursday)
- $45.50 – $100.50, discounts for UC Davis students/staff/faculty and children under 18
This upcoming Sept. 23 marks the 100th birthday of John Coltrane, but the celebrations are already starting. “Coltrane 100” tonight at UC Davis’ Mondavi Center pays homage to this modern jazz titan with a heavy hitting band that traverses Coltrane’s deep repertoire. Saxophonists Joe Lovano and Melissa Aldana will breathe new life into Coltrane tunes along with pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, bassist Linda May Han Oh and the mighty Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums.
So many choices of choral music
The details:
- First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St., Sacramento
- 8 p.m., April 17 (Friday); 2 p.m., April 19 (Sunday)
- $25 in advance, $30 at door.
Fans of choral music can plan on an action-packed weekend with a focus on requiems. On Friday and Sunday, the Samantics Choir will perform “In Paradisium,” written and conducted by Sam Schieber, of Sacramento. The work references such traditional requiems as “Agnus Dei” and “Kyrie” with a few updated and irreverent touches.
To make your choral music weekend complete, the Camelia Symphony performs the Mozart Requiem on Saturday at C.K. McClatchy High School. The performers are comprised of the Sacramento City College choir and the Davis Chorale.
Spend a poetic day in Gold Country
The details:
- The Center for the Arts, 314 W Main St., Grass Valley
- 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., April 18 (Saturday)
- $20-$45
April is National Poetry Month so head to the hills of Grass Valley for a full day of literary prose. The Center for the Arts will host the 10th annual Sierra Poetry Festival that includes readings and workshops from the greater Sacramento region and far beyond. Robert Haas, a Pulitzer Prize winner and former Poet Laureate of the United States, will serve as a guest speaker.
Dance at a rave for the (all) ages
- Goldfield Trading Post, 238 Vernon St., Roseville
- 11 a.m. April 19 (Sunday)
- $29.95
The family that raves together stays together. Even if your days of dancing ‘til dawn in a dusty warehouse are long gone, passing along the principles of PLUR (Peace Love Unity Respect) are always good form. Break out those old Jenco jeans, load up on glowsticks and head the family sedan to Goldfield Trading Post for “Golden: A K-Pop Kids Party.” The event’s described as an “all-ages rave,” but given the K-Pop theme plan on tracks from the likes of Blackpink, BTS, Twice and artists from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack.
More events you won’t want to miss
And the good times don’t stop. Let’s keep going with bonus picks for this weekend:
- Poetry Night with Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol at John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis on April 16.
- Sacramento Book Festival at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Sacramento on April 19.
- “A Song for You: The Music of Karen Carpenter” at the Harris Center in Folsom on April 19.
Before I go,
Don’t mean to vaguebook, but I’m looking forward to sharing news soon about a new way to discover events via Abridged. As always, stay in touch with Cultural Capital at christo916@gmail.com.
Chris Macias is a regular contributor, writing Cultural Capital for Abridged.