The following is the Jan. 29 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.
January is just about a wrap and the rest of the year continues to show promise with local arts and entertainment. The city of Sacramento introduced a Limited Entertainment Permit to help streamline the process for restaurants/cafes, bars and small venues to host live music and entertainment. An outreach and training meeting for interested parties will be held today at 5 p.m.
Could this permit finally cut through the red tape that’s long been a sticking point in Sacramento? We’ll stay on top of it.
Meanwhile, we have another busy week that includes jazzy offerings at two new spots, a screen-printing workshop, electric guitar wizardry, a shriek-fest of a film festival and more.
Let’s get it!
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In your inbox every Thursday, Abridged's entertainment newsletter from Chris Macias highlights things to do in the Sacramento region.
Dig into jazz, art and culture on the boulevard
The details:
- Angel’s Center for the Arts, 1019 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento
- 6 p.m. Jan. 31 (Saturday)
- $30 advance, $40 at door
Billie Holiday’s vocals ring eternal with their impeccable phrasing and emotional power. Leave it to Vivian Lee to give a proper tribute to “Lady Day” and the songs she made classic. Vivian’s own vocals have been a hallmark of Sacramento’s jazz scene for more than two decades. Now, she’s helping set off the new year at “Blues & Beauties on the Boulevard,” presented by Culture Lounge on Friday at Angel’s Center for the Arts.
Along with Vivian and her quartet, the event includes comedy, cultural education, visual art and more live music from Q-Vo, a band that specializes in lowrider oldies that’ll make you want to cruise Del Paso Boulevard. In all, a wonderful slice of Sacramento arts and soul.
Plant yourself at a new spot for jazz
The details:
- Village of OM, 1915 S St., Sacramento
- 7 p.m. Jan. 30 (Friday)
- Free with dinner reservation
In other jazzy news, looks like there’s a new spot to get your be-bop and beyond at The Village of OM, a plant-based sushi restaurant in Midtown Sacramento. Along with serving up vegetable-based rolls and nigiri made from mushroom and seared eggplant, you’ll find the Harley White Jr. Trio playing on Friday. The veteran jazz bassist and bandleader is part of a jazz and R&B music series that includes drummer Jacob Swedlow of LabRats fame in a trio setting (Feb. 6) and soulful vocals from Melania Owens (Feb. 27).
Take a screen-printing workshop that builds community
The details:
- Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer (TANA), 1224 Lemen Ave., Woodland
- 1 p.m. Jan. 31 (Saturday)
- Free
The art of screen-printing stretches back many centuries, but in more recent times emerged as a popular medium for protest art and concert posters. Whether you want to fight the power or just express yourself, staff and interns at TANA are ready to guide you. Their free workshop on Saturday is open to all ages and includes a primer on how prints are made and their importance in Chicano/a art history. All participants will leave with a two-color 8 x 11 print, a 3 x 4 rubber stamp print and the feeling of an afternoon well spent.
Bow down to electric guitar greatness
The details:
- The Boardwalk, 9426 Greenback Ln., Orangevale
- 8 p.m. Jan. 29 (Thursday)
- $59.46
If you like guitar heroics but could do without the pointy headstocks and tired Van Halen-isms, Matteo Mancuso is just the shredder for you. He’s a prodigious player from Sicily with a fingerstyle technique that flies across his strings, humbling would-be guitar gods in their wake. Hear Matteo and his prog-rock musical stylings on Friday at The Boardwalk, where janitors will likely need to mop up from all the dropped jaws on the floor.
Binge on hours of horror films
The details:
- Colonial Theatre, 3522 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento
- 12:30 p.m. Jan. 31 (Saturday)
- $34.99
In more early-2026 good news, the Colonial Theatre in south Sacramento recently debuted an upgrade. On Saturday, the 19th annual Sacramento Horror Film Festival will help break the place in with a nearly 12 hour event that includes a slew of short, scary films and an after-party concert with spooky singing styles from Aurelio Voltaire. Eek!
More events you won’t want to miss
Let’s keep it going with bonus picks for this week and beyond:
- The Little Mermaid at Woodland Opera House starting Jan. 30 through Feb. 14
- Baby Grendel, Art School Debt and Star Eyes at Musiclandria in Sacramento on Jan. 31.
- Fleetwood Macrame tribute to Fleetwood Mac at Goldfield Trading Post in Roseville on Jan. 31.
- Love in Motion group workout and self defense at Flower Fist Market in Sacramento on Jan. 31
Before I go,
Breaking news! Just got word about a new bi-weekly jazz series at Time Tested Books that’s curated by Ross Hammond. It kicks off Sunday with Randy McKean’s Magnetic Health Theater and Dog Water Trio. Look for “Jazz and Books” on the first and third Sunday afternoon each month.
Meanwhile, get ready for an especially action packed Cultural Capital next week. We’ll have a run of Valentine’s Day related events along with options for those who don’t give a hoot. Either way, we’ll have you covered.
As always, send tips about upcoming events to christo916@gmail.com.
Catch you next week!