Your monthly dump (of Fresno area concerts for Oct. 2024)

Plus, Starving Artist Bistro closes after 12 years.

Oct 06, 2024

It’s fair season in Fresno.

Historically, that meant venues going dark for a couple of weeks, or just leaning hard into counter programming of some sort. That seems to have changed some as the city realizes, logically, it is big enough to support multiple events at the same time.

The Big Fresno Fair is offering both nightly “name-draw” entertainment at the Paul Paul Theater as well as daily scheduled performances at several smaller stages around the fairgrounds (for those wanting a more localized go of things).

You’ve already missed Walker Hays, Sugar Ray, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and Sheila E (with Midnight Star) as part of the Table Mountain Concert Series.

bigfresnofair

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Still to come: El Flaco y El Mismo (tonight); Righteous Brothers (Monday, Oct. 7); Big Daddy Weave (Tuesday, Oct. 8); 311 (Wednesday, Oct. 9); All American Reject (Thursday, Oct. 10); George Thorogood and the Destroyers (Friday, Oct. 11); G-Easy (Saturday, Oct. 12); Calibre 50 with Banda Carnaval (Sunday, Oct. 13) and Dwight Yoakam (closing out the fair Monday, Oct. 14).

Figuring out who’s playing on the rest of the fair’s stages is a little more difficult, though it is all listed out online, here. At a quick glance, I’d suggest: Patrick Contreras’ Violin on Fire; The Blu J’z; Stoneshiver; Basura.

Here’s the non-fair options for concert stuff this October, in a curated, almost comprehensive list broken up by week for sake of ease. Feel free to add what I missed in the comments.

Shortened Week 1 (Oct. 6-12)

Rainbow City Park, Moon Drops, Seven Asterisk, Soft Focus, Roman Around, Charlie Steady, 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, The Great Room. $10, all ages.
La Lom, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, Fulton 55. $32.20.
Spokeasy + Labyrnith benefit concert + fashion show, 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, Fulton 55. $21.60.
Jeris Johnson, Slay Squad, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, Strummer’s. $26.27, all ages.
It’s Scary on the Surface Pt. 3, Stoneshiver, Macondo, Unlikelyy, Hyacinth, 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, Selma Arts Center. $12.
Touche Amore, Soul Glo, Portrayal of Guilt, Soft Blue Shimmer, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Strummer’s. $29.36, all ages.
Lucidity 2024, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Fulton 55. $17.85 early bird tickets.
Touch of Gravy, playing Fresno Fungi Fest, 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Vineyard Farmer’s Market. $5, $15 with tasting.
Little Joe Y la Familia, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, Valdez Hall, $81-$93.

Week 2 (Oct. 13-19)

Rudy de Anda, the Jack Moves, 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, Tower District Records. $15, in store only.
Kara Grainger, 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, Fulton 55. $41.
Palomazo Norteño, 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, Save Mart Center. $94-$355+
Point North, Elijah, Nevertel, Rivals, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, Strummer’s. $27.30, all ages.
Taking Back Sunday, The Used, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16. $65.50.
Sonreal, 7 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 16, Strummer’s. $30.39, all ages.
Get The Shot, Kind Eyes, Sleight of Hand, Two Snakes, Crossbreaker, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, Full Circle Brewery. $22.34.
Hail the Sun, A Lot Like Birds, Zeta, Diver, Flat Out, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, Strummer’s. No tickets available.
North by North, Black Sunz, Fantasy Fields, Near Avenue, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, Tioga Sequoia. $10.
D.R.I., 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, Full Circle Brewery. $24.16-$35.96.
David Nail, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, Tower Theatre. $41.92-$54.28.
Mindbender ‘Nemesis’ record release party, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, Fulton 55. Free.
The Emo Night tour, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, Fulton 55. $18-$25.
Los Lobos, Strange Vine, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, Tower Theatre. $52.22-$72.82.
The Otto Lee Quintet, 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, Vibez. Free, all ages.

Week 3 (Oct. 20-26)

Enuff Z’Nuff, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, Fulton 55. $26.95.
Taylor Acorn, 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, Strummer’s. $26.27, all ages.
Central Pacific State Beach, Call Me James, Gazey Lacey, The Old College Try, Hazey Autumn, 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, The Great Room. $10, all ages.
Left on Red, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, Full Circle Brewery. Free, all ages.
Burning Witches, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, Fulton 55. $32.25.
Maria Muldaur, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, Frank’s Place. $40-$50.
Homeboy Sandman, 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, Strummer’s. $15, all ages.
Drac and the Swamp Rats, the Gilligans, Space Vampires, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, Destructive Warehouse. $10, all ages.
Chicano Batman, Thee Sinseers, The Altons, Tropa Magica, 7 p.m Thursday, Oct. 24 Tioga Sequoia. $40.69, all ages.
Ghoul, Haggus, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, Strummer’s. $21.12, all ages.
Bleu Clair, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, Fulton 55. $20. 31.
Norma Jean, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, Fulton 55. $30.44.

Shortened Week 4 (Oct. 27-31)

Zero 9:36, Afterlife, Reece Young, Upon The Water, 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, Strummer’s. $26.27, all ages.
60 juno, Dustbowl Champion, Paradise Blossom, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, Strummer’s. $13-$15, all ages.
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Closed: Starving Artist Bistro

Starving Artist Bistro abruptly closed last week, citing “a number of private reasons.” It was admittedly a quick and quiet thing that came a shock to longtime patrons and performers.

For more than a decade, the restaurant (at Friant and Fort Washington) doubled as an art space and music venue, hosting open mics, blues jams, feature performances and the occasional full on band nights. In all, the owners say they’ve hosted some 2,200 performers over the years.

Which made Starving Artist the kind of place where a musician could hone the craft and was an almost home-base for a subset of players and singers.

Via Kinzie Rose: “This is so sad for me. I have been performing here since it opened. I literally grew up on there stage. A.s. Angelo and I tore it up and I learned and met so many dope musicians and got to play with them. The love and support was amazing.”

The Fresno Bee is reporting the space is already up for lease, at a price of more than $4,800 a month.

Bandgeeeek!