It’s always inherently bittersweet to report on “farewell shows,” but at least it affords us a chance to say thanks for the memories. Local blues-husked alt-rock mainstay Drop Dead Red bids adieu this month with one final show after more than a decadelong run (or longer if you count their earliest days under the initial moniker Carly DuHain Band), while also using this swan song gig to celebrate their ever-affable guitarist Gabriel Aiello on the heels of his recent ALS diagnosis. They’ll be joined by long-running fervent local outfit Las Pesadillas along with psych rock standouts Vinnie Guidera & the Dead Birds — the show also serves as a benefit for NorCal Resist (8 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Harlow’s. $25.15. harlows.com). While it won’t see a formal release show, an album of new DDR material is slated for release later this year.
Sacramento mainstay Dean Haakenson is using 2026 to celebrate 20 years of quirky ‘n’ funky indie rock shenanigans as captain of Be Brave Bold Robot, and his newest warmly-crafted (and appropriately titled) record, “Worth It.” Somehow he manages to pour what feels like small bits of each of those 20 years into track three, “Sacramento.” His first order of business this month is hosting a Songwriter Showcase at Lucid Winery with a number of likewise recognizable Sactown faces: Gabe Nelson (Bellygunner, Cake), Matthew Gerken (Nice Monster), Evan Bailey (Oh Lonesome Ana), Sac newcomer Elam Blackman and others (5 p.m. Friday, March 6, 1015 R St. Free). Also on the calendar for this emerald anniversary year are a headlining gig in Placerville at the Green Room Social Club on March 14, flanked by songwriter Jacob Mingle’s project Flannel (clubgreenroom.com), with gigs at Press Club on April 10, Torch Club June 19 and the Crocker Art Museum’s ArtMix series on August 13 (bebraveboldrobot.com).
DNL Studios last month treated us to one of our first mini-festivals of the year with the madcap Accident Fest — and they’re kind enough to turn right around and throw another one. This month they gift us with Femme Fest, a similarly fiercely eclectic “showcase of women in music” in celebration of Women’s History Month. Feisty pop-punk act Prettier in Person sits atop the lineup, along with the jarringly haunting lo-fi dreampop of Steev and the Bitch Club, joined by sets from indie artists Similes, Gabriel Star, Halfway, Jasmine Monterrosa, Leering and Analog Banana, with a number of vendors also set up onsite. Proceeds from the event are going to Wellspring Women’s Center (6 p.m. Friday, March 6, 7825 Lichen Drive, Citrus Heights. $15/$20. instagram.com/dnlstudiosolutions, eventbrite.com).
Another new one-day hootennany, the Ton of Tone Festival, sails its maiden voyage this month in Loomis. The lineup is topped by Chico prog and funk-laced jam rock miscreants Blü Egyptian — who unsurprisingly get an extended set time rolling deep into the evening — and the meandering, groove-laden rock wiles of host band, Tone of Soul Project. A number of likewise effervescent rock acts join the party in Hans and the Hot Mess, Here and Now, indelible former OwlFest hosts MAU, One Lost Tree, 2H and Anthony Boccaleoni, with a number of “tweener sets” throughout the day and special appearances from Campfire Crooners, Megan Filipps and Taylor Chicks (1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Blue Goose Event Center, 3550 Taylor Road, Loomis. $25-$40. tonoftonefestival.com).
You won’t get many more future opportunities to catch the nascent Parlor Greens in venues this cozy — they have all of the “next big thing” makings in the world of instrumental soul. This searing and grippingly crafty trio of teeth-loosening organist Adam Scone (also of Scone Cash Players and the Sugarman 3), rocksteady drummer Tim Carman (G-20, Canyon Lights) and daring axeman Jimmy James (True Loves, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio) is only one EP into their run — 2024’s snappy “In Green We Dream” — but nonetheless glides with a grizzled veteran approach that feels like they’ve been huddled in smokey hooch parlors since the times from which their sound is drawn. We’re talking rambunctiously emulsified, uncapped and smartly refined ‘60s era funk/soul – pure Booker T. and Meters territory, with plenty for Soulive fans to vibe on. Their sophomore release “Emeralds” is coming on April 10, and from what we’re hearing on the sneak preview, it’s gonna be a brain melter — including a scorching cover of “Jolene,” because why the hell not (9 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at Torch Club. $20, tickets at door only. torchclub.net)
A quick reminder that LabRats’ “Who is Jef Costello,” a wildly-innovative hip-hop operatic musical showcasing a “multidisciplinary blend of music, dance, storytelling and immersive visual art,” is going down this month with an all-ages matinee and a 21+ evening performance. The show will find the local groove titans flanked by a string quartet, choreography from the partnering Sac Dance Lab, standout local poet Diamond Key and musical contributions from the likes of Jakhari Smith, Dogpatch, EGDABEAST, Coco Simone and several others. (2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Sac Dance Lab, 1807 Tribute Road. labratsband.com, eventbrite.com).
Trivia time: There’s four bands on the Press Club’s “Friday the 13th Freak Show,” can you guess which legendary acts Soaked in Bleach, Green for a Day, Rock Steady and In the Garage each pay tribute to? In a world where I’m in charge, you’d get free admission to this show for correctly naming Nirvana, Green Day, No Doubt and Weezer — but this is the real world and this riddle wasn’t that tough, so support your local bands and go get weird, ‘90s style (8 p.m. Friday, March 13. $15/$20. pressclubsac.com)
It’s the fifth year in a row the Sacramento Blues Society has hosted its now bedrock Little Charlie Baty Celebration, honoring the Sacramento legend who passed away in 2020. Baty’s famed band, which has performed as Rick Estrin & the Nightcats for nearly 20 years, headlines along with Chicago and Texas blues guitar masher Anson Funderburgh, with guest performers Marcel Smith, Alabama Mike and Kyle Rowland (7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Harlow’s. $56.15. harlows.com).
It’s highly possible you’re already out of luck on tickets by the time you read this, but we’d be remiss not to tell you that the legendary Queens of the Stone Age just dropped a May 1 date at The Venue at Thunder Valley (with support from Libby Grace), as part of their intimate “Catacombs” tour — which boasts “all-new musical arrangements of their catalog” and draws from their “Alive in the Catacombs” concert film. Best of luck, ye stoner rock explorers! (ticketmaster.com).
This story was originally published February 28, 2026 at 1:51 PM.
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