By Steph Rodriguez

It’s summertime in Sacramento and the city is buzzing with plenty of exciting and creative activities to explore. Enjoy live music and comedy shows, visit guitar exhibits during Father’s Day weekend, celebrate Juneteenth in Oak Park, and tap into your inner artist by participating in a fabric-stamping workshop at a local art collective. 

Here are eight experiences that will make your June in the City of Trees one to remember.

MUSIC

Funky good time

Thursday, June 13: Sacramento darlings The Gold Souls have been busy cookin’ up four new singles over the past six months as they work toward a forthcoming album, according to vocalist Juniper Waller. During a short tour in April, the band tested its latest songs on the road, sharing its booty-shakin’, soul-soothing R&B with fans in Long Beach, Hollywood, Phoenix and throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans. Now, The Gold Souls are back home and ready to bring the party to the Torch Club with friends Hard Maybe, a seven-piece soul-infusion band currently on tour from Seattle. Be sure to catch this jam-packed show in downtown with The Gold Soul’s all-new, all-women horn section before the band heads back out on tour this summer and fall. Torch Club, 904 15th St.; 9 p.m.; $15; 21 and over.

Friday Night Feels

Friday, June 14: The Philharmonik, winner of NPR Music’s 10th edition of its Tiny Desk Contest, will perform during Concerts in the Park’s Friday night summer concert series. The producer, singer, rapper and multi-instrumentalist was selected from nearly 7,000 submissions nationwide. As Christian Gates (The Philharmonik) and the band embark on the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, they’ll stop in Sac to share more of its eclectic, soul-fueled music with local fans. Other performances this evening include R&B singer Yelly, hip-hop artist Yumz Awkword, hip-hop/R&B artist Jakhari Smith and DJ EDDY. The outdoor concert lineup, organized by Downtown Sacramento Partnership, features interactive vendor booths, food trucks, the Bogle wine garden and live artwork stations. It runs until July 26 (excluding July 5) and invites nearly 60 local and national bands and DJs, with more live showcases this season from artists Christian Kuria, Nate Curry, MVSSIE, Kool John, The Brodys and more. Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I St.; 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; This event is free and open to all ages. 

Album release party

Saturday, June 15: Celebrating the release of her eighth studio album, “Me,” blues musician Katie Knipp is already creating a national buzz. “I am getting strong reactions about this record and it definitely feels like a turning point for me,” Knipp says. After listening to the new record, “Saturday Night Live” co-musical director, Eli Brueggemann, called Knipp “the NorCal Fiona Apple.” Her single “Mud” embodies Knipp’s sultry, hypnotic vocals and fluidity behind the piano. It’s the kind of tune one would hear at a dimly lit, smoky blues club with Knipp serenading the crowd with her vocal prowess. Attendees of Knipp’s album release show are also in for a brass-packed performance from Sol Peligro, a nine-piece Latin-alternative band that blends cumbia, salsa and reggaeton influences into their high-energy live performances. Plus, Knipp says the band will join her onstage for a song and their feel-good vibes can also be heard on her album. Harlow’s, 2708 J St.; Doors at 2 p.m., show at 3 p.m.; $17 advance, $20 day of show. All ages. 

ART

Party like Dalí

Thursday, June 13: Indulge in a night of artist revelry unlike any other at the Crocker Art Museum’s ArtMix: Surrealist Ball. This museum-wide extravaganza promises a fantastical evening of live performances, DJs, festive food and drinks, and of course, plenty of art activities. This month’s theme encourages guests to immerse themselves in the opulence and eccentricity of a bougie costume party inspired by the legendary 1972 Surrealist Ball. The fabulous A La Mode will host and present a dazzling array of drag performances celebrating LGBTQ+ arts and artists. Dance the night away with electrifying DJ sets by Terra Lopez and Subeaux. Come dressed as your favorite masterpiece and be part of this mind-melting gala. Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St.; 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; $25, this event is 18 and over. 

Take Dad to the Museum

Saturday, June 15: This Father’s Day weekend get ready for a rockin’ good time at the California Museum’s “Meeting of the Music” celebration dedicated to California guitar history and music culture in honor of its newest exhibit, “America at the Crossroads: The Guitar and a Changing Nation,” which opened May 24. Enjoy live music from talented guitarists Michael Sallstrom, Dinorah Klingler and Ian Santillano, plus DJ Tiny will spin the hits. Take a docent-led tour of the exciting new guitar exhibit and don’t miss the guitar-making demo by the Santa Cruz Guitar Company. Want your very own customized guitar pick? Bring a 1-inch-by-1-inch photo of someone or something you love and stop by the guitar pick-making station. There will be sweet treats for sale from Ronnie’s Italian Ice and Cups & Straws, and sip on discounted craft beer for museum members. California Museum, 1020 O St.; 12 p.m.- 3 p.m.; $5 reduced admission for guests 13 and older. Free admission for members and kids under 12; Advance registration is recommended. 

Leave your mark

Sunday, June 23: Join local makers for a hands-on fabric printing workshop at the newly opened Broad Cloth community space inside Broad Room. Since its launch in April, this creative hub has hosted fun and imaginative workshops like making upcycled flowers from old sewing patterns and also a mending workshop where participants bring projects from home and use various techniques to mend them and give them new life (this is a recurring event). Local artist and educator, Heather Hogan, along with Broad Cloth creator, Maris Kaplan, will guide a small group of eight students on how to carve a stamp before properly applying it to fabric to embellish garments or design custom patches. Students will learn about tools and materials, carving techniques and how to work with various types of fabric ink. Hogan will take the lead on the stamp-carving portion of the class and Kaplan will take the lead on fabric printing. Participants can also bring textiles from home to stamp as well as create patches with upcycled fabric provided through Broad Room’s free art supply closet. Attendees will create their very own stamps, which they can take home, but they can also use several pre-carved stamps available. Registration is now open with flexible fees of $30, $40 or $50. Broad Room, 1409 Del Paso Blvd.; 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; $30-$50 sliding scale.

CULTURE

Celebrate Juneteenth

Saturday, June 15: The Juneteenth Block Party, attended by over 4,000 people, features a full lineup of music, art and live entertainment hosted at Esther’s Park in the Oak Park neighborhood, adjacent to Fixins soul food restaurant. Enjoy music from Los Angeles-based, all-female R&B band, Klymaxx, saxophonist Sean Raiford and the Tina Turner Review. This family friendly block party includes more than 40 Black-owned street vendors, over 10 delicious food booths, an appearance from the Stylists Car Club, and a kids’ zone with interactive activities. Additional live acts include the VT916 FAM youth dance team, Sacramento Kings’ mascot, Slamson, Brazilian drum performances and gospel choirs. Plus, attendees 21 and over can sip on cool beverages inside the Black-owned wine and beer garden, visit a variety of health pop-ups, join a domino and spades tournament, and vibe to DJ sets from 102.5 radio. Bring your lawn chair, kick back and enjoy the festivities that celebrate Black culture and businesses. Esther’s Park, 3408 3rd Ave.; 4 p.m.-9 p.m; This event is free for all ages.

COMEDY 

Laugh out loud

July 5-7: Sacramento comedian and actor Lance Woods has performed alongside big names like Dave Chappelle and Tony T. Roberts, and even visited Okinawa, Japan, to perform for the U.S. Marine Corps. His career started when his mother dared him to get up on stage at church and make the people laugh. He hasn’t looked back since. He travels the country hitting stage after stage sharing his relatable stories about relationships, silly commentary on pop culture and current events, and hilarious jokes about the costs of keepin’ up with sneaker culture. In May, Woods was seen acting in a short video posted to TikTok and social media featuring award-winning actor Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad,” “The Mandalorian”) where a bicyclist scuffed Esposito’s sneakers and Woods backs him up. It’s a short inspired by Esposito’s character in Spike Lee’s film “Do the Right Thing.” Now, Woods is back in Sac at the Punch Line for two nights supporting comedian Desi Banks, who has 8.8 million followers on Instagram. Punch Line Sacramento, 2100 Arden Way; Show times vary; $23-$33; This event is 18 years and older. 

This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics and protocols, the city had no editorial influence over this story and no city official reviewed this story before it was published. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19.