Home to the University of California at Davis campus, Davis is a well-known college town that draws bands from Sacramento and San Francisco as well as homegrown musicians. UC Davis is an environmentally aware and liberal university, with a freeform radio station and an "Intro to Beer and Brewing" class. Located 15 miles west of Sacramento and 70 miles east of San Francisco along Highway 80, Davis is an easy stop between the two cities, or a quick weekend jaunt away from the Bay Area. UC Davis hosts several music events throughout the year. The Whole Earth Festival is a three-day music and education festival held in the spring, with reggae, acoustic, and jam bands. Operation: Restore Maximum Freedom is an up-and-coming festival of experimental music, noise-rock, garage scuzz and other loud subgenres, which takes place just outside the city. Picnic Day is the largest student-organized event in the US, kicked off by a parade with the California Aggie marching band and featuring a Battle of the Bands.

Book a Show: Venues

Delta of Venus Cafe & Pub
122 B Street
Davis CA
(530) 753-8639
http://www.deltaofvenus.org/

UC Davis' radio station KDVS hosts local and touring Americana, bluegrass, and roots groups Thurs.-Fri. Email Michael Leahy at dofvmusic@gmail.com for booking. KDVS also sponsors an eclectic mix of bands and DJs Sat.-Sun., including heavier bands. Email Brendan Boyle at http://events@kdvs.org/. Monday is an open mic. In each booking email, include a link to online music, past shows, influences, hometown, estimated draw and dates.

G Street Pub
228 G Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-3154
http://www.gstreetpub.com/

This college hangout hosts a wide variety of live music Thurs.-Sat., with an open mic every Monday. For booking, contact Rodney at http://gnetline@hotmail.com/.

Sophia's Thai Kitchen
129 E Street, Suite E
Davis, CA 95616
Restaurant: (530) 758-4333
Office: (530) 758-5893
http://www.sophiasthaikitchen.com/

This full-service restaurant and bar hosts live music Thurs.-Sat. Booking occurs 2-3 months in advance. Musicians should email the following information to Kevin Wan at http://booking@sophiasthaikitchen.com/: band name, hometown, likely draw, past venues, description of your sound, specific show dates, and links to online samples of your music.

Cafe Roma
223 3rd St.
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 756-4444
For booking, email http://caferomabooking@hotmail.com/.

The Davis Graduate
805-A Russell Blvd
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-4723
http://www.davisgrad.com/

Complete with a bona fide college crowd and the infamous "Grad Burger," the Graduate is a hot spot. Hosts music events seven nights a week, with DJs on select nights. For booking, mail a press kit and a demo to ATTN: Geoff, or email Geoff at http://gdoc@davisgrad.com/.

Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery
2001 2nd St.
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-8700
http://www.sudwerk.com/

Sudwerk is a microbrewery, hosting live music on Fridays and Saturdays, mostly pianists and guitarists. Contact the house manager for more information, or email http://contact@sudwerk.com/.




Promote a Show: Media

Radio

KDVS 90.3 FM
UC Davis
14 Lower Freeborn Hall
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 752-0728
http://www.kdvs.org/

KDVS plays a wide variety of genres, including hip-hop, punk, electronica, experimental, and metal. Submit event info to kdvsentertainmentcalendar@gmail.com. For airplay consideration. mail music to the above address, with "ATTN: MUSIC DIRECTOR." During the fall and spring semesters KDVS hosts live in-studio sessions on Thursdays from 11PM to 12AM. Spots are limited: email Elisa Hough at http://lisa@kdvs.org/ well in advance. Send submissions to the above address with "ATTN: L.I.S.A." before applying for a slot.

Print

The California Aggie
25 Lower Freeborn Hall
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 752-0208
http://www.californiaaggie.com/

Send music-related press releases to http://arts@californiaaggie.com/ at least five days in advance. Register on the website to add an event to the online calendar.

The Davis Enterprise
POB 1470
Davis, CA 95617
(530) 756-0800
http://www.davisenterprise.com/

Submit event press releases to Davis' local daily newspaper two weeks in advance. Contact entertainment editor Derrick Bang at http://dbang@davisenterprise.com/.

Gear/Repairs

Watermelon Music
207 E Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-4010
http://www.watermelonmusic.com/

Sells a wide range of new and used instruments and gear. Rents amps, drums, and keys. Dr. Rock (Larry Bernstein) repairs all types of amps. Open Mon.-Fri. 10AM-7PM, Sat. 10AM-6PM, Sun. 12-6PM.

Woodland Music & Guitar
151 W. Main St.
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 662-2073

Sells instruments, amps, and gear; repairs instruments and does minor repairs on gear in-house. Open Mon.-Fri. 10AM-7PM, Sat. 10AM-6PM. Closed Sunday.