Never has community been more critical to our survival as humans. Art intake provides spirit nourishment to stay in the fight, pursue the dream, lend a hand, and stay strong.

I’m a newcomer to Sacramento – and friends in my prior location assured me I’d bloom where I planted. This latest move is the second time I’ve uprooted in under 10 years. Life has a way of not always going according to plan. For me, there’s always been music as my web of connection as I navigate. I liken my music networks to a TinkerToy structure. One hub with many spokes and eventually they’re all connected.

A bit of backstory. I spent the better part of 50 years in greater L.A. (as defined by me, that’s San Diego to Santa Barbara and points inland as desired). The bouquet of independent dance, art, live music, spoken word, theatre, and film was varied, rich, ever-present, and within budget.

Volunteering was my gateway “fix” for the times when my income didn’t match ticket or event prices. It was *then* that I really became hooked on the helper mentality and supportive community. Way before the internet there were phone trees and printed schedules. So, when I learned that a one-day community festival was happening locally, I held an internal conversation with myself:

“Oh, gee, I want to see XYZ band!”
“But girl, you got no spare budget for the festival fee!”
“I know! I’ll volunteer for the lowliest and dirtiest job and be helpful. I’ll meet new people and maybe hear the band.”
”Hey, worth a try, good luck!”
A few phone calls later, all is set. A month later I’m schlepping full trash bags to the dumpster as part of the cleanup crew having spent the entire day listening to music.

Fast-forward 30 years or so during which I spent decade volunteering with organizations that presented folky music and dance, theatre, film, or storytelling. I’ve been blessed with easily 1200 artist and presenter friendships that nourish me today. That’s a heck of a seed catalog from which to choose, and many artists’ emails notifying me of gigs.

All of which brings me to how I quickly plugged into Sacramento’s folky cultural scene – notably music and storytelling. First up was a Nashville duo who I learned were performing at The Side Door, a sweet 100-seat listening room and no alcohol. Attending put me on the venue’s mailing list.

At my second concert there two weeks later I met people who shared info on additional venues and also Facebook groups promoting gigs. Since June, I’ve enjoyed gigs in everything from a small midtown bar to an expansive house concert backyard, to Odd Fellows Hall programming, to winery showroom concerts and one on a HUGE farm, to a world-class concert hall at a local university, to a monthly storytelling gig at a city-supported PAC.

At one of the low-key gigs, I learned there was another mail list run selflessly by a guy who just loves to book and promote gigs around the area. Left of the Dial – that outta tell us, right?

More artist mailings led me a bit out of the Sacramento area to Grass Valley, Davis, Dixon, Winters, Woodland, Lodi, and Modesto. I’m an L.A. girl, remember? My motto: have time and gas money, will go.

Admittedly, I’m not the shy type, so asking questions and being conversational with other audience members is a great way to plug in, plant, and bloom. Such a garden! Work with me – TinkerToys could form a trellis (garden adjacent), okay?