Now that students have settled in and are getting to know Davis, it’s time to start exploring some of the UC Davis music taking place on campus and around town.
The university concert calendar is only part of it. The Ann E. Pitzer Center and the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts present university ensembles and visiting artists. Student groups organize their own performances, meetups and house shows, often in places that are easy to miss if you do not already know where to look.
Mondavi Center and Pitzer Center
A night at Mondavi Center is usually something you plan in advance. Jackson Hall is used for the larger concerts, while the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre has a smaller capacity and a calendar that includes chamber groups, solo performers and jazz.
The Video Game Orchestra at UC Davis is one of the more interesting student groups to perform in Jackson Hall. Its members arrange music written for video games and build each concert around a theme. Past programs have included music associated with Minecraft, Hollow Knight, Super Mario Galaxy and League of Legends.
UC Davis students should check the available ticket programs before paying the regular price. Student benefits have included a first ticket at no charge, discounts on selected performances and a limited number of rush tickets. The rules and availability vary by show.
Pitzer Center is used for many Department of Music concerts. Its 399-seat recital hall presents visiting musicians, faculty members and university ensembles, along with student recitals and new compositions.
The Shinkoskey Noon Concerts are held during the lunch hour, making them a practical introduction to the room and its calendar. Many are free. Other programs feature chamber music, jazz and ensembles studying musical traditions represented across the department.
Art Jam, House Shows and Downtown
Not every music night calls for a ticket and a concert hall. The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art opens its door quarterly for Art Jam. Music shares the evening with exhibitions, art activities, food and an open mic. At the Manetti Shrem Museum, visitors can move between the galleries and the program as the evening continues.
The Tri-Cooperatives are part of the Davis house-show scene as well as the UC Davis campus. Residents organize outdoor shows at the student-run cooperative houses, often with several bands sharing the bill. Local musicians play alongside groups visiting Davis, and the programming often leans toward punk, independent and underground music.
House shows in Davis may announce details closer to the date than a concert at Mondavi Center or Pitzer Center. Check the listing for the requested donation, age policy and instructions supplied by the hosts.
Downtown has other options. Comasocial is a restaurant and lounge with jazz, bands, DJs, dancing, karaoke and open mics. Dinner and music can be part of the same evening, although some programs welcome all ages and others are limited to guests 21 and over.
G Street Wunderbar has a stage and dance floor used for bands, student DJs, open mics and karaoke. Many of its events are 21 and over and take place later at night.
If you are having dinner before a campus concert, let the restaurant know when the performance begins. Downtown restaurants are accustomed to concert schedules and may be able to help with the timing when they know you need to leave for campus.
Meetups and KDVS
Other student-organized events use classrooms, club rooms and gathering spaces around UC Davis. The location may change each time, especially for karaoke, listening sessions, performances and music meetups. Davis Music Guide collects them on the UC Davis Campus Music Events page.
The Music Meetups calendar covers gatherings around Davis where musicians and listeners can find people with similar interests. The UC Davis Arboretum provides another setting for UC Davis music. Folk musicians currently gather at Wyatt Deck on Fridays for an informal lunchtime jam. Musicians can participate, and people who only want to listen are welcome too.
KDVS broadcasts on 90.3 FM and online. The student-run freeform station allows individual DJs to shape their own programs, so listening can lead to music that receives little commercial radio play. KDVS also records musicians in Studio A and has curated music for Art Jam at the Manetti Shrem Museum.
Campus programs change throughout the quarter, and student events are sometimes announced with little notice. The Davis Music Guide calendar combines university performances with music around town. Individual listings have the current admission, age and location details, along with student discounts when they are available.
