Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
As if summer in the Valley couldn’t get any hotter, a lineup of hip-hop and country artists will add to the sizzle this weekend.
Steven Sanchez
Entertainment
The Summer Jam comes to the Save Mart Center with rapper Ice Cube headlining. The Oldschool Block Party Tour rolls to Selland Arena with Stevie B., Too Short, and a roster of old school artists. Country musicians like Cole Swindell will conquer the Save Mart Center stage, and Koe Wetzel will provide the good times at Table Mountain Casino.
Check out our expanded list of events at this link.
Summer Jam with Ice Cube
Pacific Concert Group brings the Summer Jam to the Save Mart Center on Friday featuring Ice Cube, Warren G, Zapp, Xzibit, Amanda Perez, Baby Bash, and The Luniz.
Ice Cube is a rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. He was first with rap group N.W.A. where they contributed to gangsta rap’s widespread popularity with songs like “Straight Outta Compton.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group.
Cube then embarked on a successful solo career with career defining singles “It Was a Good Day” and “Check Yo Self.” He has appeared in about 40 films, his most famous titles are “Three Kings,” family comedies like the “Barbershop” series, and buddy cop comedies “21 Jump Street,” “22 Jump Street,” and “Ride Along.”
I got the opportunity to see him perform at The Big Fresno Fair in 2022. He was just as loud, energetic, and abrasive as ever with his trademark snarl. The local fanbase has always supported him, one of the reasons why he consistently tours through Fresno.
Warren G helped popularize West Coast hip hop during the 1990s, a pioneer of G-funk, and achieved mainstream success with “Regulate.” Xzibit is a rapper known for the single “Paparazzi” who hosted the MTV reality television program “Pimp My Ride” and acted in films like “Gridiron Gang.” Zapp is a funk band from Ohio that became popular with “More Bounce to the Ounce.” Amanda Perez is an R&B singer that established her name with the single “Angel.” Baby Bash is famous for his collaborations with Frankie J rapping on club hits like “Suga Suga” and “Obsession (No Es Amor).” Hip-hop duo The Luniz, is comprised of Yukmouth and Numskull and achieved international success with “I Got 5 on It.”
Get your tickets here.
Related Story: Blink-182 Puts on a Great ‘Rock Show’ at Save Mart Center
Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel brings his Damn Near Normal World Tour to the Table Mountain Casino on Friday. He’s a country and rock singer and songwriter.
His albums “Harold Saul High” and “Hell Paso” have been on the Billboard 200 and U.S. country charts. He’s known for songs like “Sweet Dreams,” and “High Road.” His most recent album “9 Lives” will be released on July 19.
Get your tickets here.
Cole Swindell
Multi-platinum selling country superstar and 3-time ACM award winner Cole Swindell brings his Win The Night Tour to the Save Mart Center on Saturday. Also appearing are Dylan Scott and Restless Road.
Swindell has released 13 singles and eight of them have reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs and/or Country Airplay charts. Three more singles have reached the Top 10. Fan favorites are “Chillin’ It,” “You Should Be Here,” “Break Up in the End,” and “She Had Me at Head Carolina.”
Scott is known for the No. 1 hit “My Girl” from his self-titled debut album. Restless Road features Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols, and Colton Pack. They originally auditioned solo for the third season of the American singing competition series “The X Factor” before performing as a group on the show. They’ve been a band ever since.
Get your tickets here.
Oldschool Block Party
The Oldschool Block Party Tour hits Selland Arena on Saturday. It’s a lineup of hip-hop and dance legends, including Stevie B., Too Short, Treach of Naughty by Nature, 2 Live Crew, Digital Underground, Trinere, Debbie Deb, Club Nouveau, Nocera, Freestyle, and Connie.
Stevie B. was influential in freestyle and is best known for his No. 1 hit ballad “Because I Love You (The Postman Song).” Too Short is a pioneer of West Coast hip hop with popular singles “Blow the Whistle” and “The Ghetto.” Treach is one third of the hip hop trio Naughty By Nature who became famous for the classic, “O.P.P.” 2 Live Crew gained notoriety with their controversial and explicit subject matter. Digital Underground got the world groovin’ to “The Humpty Dance.”
They’ll be joined by popular names in the freestyle genre like Trinere (“I’ll Be All You Ever Need”), Debbie Deb (“When I Hear Music”), Club Nouveau (“Why You Treat Me So Bad”), Nocera (“Summertime Summertime”), Freestyle (“The Party Has Just Begun”), Connie (“Funky Little Beat”). It’ll be a night of classic jams for those that like old-school vibes.
Get your tickets here.
Cristela Alonzo
Cristela Alonzo will supply the laughs at the Tower Theatre on Sunday. She made history as the first Latina to create, produce and star in her own network sitcom, “Cristela,” for ABC. She became the first Latina lead in a Disney Pixar film when she voiced the character of Cruz Ramirez in “Cars 3.”
A couple of her stand-up comedy specials are on Netflix. In 2019, Cristela released a memoir, “Music to My Years.” Outside of her work on the stage she focuses on advocacy work, fighting for issues such as immigration, universal healthcare and lower income communities.
I got the chance to see her perform previously and met her backstage before the show. We talked about comedy, rock ‘n’ roll, and being a minority in the entertainment industry. It was a fun but poignant conversation. She’s as entertaining in person as she is on stage and the reason her comedy resonates is because it’s honest and real.
Get your tickets here.
Check it Out:
Arthop, Thursday
ArtHop takes place during the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month and features free entry to exhibitions, gallery shows, special performances, and unique art experiences for art lovers of all ages.
For more information click here.
Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Friday
The regional Mexican norteño band will perform at Saroyan Theatre on Friday. They’re known for songs like “La Chona,” “El Amor Soñado,” and “El Tucanazo.” In 2019 they became the first regional Mexican music group to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide and have obtained 34 gold and 30 platinum records.
Get your tickets here.
Wine Down Fridays at Toca Madera Winery, Friday
Wine Down Fridays happens every Friday from June 28 to Sept. 13 at Toca Madera Winery. Ralph Edwards and Alyssa Witrado will be performing. They have wine specials. Food will be provided by Kerrib Flava (Jamaican food). There’ll be a sangria happy hour. Bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Get your tickets here.
Veterans Game Fest, Friday-Sunday
The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 933 sponsors Veterans Game Fest 2024 to raise funds for its Junior ROTC program scholars, returning veterans at Fresno State University, and other veterans’ rehabilitation programs. This event features two categories of gaming. These two categories are General Gaming and Tournament Gaming. It takes place this weekend at Clovis Veterans Memorial District.
Get your tickets here.
Sunny Malton, Saturday
Club Encore presents a live performance from Sunny Malton. He’s a Canadian rapper and singer of Punjabi music. His song “Levels” with Sidhu Moose Wala charted at 32 on Canadian Hot 100.
Get your tickets here.
ApCal Rock’n Ranch, Saturday
ApCal Rock’n Ranch is bringing The Sacred Fire Band — a tribute to Santana. The nine-piece band features former members of Santana and other renowned Latin rock groups. They won the Northern California Entertainers Music Award for “Best Latin Rock Band” in 2019, and they’ve shared stages with legendary acts like Santana, War, and Los Lonely Boys. There’ll be beer, spirits, food, dancing and cigars.
Get your tickets here.
Jeanette Harris 2nd Annual “Saxy Summer Night” feat Adam Hawley, Saturday
Jeanette Harris is a saxophonist from Fresno, and she’ll perform with guitarist and producer Adam Hawley at the Tower Theatre. Her CD “Summer Rain” made it all the way to No. 4 on the Smooth Jazz Billboard Chart and No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz Indie Chart. Hawley’s four albums and work as a producer have spawned an incredible 15 Billboard No. 1 hits.
Get your tickets here.
