The San Joaquin Valley: A Great Place For Live Music

Aug 17, 2013 | 2013 Articles, Lorie Lewis Ham, Music

by Lorie Lewis Ham

Not only is this area blessed with a lot of great theatre, but we have several great clubs and concert venues as well. Over time we plan to cover more of them, but this week we thought we would touch base with some of those we have already covered in the past–Kuppajoe All Ages Nightclub, Victory Cafe, Fulton 55, and The Cellar Door–to do an overview of what each one has to offer, and see if anything new has happened since we profiled them.

Kuppajoe All Ages Nightclub, 3673 N. First St., Fresno, California

“Kuppajoe offers a safe place on Friday nights for people of all ages to gather and enjoy music on weekends, but our real mission is to reach out to young people in our local music scene who have ever felt judged or who are curious about who God is,” shared Kathleen Hillier of Kuppajoe.

A Current Affair

Jordan Feliz of A Current Affair performing at Kuppajoe

To fulfill this mission, along with concerts, they host a bible study on Tuesday nights from 6:30-9 p.m. every week. “That being said, even if you aren’t Christian you are encouraged to join our conversation,” continued Kathleen. “Our bible study is a mixed bag, just the way we like it! It keeps conversation interesting and allows us to learn from each other and about how our lives are affected by each chapter.”

The volunteers at Kuppajoe really help keep things going. They have stepped up to positions as interns in areas that will help them attain their career goals. Interns at Kuppajoe must attend the bible study and each event as it corresponds to the position. This is unpaid, but very much a valid six month internship for a resume. “We want to sharpen the talents and invest in the goals of each person who gives of their time at Kuppajoe,” said Kathleen.

As to what’s new at Kuppajoe, besides all of the great concerts they are pushing into the areas of video production, audio recording, social media, and sponsorships. Currently they are still looking for people who want experience as a Customer Service Representative. For more information, contact Kuppajoe Director Jesse Kennedy at jesse@kuppajoe[dot]com. You can find out more about their concerts on their website and KRL also lists many of our concerts on their concert event page.

Check out KRL’s full article on Kuppajoe to learn more.

Kuppajoe intro video:

The Cellar Door, 101 W. Main St., Visalia, California

The Cellar Door is more than just a place in Visalia for great music. “They offer a wide variety of domestic and imported wines and beers; with a larger selection than any other nightclub in Visalia,” said Aaron Gomes of Cellar Door. “The Cellar Door has also gained national acclaim as a music venue. Many of the hottest touring bands make a Cellar Door performance part of their California tour.” For a full list of up-to-date events visit their website.

Check out KRL’s profile on Cellar Door to learn more.

Bay-area rocker Ty Segall lighing up Cellar Door

Victory Cafe at Hardy’s Theater, 944 Van Ness, Fresno, California

Victory Cafe at Hardy’s Theater (In Partnership with Victory Church/Iglesia Victoriosa) is a Christian based all ages music venue as well. They are located in Downtown Fresno, on the corner of Tulare and Van Ness. “Our goal is to create a new location in Downtown Fresno with a positive atmosphere where people can come hangout and enjoy their night,” said Clayton Miears, manager at Victory Cafe. Since they launched they have hosted Night Riots (formerly PK), Heartist from Indian Lakes, and many others. For more info and tickets online, please check out their in-house promoter’s website at www.miearsent.com.

As to what’s new at Victory Cafe, Clayton said mostly they’ve just been having a lot of good shows with great attendance, many with attendance over 100. “We’re using the theater’s marquee now which is great for local bands to have their name in a marquee. In the coming months we’ll be updating our sound and lighting.”

Check out KRL’s profile of Victory Cafe to learn more and KRL also lists many of their concerts on our concert event page.

Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero Street, Fresno, California

After nearly three years in business, Fulton 55 continues to be Fresno’s live entertainment leader, according to manager Tony Martin. With its eclectic calendar of entertainment, ranging from hip-hop to rock, comedy to movie nights, Fulton 55 offers a unique entertainment experience for everyone. With four bars on two levels, it can accommodate crowds of different sizes. “Its 550 capacity makes it the perfect size venue to see national touring headliners, and local acts on its spacious stage. With food service in its near future, Fulton 55 will be your one stop music shop for the Central Valley.”

Fulton 55

Keep up with Fulton 55 on their website. Check out KRL’s profile on Fulton 55 to learn more and KRL also lists many of their concerts on our concert event page.

So if you’re looking for a fun night of music here are four great choices in Fresno and Visalia–each a little different from the other! Enjoy many more local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section.

Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and a contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie’s mystery writing at Mysteryrat’s Closet.

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