California Groundbreakers

The City of Sacramento recently announced it would rethink its ordinance on buskers and outdoor music performers. It also hired a new "Creative Economy" director to think how arts and music can get a bigger boost here. But there are still some sour notes. The Police Department is still called out to turn the music down. Gentrification means long-time music venues are getting complaints from new neighbors. Local musicians say they lack community support due to a lack of small venues, rehearsal spaces and frugal audiences who don't want to pay. So what should Sacramento be doing to boost its local music scene, and its musicians? Should we look at top music towns like Austin or Nashville and follow their lead? Or are we doing just fine creating our own plan? We're talking with musicians, and the people who book and promote them, about how we can achieve perfect pitch in the capital city. Also, for this podcast, it was fitting to start and end it with music from Sacramento-based performers, so: Podcast i