Reno Music Events To Do Besides Burning Man
Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash.
Every summer, I spend so much energy trying to make it out to Burning Man again, to no avail. I was lucky enough to go in 2018 and unofficially for Renegade Burn in 2021, but every time afterward it’s fallen through. Whether I didn’t have enough PTO, resources or money to swing it, the logistics of heading out to the Black Rock Desert for a week (or longer if you’re staying with a camp – a lot of them require you to be there for set up and tear down) are just not realistic for the average Joe in Reno. A lot of Reno locals have never been due to the immense expenses, from the ticket price alone to the parking pass and outrageous camp dues, to the sheer amount of supplies you need to survive out there, it’s just not a do-able event for most of us. On top of it all, Burning Man really isn’t great unless you have a big group of friends to party with, and a lot of us are still suffering from post-pandemic isolation and loneliness. Many of us lost friend groups since 2020, and it’s been a struggle to recover a sense of community ever since.
If you’re feeling the FOMO too, don’t fret – I’ve compiled a [starting] list of Reno music events that are relatively easy to swing. Many of these are low cost and are great places to mingle and find new friends with shared interests. Whether you’re a hippie-dippie kinda person or a goth metalhead, I tried to pick something for everyone here. Several of these are recurring too, so if you missed out one week, it’ll still be there the next so there’s no pressure to uproot your entire schedule if it doesn’t quite fit at the moment.
Reno Music Venues And More: Recurring Events Anyone Can Enjoy
Artown Reno
If you missed it don’t worry — spanning the entire month of July, Artown is one of the most fun times of the year in Reno, where dozens of venues, orgs, artists, bands and musicians get together to celebrate the art and culture of the Biggest Little City and surrounding regions. There will be something happening almost every day, so if you didn’t feel like heading one day, there will be something else to choose from. From concerts at Wingfield Park to movie showings to theater performances to crafting workshops, it’s a whole 30 days dedicated to all things creative and a great opportunity to check out the local scene here. Check it out next year!
Reno’s Goth Night: Ritual
One of my favorite events downtown, Ritual is held once a month on the first Saturday of every month at Dead Ringer Analog Bar. Featuring DJs from a variety of genres (but all, you know… dark), this is your chance to donn those combat boots, chains and chokers and head out into a night of spooky libations. This a quick way to make friends who are into a more macabre side of music and art, or if you just want to let your freak flag fly for one evening. You can read my prior blogs on this here and here.
Reno Jazz With Rick Metz And First Take
Every Sunday at Midtown Spirits Wine and Bites, one of the best jazz groups in Reno performs and shares historical backgrounds of the music they play. Rick Metz is a charismatic force in Reno, and is more than willing to take requests for songs too. If ya like jazz, these are the days to go for a sip of wine, some lighthearted socializing and relaxing, smooth tunes from some seriously talented musicians.
Karaoke And Open Mic Night At Z Bar
Looking for a little more interactive fun? Z Bar holds a karaoke night on Thursdays, and if you’re especially bold, open mic nights on Mondays. This venue hails a younger crowd for sure, but they have cozy firepits on its porch and a food truck parked if you get hungry. Complete with jenga and connect four to play, this is definitely the place to let loose and party it up.
Record Store Reno: EP Listening Lounge Pop-Ups
Quickly becoming my new favorite Reno hangout spot, EP Listening Lounge offers a monthly “Needle and Threads” event, with vinyl records for sale, a vintage clothing pop-up, live music and a food truck. Shop, sip and dance while perusing a truly killer selection of records. As a collector, it’s hard for me to hold back at this place! Just make sure you dress for the weather during the summer here – it gets HOT inside. And I mean… HOT.
Tune Tuesdays At Ceol Irish Pub
This is a Reno music venue I hold close to my heart as one of the OG regulars back when they were at their old location. They didn’t move very far though – they’re located on California Avenue and every Tuesday evening, they invite people who are trained in traditional Irish song to come and jam together. It’s pretty laid-back and draws a bit of an older crowd usually. Ceol also has the most extensive variety of whiskey, bourbon and scotch in town, if that’s more your flavor.
Live Music Saturdays At Black Rabbit Mead Co.
One of the new-ish venues on this list, Black Rabbit Mead Co. is cozy, folks-y and inviting. The first and only meadery in Reno, they offer live music on Saturday nights, from a variety of local musicians. If you’re into a more hipster, mountain frontier vibe that feels a little like going to Lake Tahoe, this is the spot for you. Their mead is also delicious, with some unique flavor pairings too (jalapeno and pineapple? What?).
Salsa Dancing Reno: Cypress Latin Dance Nights
For a spicier, more active evening, Cypress Reno (formerly known as The Saint), offers free salsa lessons and dancing on Thursday nights. Let me tell ya, there are some talented people that turn out for this, and even if you’re shy or not into learning something new, it’s a fun time to people watch. High-energy and electric, boogie on down and enjoy some classic Latin dance in Midtown Reno.
Loud As Folk Monthly Songwriter Showcase
Called “Reno First Thursdays,” Loud As Folk holds a monthly highlight of local and regional songwriters at the Nevada Museum of Art. From blues to folk, rock n’ roll to indie, the turnout for these events is phenomenal, with people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s a diverse showcase that is sure to be a good time no matter who is playing. They often partner with local breweries too to provide drink tickets, but if you’re looking for an essential Reno music experience: this is it. The organizers, Spike McGuire and Greg Gilmore, are also delightful human beings if you get a chance to chat with them.
Live Music Reno: Affordable And Accessible!
This is just a starting list, and it doesn’t even dip into venues and events in Sparks! There’s a whole lot to do if you can’t make it to the playa this year, so you don’t have to beat yourself up if your financial situation isn’t ideal for grandiose adventure this summer. If you look hard enough, the Reno/Sparks area has a lot to offer, for every niche and every flavor. Why spend [literally] thousands of dollars to go be sweaty and dusty for a week in the middle of the desert when you can save money and still have just as much fun in our hometown? From art to music to dancing, there’s something for everyone if you just know where to begin looking.
I hope this list helps steer you in a positive direction, and don’t worry if you can’t make it out to Burning Man. Next year was better, anyway.
To stay on top of Reno live music, check out Backstage NV, the Biggest Little City’s newest concert calendar.
If you’d rather come up with your own DIY music events that are cheap and easy to organize, check out my list of Five Things To Do On A Budget This Summer.
Honorable Mentions: Friends Of Black Rock / High Rock & Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
If you’re looking for other things to do particularly in the Gerlach / Black Rock Desert area, Friends Of Black Rock / High Rock is a non-profit conservation group has events throughout the year to support the area, its lands and the flora and fauna that live there. They do regular clean up events to pick up trash, especially around the hot springs, educate the public about the history of the land, its indigenous peoples and its ecosystem, and work hard to keep the playa we all know and love beautiful. They hold nature walks, bike tours, meteor shower viewings, scorpion and crystal hunting events and more during the summer, but they try and support local artists in Gerlach as well off-season. They have memberships available on their website, and rely on donations to keep going. Please consider heading out to one of their events outside of Burning Man if you’re interested in supporting the conservation of the area!
A special mention needs to be made for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe as well. Every year, Burning Man brings in so much revenue to Gerlach and the surrounding areas, but the tribal groups deserve your support more than ever. We are just visitors passing through when we head out there, but the Paiute Tribe lives out there year round. We are guests in their home, and it’s our duty to make sure we pack in all trash and waste whenever we are traveling through. Make sure to obey the speed limits through their reservation, and if you can, stop by to grab some tacos if they’re available. Support your local indigenous communities!
