Looking for something to do around Chico?
Welcome to Listen Up — NSPR’s curated list of arts, culture and community happenings in the Chico area. From gallery shows to concerts, talks and local gatherings, we’re highlighting what’s happening around town each week and how you can be part of it.
Email events@mynspr.org to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you!
COMEDY
- Bidwell Perk
- Friday, March 27
- 7 p.m.
- $10
It's March Madness at this month's Bidwell Perk’s Dysfunctional Comedy Night, which features a lineup of diverse comedians. Enjoy a night with comedians from all walks of life.
FILM + THEATER
- Lassen Traditional Cidery
- Friday, March 27
- 6 p.m.
- $5
The Spring Renaissance Drag Show is ready to bloom. Drag queen Whoretex and friends will take over for a night of fun, debauchery and lip-syncing.
- Theatre on the Ridge
- Thursday, March 26 to Sunday, April 12
- 7:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.
- $25
Ride the Cyclone follows six teenagers who were killed in a rollercoaster accident and find themselves in limbo, competing for a single chance to return to life.
Cast and crew members recently shared their hope that the production will offer audiences a fresh perspective on life. The full story is available here.
MUSIC
Armed for Apocalypse + Cold Blue Mountain + Shadow Limb and Castigator
- Naked Lounge
- Thursday, March 26
- 7 p.m.
- $10
The Californian sludge/metal powerhouse announced the upcoming release of their new album, "The Earth is Breathing Beneath Me," which is due out next month. They recently gave listeners a taste of what's to come with the release of their new single, "Immortal."
They will be leading a night of metal along with Chico’s Cold Blue Mountain, Shadow Limb and Castigator.
- Naked Lounge
- Friday, March 27
- 7 p.m.
- $10
XDS, the legendary duo, is returning to Chico to deliver their signature psychedelic dance-punk sound. The bill will also feature electronic space jams from local duo Greyloom and a set from PDX-based Abronia.
Hot Buttered Rum + Lydia Cooley & the WoodPickers
- Lost On Main
- Saturday, March 28
- 8 p.m.
- $20-$25
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hot Buttered Rum is a progressive bluegrass band from America with six members. The group has been touring for more than two decades and will be playing alongside Lydia Cooley and the WoodPickers.
North State Symphony: Brilliant Bartók
- The Cascade Theatre (Sat.) & Laxson Auditorium (Sun.)
- Saturday, March 28 & Sunday, March 29
- 7:30 p.m. Saturday & 2 p.m. Sunday
- $25-$64.50
The North State Symphony concludes its season with a performance highlighted by Bela Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. The season finale will run Saturday in Redding and Sunday in Chico. The program also features Sibelius’s iconic Finlandia and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, with 20-year-old violin virtuosa Keila Waka appearing as a special guest.
Conductor Scott Seaton shared that Bartok's work is heavily influenced by Hungarian folk music, which the composer extensively recorded while traveling widely.
MOVE + MAKE + EXPLORE
12th Annual Local Nursery Crawl
- Participating Nurseries
- Friday, March 27 & Saturday, March 28
- 9 a.m.
- Free
This is the nursery crawl's twelfth year, and there are 13 local nurseries to visit. Each nursery has different focuses for your garden and will offer special deals. Unique events, extra drawings and free beverages will be available at various locations.
Grab a stamp card and collect a stamp at each nursery you visit. Six stamps gets you entered into one of the nurseries raffle drawings for a $25 gift certificate.
Got an event? A hot tip? A brilliant idea? Email us at events@mynspr.org.
Listen Up also brings the area’s best events to your radio — listen to NSPR Thursdays during All Things Considered.
