Sacramento's best small music venue, a low-ceilinged bar in Midtown that has been hosting live music since the 1980s. The Blue Lamp programmes blues, soul, jazz, and R&B most nights — the bookings tend toward established regional acts rather than touring national names, which means the prices are modest and the audiences are genuinely there for the music.
The bar itself is nothing special physically — a long bar, mismatched chairs, a small stage against one wall — but the acoustics are surprisingly good for a room this size. Local musicians consider a Blue Lamp booking a mark of quality. Cover charges are modest, usually between $5 and $15.