Is Fresno on an entertainment hot streak? Here are bands, comedians with new shows
If you’re a fan of live entertainment, there’s no doubt your email box and social feeds have been inundated with tour announcements. Everyone from ZZ Top and Morgan Wallen to My Chemical Romance have recently announced spring concerts dates (and that’s just on the music front).
‘Tis the season.
While Fresno is still waiting on that mega-concert announcement (the promised aftermath of Shakira’s performance at Valley Children’s Stadium this summer), the city seems to be on an entertainment hot streak, spurred in part by heavy bookings at two of its historic theaters (Warnors and Tower).
It was only two years ago that the Tower Theatre officially reopened under new management. It quickly increased bookings at the 86-year-old venue by 110 percent year over year. Since then, its has kept a fairly consistent calendar (of mostly music, but also comedy and classic-film screenings) at both the theater proper and the small theater lounge.
Most recently, the theater announced shows with ’80s hair-metal icon Sebastian Bach (Feb. 27) and comedian Martin Amini (Jan. 28), along with an added second show for Henry Cho. The comedian now performs at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 14.
Also on the calendar for Tower Theater in the new year: Bobby Lee, Jan. 10.; Jamie Lissow, Jan 18; and Rob Schneider, Jan. 24.
For its part, Warnors Theatre is seeing results from its partnership with Ineffable Live.
The Bay Area entertainment company came on as the theater’s exclusive talent buyer and quickly announced a show with English singer and pioneering electronic musician Gary Numan. He performs April 9.
This month alone, Warnors has added dates with rockabilly revivalist Chris Isaak and Mexican singer Fey (a Latin teen icon in the ‘90s), plus comedians Tim Allen (the “Shifting Gears” star is in town March 7) and Patton Oswalt, who performs April 3 as part of his just announced Effervescent tour. Comedian/content creator Trevor Wallace is also on the calendar. He performs Jan. 22 on The Alpha Beta Male tour.
Other upcoming music, comedy shows
They aren’t the only venues announcing incoming tours (or one-off concerts).
* Tioga-Sequoia is hosting Joyce Manor on Tuesday (Dec. 16) at its beer garden downtown as part of New Rock 104.1’s Sound House Series. The band (popular with the millennial set) will perform an acoustic set of five or six tunes. This is a free event and open to all ages.
* This month, Save Mart Center announced a March 20 concert from Mexicana singer Codiciado as part of his Así Es La Vida tour. This follows news that Weird Al Yankovic is playing the arena Sept. 12 on his Bigger and Weirder tour. The arena’s full calendar includes performance from comedians Katt Williams on Jan. 30 and Nate Bargatze on July 19, plus classic rock band Journey on April 24, as part of its final tour.
* Comedian Gary Owen will be at Saroyan Theater on Jan. 22 on his No Hard Feelings tour.
* Sanctuary, a new venue on Fulton Street in the Brewery District downtown, is officially up and running. It has landed a trio of national touring acts for 2026, thanks to Sucka Punch Productions: rap group Kottonmouth Kings on Feb. 21 ’90 alt-rockers Sponge on April 12 and metal band Powerman 5000 on April 24.