Claremont Music Scene and Miss Claremont are teaming up to give you a quarterly music guide. It’s only natural I'd combine my two passions: Music and Claremont.
You don’t have to look far when it comes to live music in Claremont but many are happening at specific locations, days of the week, and times. We’re here to provide a quarterly overview of music events in and around the Claremont area and ways to stay "in the know."
Stay Connected through Claremont Music Scene
Claremont Music Scene (CMS) is a great way to connect with the music community and also learn what live music is happening in Claremont and the surrounding areas. Their website features a calendar of events and their Instagram also provides updates.
Brian Luft, founder of Claremont Music Scene, occasionally hosts "Meet and Greets" managed through Meetup.com, where musicians and lovers of music come together to know one another and talk about the music scene in general.
Most recently a new CMS project is in development called “Claremont Community Performers” where volunteers play music in senior homes and memory care facilities.
“Music is therapeutic in so many contexts so we’re going to sprinkle a little around where we can,” says Brian. If you’re interested in contributing to this project, get in touch with Brian at brian@claremontmusicscene.com.
If you’d like to know more about CMS in person, drop by their booth during the Annual Village Venture on October 23 between 9 am and 5 pm. The booth is located on the corner at Shelton Park and you'll have the opportunity to meet Brian and talk more about “the scene.”
Featured Live Music
We Olive & Wine Bar. Located in the heart of Claremont Village on Yale Ave, We Olive & Wine Bar is a charming wine bar with live music most Friday’s (occasionally on Saturday’s) in their back patio. Ray McNamara is the musician and plays cover songs on the steel drums. It's awesome. Oh, and the best part is he takes requests! The steel drums add a fun and whimsical vibe so don’t be shy to take pictures, videos, give a tip, and make some requests. Follow their Instagram for live music updates.
Free Jazz Concerts. Every Sunday in October, bands will perform jazz music at Blue Fin Sushi located on the corner of Foothill Blvd and Claremont Blvd. The Claremont Courier recently published an article listing the bands who’ll be playing such as Polyhedra on October 17th and Cucamonga Collective on October 24th.
New Orleans Party Music at The Quarter. Every Tuesday at The Quarter, located on the corner of Indian Hill Blvd and 2nd Street in Claremont, starting at 7:30 PM Gumbo Child plays inside the restaurant creating a fun and vibrant atmosphere. The type of music is New Orleans party style and old school rhythm and blues. You can read more about The Quarter Creole Cuisine in this blog post.
Piano Piano Dueling Piano Bar. If you're looking for a fun dueling piano show for a girl’s night, date night, or birthday celebration, consider Piano Piano on Foothill Blvd (near the DoubleTree Hotel in Claremont). Show times are Tuesday - Saturday at 8 PM.
Walter’s Restaurant. Located on Yale Ave and Bonita Ave, Walter’s Restaurant features live music Wednesday’s at 6 PM, Thursday’s around 9 PM, and Saturday’s around 10 PM. They have a delicious food menu, abundance of craft cocktails, impressive happy hour prices, and a cozy courtyard area with a fire pit.
Citrus Grove Distillers. This hidden gem of a distillery is tucked away off Claremont Blvd in an industrial park. Every Friday (sometimes Saturday's) evening there’s a very talented guitarist by the name of Seth, playing great cover songs. The guitar adds a sort of lounge-y vibe, perfect for throwing a few seasonal craft cocktails.
Rev’d Up Cars & Coffee. Every last Sunday of the month, Rev’d Up Coffee hosts a Cars & Coffee event located on Foothill Blvd and Harvard Ave. The next event takes place on Halloween and will feature live music, classic cars, and the opportunity to share your love/passion for cars with the community. Follow their Instagram for future updates.
Breweries. At Old Stump Brewery you can find live music on Saturdays and Sundays. Ironbark Ciderworks (located in an industrial center on Claremont Blvd) features live music most weekend nights.
You can catch live music at Last Name Brewery every Friday and Saturday (among other events). Don't miss their Oktober Fiesta (combing Oktoberfest and Dia Del Los Muertos) taking place October 30th from 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. This family-friendly event includes live music, food, games, photo booth, costume contest (including pets!), and prizes.
Other breweries hosting live music are Dragon's Tale (Montclair), Rok House (Upland), and La Verne Brewing Co.
Featured Venues
Miss Claremont Picks
Candlelight Pavilion. This venue is a dinner theater style. Located on 455 W Foothill Ave, Candlelight Pavilion offers many types of live entertainment from the musicals of Billy Elliot and Titanic to cover bands and holiday performances. See photos from past shows here.
The Canyon - Montclair. This venue is definitely a top pick of mine because of their Friday night 80’s night club where live Djs spin vinyl records from 80’s new wave and synth pop to darkwave.
Located inside the Montclair Place, The Canyon offers live music almost every night of the week. Their current schedule features tribute bands to ABBA, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Selina, and Tom Petty. You can also look forward to bands like ABC, Berlin, Marcy Playground, A Flock of Seagulls, Naked Eyes, and more playing in the next few months!
Claremont Music Scene Picks
Bridges Hall of Music - Pomona College. A historic setting for a variety of performances produced by the Pomona College Music Department. Concerts are free and open to the public. The Fall calendar has a cornucopia of styles featuring jazz, orchestra, choir, and African ensembles. Many performances are scheduled for both evenings and weekend afternoons to accommodate varying audiences.
Streets of Claremont Village. Make sure to catch the last couple weekends of Friday Nights Live around The Village, ending in October. While Claremont isn’t exactly a mecca of wandering artists, you’re likely to encounter a magical musical moment in your wandering. You might find Hector jamming some smooth jazz or Lorraine with her smile and serene voice. It’s hard to miss the hypnotic pulse of the Taiko drummers. Mike, Wayne and friends are often playing their scratchy street blues near the Wells Fargo bank.
Thank you for reading and drop a line to share any updates about live music happening in and around the Claremont area.