u/AllisMusicMusicisAll — reddlx

Local live music in San Mateo

What do we have to do to get more opportunities for local musicians around here? I believe there is a sizable-yet-hidden community of musical artists here waiting to be discovered.

The biggest hurdle they have is the lack of a venue that can host low-cost, all-ages shows. Bars obviously can't host all-ages shows and while our rec centers (Beresford and/or King) would be ideal, the fees, even at their non-profit rates, are well outside the budget of most young bands.

The result is we export most of our home-grown talent north to SF, south to San Jose, east to Oakland, or even west to Half Moon Bay. You can find a live music scene in every direction, but not here. I think that's such a waste. How can we change that?

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u/AllisMusicMusicisAll — 7 days ago

▲ 5 r/SanMateo

I and a couple of colleagues have started hosting open jams for local musicians at the Hillsdale Guitar Center. This will be our third event of the year so far. We play a ten-song setlist of easy-to-play rock songs that anyone can learn. The idea is simply to get San Mateo musicians in the same space and playing together (and then later form bands, collaborate, build a scene, etc.) Previous jams were a blast and we want to invite even more players to the next one. Here are the details:

JAM AND JAM AGAIN: an all-ages open-mic jam for San Mateo musicians and music lovers

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Time: 6:00pm

Location: San Mateo Guitar Center, 53 W Hillsdale Blvd

Setlist:

Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes

Rock N Roll All Nite by KISS

I Love Rock N Roll by Joan Jett

All The Small Things by Blink-182

Creep by Radiohead

You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? by The Clash

Iron Man by Black Sabbath

Love Buzz by Nirvana

Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones

If you enjoy live music.....if you play guitar, bass, drums, keys, or sing vocals.....if you want to see local San Mateo musicians jamming out together, then this is the event to see!

u/AllisMusicMusicisAll — 17 days ago

▲ 30 r/SanMateo

Anyone have info on the musical history of San Mateo?

For instance, did you know that Kris Kristofferson lived here and graduated from San Mateo High School before starting his career?

We were also once the headquarters for Napster which had offices located on 4th avenue.

Any other bits of music trivia linked to San Mateo?

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u/AllisMusicMusicisAll — 18 days ago