Hard-driving rock ‘n’ roll or getting pumped up for the 2024 Fresno State football season?

That’s among the many Fresno entertainment choices Friday night.

Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke will be at Fulton 55 while the Fresno State football team meets fans at the Bulldog Bash at Campus Pointe.

Meanwhile, nostalgia will be in the air all weekend with tribute and cover bands commemorating the past throughout the Valley.

Returning home are the Fresno Grizzlies and they’re bringing back their Lowriders theme.

The 93.7 Kiss Country Summer Concert Series comes back to Woodward Park. The Candlelight series will illuminate the music of Coldplay and Adele in downtown Fresno.

And, holiday cheer comes early with the Christmas in July 5K run on Christmas Tree Lane in Old Fig.

Check out our expanded list of events at this link.

93.7 KISS Country Summer Concert Series

It’s going down Thursday at the Rotary Amphitheatre at Woodward Park. This is a general admission show. All ages are welcome. The performers: Matt Stell, Bryce Leatherwood, Dalton Dover, and John Pemberton. It’ll be a fun country party.

Stell’s song “Prayed For You” from 2019 reached No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and in March it reached No. 54 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. It received over 15 million plays on Spotify and 44 million altogether in just over a year. The official music video for the song received more than 4.3 million views on YouTube in its first 10 months.

Leatherwood was the winner of season 22 of the “The Voice” where he was coached by country superstar Blake Shelton.

Dover is new to the scene. He’s gained attention by being named a 2024 Tidal Artist to Watch, Pandora 2023 Artist to Watch, an Amazon Music 2023 Breakthrough Artist to Watch: Country Class, and a member of CMT’s Listen Up 2023 Class.

Pemberton is a local musician. His single “That Was Then” topped the International Hot Country Music Chart in 2014 and he was voted male vocalist of the year at CCR Radio that year. He’s opened for Easton Corbin, Jackson Dean, and Caitlin Smith. He was voted the fan favorite at The Big Fresno Fair two years in a row and was the first artist invited to sing at the new Table Mountain Casino.

Get your tickets here.

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Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings and A Tribute to Adele

The Candlelight Series returns to Fresno at the Grand 1401 this weekend to pay tribute to Coldplay and Adele.

On Friday they’ll do a strings tribute to Coldplay’s majestic sounds. Expect the band’s defining songs like “Clocks,” “My Universe,” and “Speed of Sound.”

On Saturday they’ll pay tribute to Grammy Award winning singer Adele with renditions of her most popular staples like “Hello,” “Rumour Has It,” “Someone Like You,” and “Rolling in the Deep.”

It’ll be a visual splendor watching these classically trained musicians play while being surrounded by hundreds — sometimes thousands — of LED candles.

Get your tickets here.

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Fresno Grizzlies vs San Jose Giants

The Fresno Grizzlies return home for a series against the San Jose Giants this weekend.

Fiesta Oso with the Lowriders de Fresno will take place the whole weekend. A fun combination of lowriders and baseball. Friday will conclude with fireworks and Chukchansi Park will have special food offerings on Saturday.

Get your tickets here.

Christmas in July 5k

Bust out the Santa hats and feel the holiday cheer by running or walking at the Christmas in July 5K down Christmas Tree Lane on Saturday. The 20-point race is a part of the California Classic Runner of the Year Series. Santa Claus will be there.

The event supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County by funding summer programming at all 14 clubs. All participants receive custom finisher’s medallion, and an event shirt.

Overall winners receive a $100 gift card. A fun event to celebrate the holiday early.

Get your tickets here.

American Made Concerts presents Gilby Clarke

American Made Concerts presents Gilby Clarke, who roars into Fresno at Fulton 55 on Friday.

He’s known for his three-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour, and also featured on “The Spaghetti Incident?” He embarked on a solo career and has played guitar with Slash’s Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine, MC5 .

His name became popular when he appeared on the reality television show “Rock Star: Supernova” on CBS where he formed the band Supernova with members of Metallica and Mötley Crüe.

Get your tickets here.

Check it Out:

Slice of Comedy Mike Wirtz “I’m Shooting a Special,” Friday

Danny Minch hosts these comedic events every weekend at DiCicco’s in Old Town Clovis. Headlining is Mike Wirtz. He’s shooting his performance live as a special. He has opened for Sam Kinison, Paulie Shore, and Dennis Miller. He has also appeared on Hulu’s Comedy Brew, Fox TV’s “Heaven Help Us,” and Comedy Central’s “Short Attention Space Theater.”

Get your tickets here.

Central Valley Fuego FC vs Spokane Velocity FC, Friday

Central Valley Fuego FC is the region’s professional soccer team in USL League One and the Fuego face Spokane Velocity FC at the Fresno State soccer stadium on Friday. It’ll be a League One cup competition game.

Get your tickets here.

Fast Times – 80’s Concert Experience, Friday

Fast Times-80’s Concert Experience is at Engelmann Cellars on Friday. It figures to be a great evening under the stars with live music, wine, beer, frosé, food trucks, and dancing.

Get your tickets here.

Wine Down Fridays at Toca Madera Winery, Friday

Wine Down Fridays happens every Friday from June 28 to Sept. 13 at Toca Madera Winery. Foreigner Unauthorized (a tribute to the music of Foreigner) and Rock Steady (a tribute to the music of Bad Company) will play the jams that propelled those bands to superstardom. They have wine specials. Food will be provided by Kerrib Flava (Jamaican food). There’ll be a sangria happy hour. Bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets.

Get your tickets here.

Bulldog Bash, Friday

At the Bulldog Bash at Campus Pointe on Friday you’ll be able to meet the Fresno State football team, along with the mascot Timeout and Victor-E Bulldog. There’ll be live music from DJ Straws, with entertainment provided by the Fresno State Dance Team. The event is hosted by Bring The Juice Podcast. There’ll be lawn games & activities for kids. It’s free for the entire family.

Get your tickets here.

One Night of Queen, Saturday

One Night of Queen will be performed by Gary Mullen & The Works at Visalia Fox Theatre on Saturday. They have been hailed as the World’s Premiere Queen Tribute Band.

Get your tickets here.

ApCal Rock’n Ranch, Saturday

ApCal Rock’n Ranch is putting on an ’80s party night with bands Max Headroom and Flock of Seagirls. There’ll be beer, spirits, food, dancing and cigars.

Get your tickets here.