Gas Money Band, Neon Pickle, Night Fever, and Tom Rigney & Flambeau round out high-energy weekend in Historic Folsom
FOLSOM — The weekend lineup at Folsom’s Powerhouse Pub gets off to a blistering start this Friday, Sept. 26, with the return of blues-rock phenom Austin Mo, whose early evening performance will set the tone for three nights of top-tier live music in Historic Folsom. From Mo’s fiery guitar solos and soulful vocals to disco throwbacks and Louisiana fiddle grooves, Powerhouse once again delivers one of the most diverse and energetic music weekends in the region.
From the moment he first stepped onto a stage at the Sacramento Music Festival in 2015, Mo’s path has been defined by both raw talent and relentless drive. Influenced early on by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Santana, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, he developed a love for expressive guitar work and blues-rooted rock vocals. His guitar of choice — an early 1970s Gibson Flying V — is as iconic as his sound.
But what sets Mo apart is more than gear and tone. It’s a lifelong commitment to discovering his own voice, both on stage and in the studio.
That journey began long before most teens ever strummed a chord. In 2014, at just 16 years old, Mo was selected as one of five teens in the nation to tour internationally with the Blues Kids of America in Europe. He was later inducted into the Brotherhood of the Guitar and recognized in several elite national competitions.
In 2017, he was one of 16 finalists — out of 2,000 entrants — selected to perform at the MoPOP Museum’s Guitar Slingers Contest in Seattle. That same year, he was also one of just 60 chosen from 5,000 guitarists nationwide to compete in the Wilson Center Guitar Festival in Wisconsin. More recently, in 2023, Guitar.com ranked him No. 9 on its list of “Top 10 Young Blues-Breakers Making the Blues Fun Again.”
Encouraged and mentored by Tesla’s Frank Hannon, Mo began writing original music and formed a blues-rock trio that has since opened for Tesla, Y&T, Jared James Nichols, Chris Cain, Twanna Turner, the Blasters, Canaan Smith and Strawberry Alarm Clock at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles.
He’s currently recording a new album with both Hannon of Frank Hannon Productions and Joe Merrick of Guilty Dog Studios. Mo is also endorsed by Dunlop Guitar Products, MXR, Ernie Ball, Pattersonic Pickups and Guitar Center. On Friday, Folsom audiences will get a front-row seat to the next chapter in his rising career.
Later that night at 10 p.m., the groove shifts into overdrive as Gas Money Band takes the stage. This high-energy young group brings the best of rock ’n’ roll and Motown soul, creating a powerful blend that keeps the crowd moving from the first beat to last call. Their dynamic style and youthful swagger make them a standout on any lineup — and a perfect closer to Powerhouse’s Friday night.
Saturday’s entertainment begins with a 3 p.m. afternoon dance party featuring Neon Pickle, a fan favorite known for delivering upbeat, party-ready sets filled with feel-good hits from the 1980s. With infectious energy and a crowd-pleasing vibe, they’re the perfect soundtrack for a fun afternoon in Historic Folsom.
The party continues Saturday night when Night Fever hits the stage at 10 p.m. This five-piece disco tribute band transforms the venue into a glittering throwback dance floor, complete with mirror-ball sparkle and the biggest hits from disco’s golden era. Audiences can expect crowd favorites from Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine Band, ABBA, Chic, the Bee Gees and more.
With flashy costumes and nonstop energy, Night Fever delivers an immersive, boogie-worthy experience that captures the spirit of the ’70s.
Rigney and Flambeau close weekend with Cajun fire
Sunday’s Powerhouse of Blues series caps off the weekend with a must-see 3 p.m. performance by Tom Rigney & Flambeau, a band whose fiery fusion of Cajun, blues and global roots music has made them a staple on festival stages across the country.
With nearly five decades of experience on the San Francisco Bay Area roots music scene, Tom Rigney is a celebrated composer, showman and fiddle virtuoso whose performances are known for their intensity, passion and irresistible rhythm. Whether he’s channeling the energy of a Louisiana two-step, the soul of a gypsy ballad or the swing of a New Orleans second-line groove, Rigney’s violin doesn’t just play — it sings.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Rigney is the son of legendary baseball figure Bill Rigney. He earned a Master of Fine Arts from Harvard before returning to California to launch what would become a storied musical career. He first found success with the award-winning western swing and bluegrass outfit Back in the Saddle, which earned a Bammie Award in 1981 and regional radio success with Rigney’s composition “Time and Again.”
He later joined Queen Ida’s Bon Temps Zydeco Band, touring internationally and falling in love with the danceable rhythms of zydeco and Cajun music. That experience led him to form his own roots band, The Sundogs, which he fronted for 15 years. The group’s fusion of blues, Cajun and Americana earned them national radio play and festival appearances across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Their 1990s album Dancing Room Only spent eight weeks on the national Americana charts.
In 2000, Rigney launched his most personal project yet: Tom Rigney and Flambeau. As both frontman and composer, Rigney has led the band through a wide-ranging musical journey that fuses Louisiana roots with Celtic energy, blues soul, and rock flair. Their discography includes Happy to Be Here, the instrumental Metamorphosis, and multiple blues-focused records like A Blue Thing and Back Porch Blues.
Collaborations with artists like Grammy winner Michael Doucet on Cajun Fandango, and more recent projects like Let the Four Winds Blow, have further cemented Flambeau’s reputation as a must-see act in the American roots music scene.
The band features a seasoned cast of musicians who match Rigney’s intensity onstage with rollicking rhythm sections, soulful keyboards, and occasional horns that bring the energy to the edge. Their live shows are equal parts musicianship, movement and heart — an unforgettable way to close out the weekend at Powerhouse.
All shows at Powerhouse Pub are 21 and over. Seating is first come, first served. Free parking is available at the Leidesdorff Street parking garage, with a complimentary shuttle to the venue entrance. Powerhouse Pub is located at 614 Sutter St. in Historic Folsom.For tickets, showtimes and VIP info, visit www.powerhousepub.com.
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