Friday Night Concerts in the Park have filled Cesar Chavez Park on 10th and J Streets with jammin' bands since the beginning of May and will continue every Friday night from 5-9 p.m. until August 14. In this storyline, The Sacramento Press will preview the concerts and help provide additional information on the artists and their music.

Friday, June 5

Bucho will headline the concert, with Righteous Movement and Happy Mayfield opening (click each band's name for a link to their MySpace page with music samples).

Bucho consists of singer and guitar player Gerald Pease, bass player Josh Lippi, Ben Schweir on the Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes keyboards and Derek Taylor on percussion, as well as a horn section -- Leon Moore and Anthony Coleman on trumpets and Roger Cox on sax.

"Bucho bridges the gap between old school soul and horn bands of the past with the youth twist of Hip-Hop energy," according to the band's biography on Dig Music, a local label on which they released their last album Omit the Harsh. Bucho was also recently inducted into the SAMMIE (Sacramento Area Music Award) Hall of fame.

Righteous Movement is a SAMMIE-award-winning five-piece hip-hop collective consisting of four Sacramento emcees and one DJ. The group recently released their first full length LP While You Wait... described on their website as a "balance of party jams, introspective verses and addictive beats."

"If you are from Sacramento, then you’ve most likely seen Righteous but might not be familiar with Happy Mayfield yet," said Adam Saake in a concert review of an April 18 show in Submerge. "Happy Mayfield, a funk band to be reckoned with, is a harmonious marriage between singer/songwriter Lee Bob Watson and The Park [which consists of ex-members of local favorites Bucho]."

"To my delight, I discovered upon viewing the stage that The Park was set up to play with Righteous as well," Saake added.

Righteous Movement emcee TAIS will be collaborating musically with Saake, who is also a drummer, in concert Sunday at the Press Club. TAIS was nominated for a SAMMIE both in the category "Best Emcee" for his solo work and also with his group Righteous Movement for Outstanding Hip-Hop Group.

So those who visit Cesar Chavez Park this Friday will be treated with music from Bucho, and ex-members of Bucho (The Park) as part of Happy Mayfield and maybe even backing hip-hop act Righteous Movement.

Also, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, your Friday night festivities can continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses. Check out these discounts:

Brew it Up! $4 Drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels & 3 Olives cocktails, plus half price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro $3 Drafts, $5 Martinis, plus selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K $1 off well drinks, $3 Draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge $3 Domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse $2 Pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and & half price appetizers

Table 260 Half off appetizer menu, 10% off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge $2.50 Bud & Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar $3.50 Bud & Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt $1 off Bud, Bud Light, and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel  $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen, or dual-double-bed room. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call the hotel at 916-447-2700.

*Photographs are of Bucho, courtesy Dig Music/Bucho