Rialto sits on historic Route 66 in the heart of Southern California's Inland Empire, between San Bernardino and Fontana at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains. Rialto itself is mostly residential, but within a 20-minute drive players will find brewery and pub open mics in Redlands, a Saturday-morning bluegrass jam in a Riverside park, the legendary folk shop where Ben Harper grew up, and one of America's oldest free summer music festivals. This guide covers Rialto's history, the Inland Empire music scene and its venues, and where to find open mics and open jams around Rialto.
A Brief History of Rialto
The valley below the San Bernardino Mountains was home to the Serrano and Tongva peoples, and later to the Spanish missions and the vast Mexican-era Rancho San Bernardino. In 1851, Latter-day Saint settlers bought the rancho and founded nearby San Bernardino. In 1887, during Southern California's great land boom, the Semi-Tropic Land and Water Company laid out a new town along the Santa Fe Railway and named it after the famous Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy.
Rialto grew up surrounded by citrus groves and vineyards, and it was incorporated as a city in 1911. In the 1920s and '30s, Foothill Boulevard became part of Route 66, the "Mother Road," and its roadside culture still lingers in landmarks like the Wigwam Motel on the Rialto–San Bernardino border, where travelers have slept in concrete teepees since 1949.
After World War II, the orange groves gave way to suburbs, and today Rialto is a diverse, fast-growing city of more than 100,000 people and a major logistics hub for the Inland Empire, linked by freeways and rail to Los Angeles and the ports.
The Rialto and Inland Empire Music Scene
The Inland Empire has a music history that often gets overshadowed by Los Angeles. In 1982 and 1983, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak's US Festival drew hundreds of thousands of fans to Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore, just north of Rialto, and the site is still home to a major amphitheater. The Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival, founded in 1924, is one of the oldest continuously running free outdoor music festivals in the country, and the University of Redlands' School of Music anchors the local classical and jazz scene.
In nearby Claremont, the Folk Music Center, founded in 1958 by Charles and Dorothy Chase, has been a hub for folk and roots musicians for generations; their grandson, Grammy winner Ben Harper, grew up in the shop. The region's scene today runs from punk and metal to regional Mexican music, hip-hop, blues and bluegrass, with bands working a circuit of brewpubs, Irish pubs and small clubs from Fontana to Riverside.
Popular Live Music Venues Near Rialto
- Glen Helen Amphitheater (Devore/San Bernardino) – One of the largest outdoor amphitheaters in the country, about 15 minutes north.
- Toyota Arena (Ontario) – An arena for large concerts.
- Fox Performing Arts Center and Riverside Municipal Auditorium (Riverside) – Historic theaters for touring concerts.
- California Theatre of the Performing Arts (San Bernardino) – A 1928 theater for concerts and Broadway tours.
- Redlands Bowl (Redlands) – Home of the free summer music festival on Tuesday and Friday evenings, June through August.
- Stage Red (downtown Fontana) – A concert venue for rock, Latin and hip-hop acts.
- Hangar 24 Craft Brewery (Redlands) – A popular brewery with live music most weekends.
- The Three Stags Irish Pub (Redlands) – A pub with live music several nights a week and a weekly open mic.
- Folk Music Center (220 Yale Ave., Claremont) – A legendary music store and museum with a monthly open mic.
Open Mics and Open Jams Near Rialto
Rialto has few open stages of its own, so local players work a circuit across the Inland Empire, with Redlands about 15 minutes east and Riverside and Claremont about 20 to 25 minutes away. Below are the best current options, followed by a schedule.
Before you go: Inland Empire open mics change hosts and nights often, and some listings may be out of date. Always check the venue's or host's website or social media before heading out with your gear.
Open Mics
- Open Mic at The Three Stags Irish Pub (Redlands) – Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday Open Mic & Karaoke at Ritual Brewing Co. (Redlands) – Sundays, 2:00–6:00 p.m. A relaxed afternoon brewery session.
- Open Mic at The Royal Falconer (106 Orange St., Redlands) – Every other Thursday, with sign-ups at 7:30 p.m. and music from about 8:00 p.m., hosted by Gabriel Rojas. Musicians get 15 minutes or three songs; poets and comedians get five minutes. Confirm the current schedule.
- Folk Music Center Open Mic (220 Yale Ave., Claremont) – Last Sunday of the month; doors and sign-ups at 6:00 p.m., $2. A chance to play in one of Southern California's most beloved folk institutions. Confirm with the store at (909) 624-2928.
Jams
- Inland Empire Bluegrass Jam (Fairmount Park, 2601 Fairmount Blvd., Riverside) – Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to noon. A beginner-friendly outdoor bluegrass jam. Bring an acoustic instrument and a folding chair.
- California Bluegrass Association jams – The CBA's online calendar lists additional bluegrass and old-time jams across Southern California.
Rialto-Area Open Jam & Open Mic Schedule at a Glance
| Day | Event | Venue | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Open Mic & Karaoke (2 p.m.) | Ritual Brewing Co., Redlands | All Styles |
| Sunday (last) | Open Mic (6 p.m.) | Folk Music Center, Claremont | Folk / Acoustic |
| Tuesday | Open Mic (8 p.m.) | The Three Stags Irish Pub, Redlands | All Styles |
| Thursday (every other, confirm) | Open Mic (8 p.m.) | The Royal Falconer, Redlands | Music / Poetry / Comedy |
| Saturday | Inland Empire Bluegrass Jam (9 a.m.) | Fairmount Park, Riverside | Bluegrass |
Tips for Playing Open Mics and Jams Around Rialto
- Plan for driving. The Inland Empire is spread out; allow extra time for freeway traffic on weeknights.
- Beat the heat. Summer temperatures often top 100°F; never leave instruments in a parked car, and bring water to outdoor jams.
- Catch the Redlands Bowl. Free summer concerts are a great way to meet local musicians.
- Look west, too. Pomona, Claremont and the rest of the Los Angeles area add many more jams within an hour.
Helpful Local Resources
- About Redlands (aboutredlands.com) – A weekly guide to Redlands music, open mics and events.
- California Bluegrass Association (californiabluegrass.org) – Statewide bluegrass jam calendar.
- Folk Music Center (folkmusiccenter.com) – Open mic dates, lessons and concerts.
- openmikes.org – Musician-maintained open mic listings for the Inland Empire.
