Gavin DeGraw in Sacramento

About Gavin DeGraw

Gavin DeGraw is a singer-songwriter who broke through in the mid-2000s with an unapologetic blend of soul, rock, and pop sensibilities. He's best known for "I Don't Want to Be," which became the theme song for One Tree Hill and basically defined a generation's soundtrack to high school drama. His music centers on emotional directness—he's not interested in obscuring what he's feeling. Songs like "Chariot" and "Follow Through" showcase his ability to build from intimate verses into anthemic choruses that hit harder than you'd expect from someone working in such a straightforward idiom. DeGraw's lived a genuinely interesting life: he busked in New York for years before getting signed, dealt with a serious bicycle accident that sidelined him for a while, and just kept writing. He's maintained a steady touring schedule and recording career without ever becoming the kind of overexposed pop star that burns out. His appeal is durable because there's no pretense to it—just a guy with a strong voice and actual things to say about love, loss, and trying to figure out who you are.

DeGraw puts real energy into live shows without relying on production gimmicks. Crowds sing along hard on the hits, but he actually holds attention during deeper cuts because his voice and guitar work are substantial. People genuinely connect with what he's doing onstage.

Known for I Don't Want to Be, Chariot, Follow Through, Belief, In Love with a Girl

Gavin DeGraw + Sacramento

Gavin DeGraw played Thunder Valley Casino on September 17, 2016, and the 15-song set balanced the hits with some genuine surprises. Making Love With the Radio On was an early deep cut, and Let It Go pulled from later material that most crowds don't know. Brother added a different energy mid-set, and Something Worth Saving showed the newer albums deserve more attention than they get. The encore paired She Sets the City on Fire with a Hey Jude singalong — a bold choice that apparently landed. Sacramento got a generous set.

Gavin DeGraw in Sacramento News

• KNCI Sacramento Stages A Sold-Out Country In The Park 2. Country Insider · Sep 28, 2022
• Weekend things to do in the Sacramento region for Sept. 23-25 KCRA · Sep 23, 2022
• 27 Brilliant Things To Do for the Holidays in San Francisco, California Ticketmaster Blog · Dec 6, 2016
• Gavin DeGraw Returns With ‘Best I Ever Had’ Single The Hollywood Reporter · Jun 18, 2013

Live Music in Sacramento

Sacramento's music scene has a soft spot for singer-songwriters with real technical chops, and there's an audience here for artists who blur the line between pop accessibility and serious musicianship. DeGraw fits that lane pretty well—he's got the polish and radio familiarity, but also the kind of guitar work and vocal depth that keeps people interested beyond the singles.

Sacramento road trip to see Gavin DeGraw?

Stay in Midtown Sacramento, where the neighborhood actually feels alive—walk to restaurants, bars, and galleries without planning logistics. Dinner at The Kitchen restaurant offers precise, ingredient-focused cooking that pairs well with the area's wine bar culture. Spend an afternoon at the Crocker Art Museum, one of the country's oldest art institutions, or wander the American River Bike Trail if you need to clear your head before the show. The neighborhood's tree-lined streets and vintage architecture beat anywhere else in town.