Retro Junkie

If you grew up watching MTV, feeding quarters into Ms. Pac-Man, and losing your mind to Journey or Nirvana, Retro Junkie in downtown Walnut Creek was built specifically for you. Opened in 2017 and operating under Cherry Pop Entertainment Group, this is the East Bay's premier tribute band and live music destination, a place where the 80s and 90s never ended and nobody wants them to. The space is visually unlike anything else in the region: neon-splashed walls covered in pop culture art, a DJ booth constructed from vintage tape decks, premium pinball machines, classic arcade games, and a stage that regularly hosts some of the West Coast's most accomplished tribute acts covering everyone from Prince and Pearl Jam to Depeche Mode, the Beastie Boys, Guns N Roses, Tom Petty, ZZ Top, and the Bee Gees. On Fridays and Saturdays the outdoor beer garden adds a second stage, with an earlier set outside and the main act inside later in the evening, effectively giving you two shows for one night. The weekly programming calendar runs five nights deep, with salsa dancing on Tuesdays, karaoke on Wednesdays, original or cover acts on Thursdays, and a full live band lineup on Fridays and Saturdays. The room is directly accessible via BART, steps from the Marriott, and in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, making it one of the most convenient live music venues in the entire East Bay. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, and VIP table reservations can be made through the venue website.