We knew pleasures in abundance

Our History

Renamed in tribute to the harmonica virtuoso Norton Buffalo in 2017, Norton Buffalo Hall (once the home of Paradise Community Guilds) was for 13 years a destination for immensely satisfying experiences of music, dance and more. Fine musical artists from all over town, the County, the country and the world found their way to one of two humble stages — indoors a big, lit area of dance floor framed by a rug and curtains, or the 12’x16’ outdoor stage. Our weekly Open Mikefull was a treasured touchstone of community around music-making for first-budding talents and pros alike.

Along with 9/10ths of the buildings in Paradise, Norton Buffalo Hall was turned to ash in the Camp Fire on November 8, 2018. Though all members of Paradise Community Guilds lost their home and were displaced, we determined to keep our community in touch and alive by trying to honor all the bookings we had on the calendar. We did this under the banner of Norton Buffalo Hall WEST. We are thankful to Chico Community Guilds, Museum of Northern California Art (monca), and Theatre on the Ridge for hosting our events at their facilities. They gave us our first moments of laughter, joy, and much-needed transcendence and fellowship.

Help us write a new chapter of enjoyment and participation in arts & culture for the Ridge. Find out how.

Here's a list of some of the international, national and local talents that have entertained our audiences over the years:

Paradise Symphony Orchestra • CSU Chico Envy HipHop Dance Team • Paradise High School Choir • Paradise High School Poets • Bill Hartley • Meg Turner • Wren Tuatha • Don Criswell (Gold Nugget Museum) • Butte County Scottish Pipes and Drum Band • Allen Myers • Nirvan Mullick • Los Angeles Guitar Quartet • Adam del Monte • Berto Boyd • Jack Cimo • West Coast Banjo Extravaganza • Shigemi Minetaka • Motoshi Kosako • Claude Bourbon • Whitey Johnson Band () • Ron & Willow Dejesus • Stevie Cook & Diane Garner • Christmas Jug Band • Simon Lynge & the Martial Hearts • Easy Leaves • Pat Hull • Michael Bone • Bird & Wag • Jim Miller • Kim Gimball • Open Mikefull Artists (Jay Rose • Howie Getz/Carol Stark • Andan Casamajor • Maximus Pepperkamp • Jim Insular/Michael Perry) • Mike Beck • Berkley Hart • To Wake You • A Night of Leonard Cohen Music II (Peter and Tricia Berkow • David Bilinski • Vera Marie Bridges • Stevie Cook • Susan Dobra • Lisa Flores • Tom Haber • Dana Hanson • Robert Karch • Pam Kather • Bob Littell • Mark McKinnon • John Michael-Sun • Jerry Morano • Gordy Ohliger • Mark Wilpolt • David Leon Zink) • The Paper Hats • Pam Mark Hall • Severin Browne • Moody Little Sister • Halie Loren • Freebo • Carlos Reyes • Janice Maxine Reid • Roy Rogers • Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald • Jon Strider (SE) • Drew Nelson • Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen (CA) • Jenna Mammina & Rolf Sturm • Ian Ethan Case • Simon Lynge (GL) • Janna Marit • Chuck Brodsky • Big Wide Room • Bright Blue Gorilla • Drei Deutscher Amigos • Maurice 'Big Mo' Huffman • Volker Strifler • Martin Gerschwitz • David Leon Zink • Brett Perkins (DK) • Mark Davis • Bahapki • Karma Kings • Color Blind • Paisani • Mossy Creek • The Ruby Hollow Band • The Apologetiks • The Revells • Gene Kelly • John-Michael Sun and Susan Dobra • Jazz Rescue • Honey Tap • The Chris Schadt Band • David Bilinski • Mark McKinnon • Ha' Penny Bridge • Railyard Flowers • Los Caballitos De La Cancion • Mandy Jo and the Holy Mackeral • Kyle Williams • Reckoning • The Buttants • Hot Potato • Tom Haithcock and Wounded Pickup • Beltain • The Stumpjumperz • "Mud Creek" Kenny • Alli Battaglia & The Musical Brewing Company • Electrified Redemption Project • Yung Lexx and J-Bliz • Arlena Torres & Jeffrey Obser • Gorgorlu • Memo Keswick (International Folk Dance) • Nelson Avenue Hmong Dancers • Julie Vang & Friends Oroville Dancers • Postive-I • Aaron Jaqua • Three Fingers Whisky • The Blue Merles • Dakini Tribal Fusion Dancers • Brad Peterson & Bob Littell • Lisa Flores & David Aguilar • Open Mikefull Performers Showcase...and many more!