Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 30-Wednesday, June 5, 2024: Blackwater Holylight | Yard Act | The Chameleons | North Park Music Fest | Adopt-A-Pet Day | Rock N Roll Marathon | Sarah McLachlan |

Can we be honest for a minute here? Does ANYONE like Rock N Roll Marathon weekend? I'm just going to assume you're saying "no" and we can move on. Our car was towed a couple years ago because for some reason the idiots who have to distribute warnings, only do it on the exact streets that are used for the marathon, and not on the adjoining streets in neighborhoods like North Park and Normal Heights, where we regularly park around the corner or down a couple blocks because of impacted parking. And while the running routes are easy to understand, there is no clarity on if there are any roads that vehicles can cross or exactly what times they open once runners pass. The bus information is even worse because it is so damn murky. So it looks like if I want to go to the Zoo on Sunday morning, I'm gonna have to walk or bike there. But even that's not clear if I can use the closed off streets for such purposes if I'm not a badged runner. I fucking hate it. But this weekend is also the North Park Music Fest, which I have not had a hand in for several years, since before the Mini-Park and when it was still NPFoA. So much evolution has happened since then, but what really matters is that Transfer is playing, so I'm (fingers crossed) at least gonna catch that, but Tim will be out there shooting the whole thing for San Diego: Dialed In. Beyond all that, and this has nothing to do with music, but the San Diego Humane Society is having a super event on Saturday for free adoptions, licensing, tags and more, so check the link below for details on that. 

I know, I know, we've got it so rough up in these streets of this incredible city. Try not to be too bummed out you live in such a glorious place. 

Stay safe out there.  

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 23-Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Fruition | Cloud Nothings | Maggie Rogers | Wine Lips | Natalie Merchant | World Goth Day | girl in red | Guitar Wolf | Jon Foreman |

I am so looking forward to Memorial Day weekend if it just means fewer emails for one extra day. There are so many fun things to do, even if we're gonna be in full-on May Gray mode. I'll be working at the Fruition show on Thursday, and then doing a bar crawl for my friend's pre-wedding celebration on Friday, and then I think there's some sort of party or reception for the wedding that I'll try to get to on Saturday. That means I'm missing out on some prime zoo time, of course, and on Friday night is member preview night for the summer hours and then the zoo will be open from 9am-9pm for the majority of the summer, minus a few special events when they close early. Safari Park hours extend from 9am-7pm as well, and both parks have music and entertainment and such. SeaWorld Summer Spectacular also kicks off this weekend, so whether you care or not, at least know that fireworks will be back on the weekends, so plan accordingly for your pets.  We'll also be going to girl in red next week, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. 

I hope everyone has a super duper weekend. It is Memorial Day, so honor that how you will. For me, it's a year since my sister-in-law's interment, so my thoughts will be with my brother and the rest of my family. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San DIego: Thursday, May 16- Wednesday, May 22, 2024: Wednesday | The Toxhards | RJD2 | Twin Ritual | Pond | Fiesta Del Sol | Baby Bushka | Moorea Masa | Bully | Pete Yorn |

The Quartyard is undergoing some changes, but will be SOLD OUT Thursday night for WEDNESDAY

I'm really looking forward to Thursday night at Quartyard. As I write this, there are about a dozen tickets left, but I suspect they'll be gone by the time this actually publishes. This week there are so many things going on that it feels a little overwhelming. I'd personally recommend seeing RJD2 at Music Box, who always blows minds with his skills but there are definitely a lot of great choices, including Fiesta Del Sol, some great indie shows, and a million ways to spend time outdoors, including the rest of San Diego River Days. Find your fun. 

Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Thursday, May 9-Wednesday, May 15, 2024: Lol Tolhurst x Budgie | David Sedaris | Gator By The Bay | Pacific Avenue | Wonderfront | Psychedelic Furs | Face To Face | Aaron Lee Tasjan | Waxahatchee | and more!!

Waxahatchee (10.13.2018)

It's a big weekend in San Diego: it's Mother's Day, Gator By The Bay is back at Spanish Landing, and Wonderfront is back at the Embarcadero. Unless some last minute surprises happen, however, I'll be sitting out the latter two. The good news, however, if you're not hitting the festivals, is that there are so many great shows in town this week and weekend, so your music needs are covered if you're not inclined to watch music with a line of port-o-potties in the vicinity. And honestly, the weather has been so amazing that really, just doing anything outside, even if May Gray creeps in, is going to be incredible as we're still before any major influx of tourists. If you've read this far, I'm going to tell you this little secret for you to use this weekend and into the entire summer: parking at the San Diego Zoo is free. While it may get busy, it's rarely ever full. And so with that information, you should know that the SDMTS number 7 and the Rapid 215 both service the zoo stop by the carousel and get you downtown in about 10 minutes. There's also a stop for both near Inspiration Point near the World Beat Center. The two buses can get you to any other bus or trolley line which get you to Petco Park or Comic-Con or Wonderfront or Broadway Pier or anywhere for $6 for a daypass in the Pronto app. And even when the zoo is closed, you can park ANYWHERE in Balboa Park except between the hours of 2am-6am. (Vehicle parking is prohibited in Balboa Park parking lots from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily (SDMC 63.02.21) with the exception of Marston Point parking lot. Parking in Marston Point parking lot is not permitted from sunset to 7 a.m. daily and 10 a.m. on Thursday for maintenance.) Keep that our little secret, mkay?

Have a great week. Stay safe out there. 

Things To Do In San Diego: Wednesday, November 16-Thursday, November 24, 2022: Wonderfront Festival | Blitzkid | Lucy Dacus | La Luz | Noah Kahan | Blu DeTiger | Supersuckers | + The Biggest Party Night of the Year!!

Lucy Dacus Plays A Sold Out Show At Observatory on Saturday Night (Taken 11.29.2018)

On Wednesday night, we went to Henry V, which was part of the Globe For All program by the Old Globe and it was so great. If you're free on Saturday, RSVP immediately for the last available show they're doing. The other ones are already sold out. It's totally free and totally worth it. 

Obviously this is a big week with Wonderfront happening at the Waterfront, a ton of sold out shows everywhere, and next Wednesday, which I included, because it's typically the biggest party night of the year. It also gives me a day off, and I guess I'll do listings next week for Friday through Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll see. I've also been trying to put together a new holiday guide, but obviously lots of stuff like tree lightings, holiday markets, The Grinch, and lots of ballet presentations have already started.

Casbah had a ton of show announcements this week, and Ticketmaster had a ton of backlash, but I'll leave all of that for your Googly fingers to find and read if you're so inclined. I STILL haven't made it to a morning zoo in over a week and I'm jonesing, but for now, I've got lots of family stuff and work stuff and show stuff that I'm a little too occupied to carve out the time. Soon. And before I know it, Jungle Bells will be back with extended Zoo hours. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. It's possible I get a post or two in before then, but with the family all with time off, don't hold your breath. But do wear a mask. 

Stay safe out there. 

Wonderfront 2020 Is Postponed To 2021

Wonderfront has bravely posteponed to 2021. Read the full press release below.

Behind The Scenes at Wonderfront

Wonderfront is just a few days away and I'm certain that this water falling from the sky will be gone in time for the whole thing to go down beautifully. I haven't quite decided if I'm gonna be on the fast-track and try to see a little bit of everything or if I'll just be super casual and see what I see, but either way, I'll have my camera in tow and will be posting as much as my batteries will allow. Anyway, they posted this behind the scenes video and I have to admit, they got me pretty excited. If you still need info or tickets, get it all here.

Things To Do In San Diego: Tuesday, November 19-Monday, November 25, 2019

It was a great week of music so I'll recap, but I also wanna say that this weekend is the inaugural Wonderfront Festival, and while I've been festival averse in the past, this one seems navigable and you can find all the set times and info on my old post, but also they dropped an app for iOS and and Android, so you should definitely download that before the weekend. Last week was busy af...on Wednesday I went to Built to Spill and The Office after. On Thursday we went to see The Driver is Red and hear holocaust survivor Rose Schindler at Bread & Salt, then I went to Music Box for Art Alexakis and after caught Hovvdy at Space. On Friday night I went to Cold War Kids and Samia at Observatory, but I was kinda struggling so I didn't quite make it till the end of the show. I did start reading a great book that I couldn't put down and finished over the weekend called Whisper Network which kinda kept me up all night. (You can check out the ebook on the San Diego Public Library app) and then Saturday Nova played her last game of her season. Then Saturday night I worked for The Ocean Blue at the Casbah, and Darren came and met me and we went to Livewire after all of that. On Sunday I went to AMSD for the first time ever to catch Trashcan Sinatras, who performed A Happy Pocket and Weightlifting in their entirety for a breathtaking show. Come Monday, however, I was bed-ridden with allergies because it was like 90+ degrees in November. Ugh. I'm feeling better though, and excited for Wonderfront, and then next weekend with North Park Live and things are feeling good, though I haven't really found much time to post any pics and it's kind of a constant weight I can't really shake. But so it goes. If you wanna see my show pics, you should just follow my Instagram anyway. Listings through Monday are after the jump.

Wonderfront Set Times Released

This week, the organizers of Wonderfront released set times. Bookmark this page and hold on to it. If you still haven't picked up your tickets, you can still buy them and get all the information you need for the festival at WonderfrontFestival.com. Full schedules are after the jump.

Wonderfront Single Day Tickets On Sale Now

Single Day tickets to Wonderfront are on sale now!! Get them here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Artist Daily Lineup has changed a bit:

• STS9 and Alice Merton are now on Friday
• Big Gigantic is on Saturday
• Donavon Frankenreiter is on Sunday

Wonderfront Adds Bands & Releases Lineup By Day

I worked through the night, and then when I was finally ready to go to bed, of course what I'd been waiting for finally came through and I'm glad I check my email one last time before getting some sleep. Today, Wonderfront added the final artists to the lineup as well as publishing the breakout of bands by day.

The new acts are: Guitar Legends 3 (featuring an all-star band of surprise guests) | Migos | J.I.D. | Jhay Cortez | Khea | Wild Belle | Gioli & Assia | Grandma | Jesse Baez | Banda Tierra Brava | Los Crecidos | Seis en Linea | Cydeways | Glades |  Brewfish |

Wonderfront Festival will take place November 22-24, 2019 at various locations along and around the waterfront area. Tickets and details are available here.

For your information, full press release after the jump.

Wonderfront Announces Lineup

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival is coming to San Diego's waterfront November 22-24, 2019. The festival is being billed as "a 7+ stage, 80+ band, 3-day music, culinary, and arts festival throughout downtown San Diego, spread across the various parks and piers along the Port of San Diego, from South Embarcadero up to Broadway Pier."

On Monday, they presented a sweet little media event and live-streamed the announcement, but we've got it in your hot little hands so you don't have to wait. Get info and tickets to the event here: http://wonderfrontfestival.com

Update:
Apparently not all media respected the embargo. This wasn't supposed to be published until 3:30, but people chose to leak it anyway. The Wonderfront site appears to have crashed before the announcement event but appears to be back up and running now. You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for updates.