With the 26th annual San Diego Music Awards right around the corner, Karl Strauss and Taylor Guitars look to kick things off in support of the local music scene with a collaborative beer called 614 (Six Fourteen) and a huge event on Saturday, to mark the occasion.
No, the beer isn’t a grinded-down Taylor guitar mixed with malty hops (614 is the model name of one of the company's best-selling guitars) -- although, the beer does consists of sustainable maple along with world class malts (both Taylor and Karl being very environmentally conscious companies after all).
With the new beer in tow, the two companies will host an official San Diego Music Awards Kick Off Party at the Karl Strauss Tasting Room & Beer Garden in Pacific Beach on Saturday from 3-8 p.m. The show is free if you RSVP here beforehand.
Along with the new brew, the party will feature live performances by SDMA nominees Tolan Shaw (Best Singer/Songwriter), Birdy Bardot (Best Pop), and Rebecca Jade & the Cold Fact (Best Live Performer). The latter two acts are also up for Artist of the Year as part of the Redwoods Music collective.
There will also be raffles with chances to win an array of prizes (including Taylor guitars), with all proceeds going toward the San Diego Music Foundation.
The San Diego Music Awards ceremony itself will take place on March 21 at downtown's House of Blues. Performers include Steph Johnson & the Voices of Our City Choir, the Creepy Creeps, the Schizophonics, the Verigolds, Hirie, and Gilbert Castellanos & the Young Lions All-Stars.
Tickets are $36 and all proceeds go to San Diego County schools, via a partnership between the San Diego Music Foundation and Taylor Guitars -- who have collectively put nearly 3,000 guitars into the hands of area students.
While we encourage everyone to buy tickets to the event -- if you're feeling lucky, why not enter our contest to win 'em? We're giving away four tickets to the San Diego Music Awards to one lucky winner, so get in while the getting's good!
Musician, people-pleaser, lover, fighter and writer Matthew Craig Burke has been spewing musical words of wisdom since never. He lives off of peanut butter sandwiches, beer and Beck Hansen. Follow his updates on Facebook or contact him directly.
