I realize it's premature, but can we just agree to call this weekend the first weekend of summer? I mean, it's kicking off with three great free San Diego event staples with the slightly renamed Roots Fest on Adams, ArtWalk in Little Italy, and Cinco de Mayo in Old Town. Don't panic too much: All three events will be there Sunday, too, but if you have a family, if you love music -- or both -- any of them are winners. By nightfall, our friends at Sezio.org are presenting a very special show at Sushi Art, where the Donkeys will be releasing their new record; they will be joined by the Tree Ring. Independently, both bands always have enthusiastic but attentive crowds, and tonight should be no different, especially in the comfort of a Sezio-hosted event at Sushi Art. Other possibilities include legendary rockers Mudhoney at the Casbah and the Heavy Guilt and friends up at the Tin Can. Whatever the plan, may your day consist of a little bit of rock and a little bit of roll.
Saturday, April 30:
- Roots Fest on Adams & Healing Arts Festival @ Normal Heights (10 a.m. to 8 p.m., free) -- check out our preview here
- Mission Federal ArtWalk @ Little Italy, 11am-6pm, Free
- Fiesta Cinco de Mayo @ Old Town, 11am-10pm, Free
- Mudhoney, the Makeup Sex @ Casbah
- Sezio.org presents the Donkeys (CD release), the Tree Ring @ Sushi Contemporary Performance and Visual Art
- The Heavy Guilt, Caught in Motion, Family Band, Mason Reed @ Tin Can
- B-Side Players, Social Green @ Belly Up
- The Underground Railroad to Candyland (record release), Slow Death @ Bar Pink
- The Slow Death, Sunnyside, the Bertos, Jus' Folks @ Soda Bar (early show, $5)
- Destruction Unit (LP release), Ale Mania, Stalins of Sound @ Til Two Club
- Roxy Blue and the Handful @ Eleven (5 p.m.)
- Kevin Martin, Emersen, Badwater @ Eleven
- The Stitches, the Crowd, the Lumps @ The Shakedown
- Gematria: DJs Eddie Turbor, Prince Zohar and guests @ Whistle Stop
- Mad Martigan and guests @ Ruby Room
- Royal Bangs, Superhumanoids, the Paragraphs @ Soda Bar
- Dying to Wake, Hit Dog Hollar, Reef Bound Sol, "d", the Legacy Pack, Zutra @ Sound Wave
- Big Gov @ O'Connell's
- Accept, Sabaton @ House of Blues
- Chad Cavanaugh, Dave Boosa, Harley Jay @ Lestat's
- The Win Win Tour 2011 with Aaron Kano (comedy) @ Brick By Brick
- Michigan and Smiley, the Sure Shot Rockers, Peter Sweetness, Piracy and the South Bay Rockers @ Winston's
- Tilt, Charbra, Soup @ 710 Beach Club
- Captain Captain, the Rundown, Above Me, the Cost of Salvation, Taking Nasa, the Calefaction @ Soma
- Ruinist, As Dreams Die, Before the Sirens, Your Hero Is a Villain, Eve of Conviction @ Epicentre
- Clara C @ The Loft, UCSD (sold out)
- John Foltz @ Marble Room
- Greenlight Trio @ Donovan's Circle of Fifths
- Phil and Dave Boroff @ Templar's Hall
- Challenged America Fundraiser for Dennis Howard @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (1-4 p.m.)
- Rio Peligroso @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (5-7p.m.)
- The Farmers @ Humphreys Backstage Lounge (9 p.m.)
- Red Hand @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
- Nipsey Hussle, Samoan Irok @ 4th & B
- John Scofield @ Anthology (7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.)
- Seria Star tribal bellydancers, DJs Michael Be, Skandar, Anthony Blackass @ Kava Lounge
- DJ Chelu @ Gallaher's
- Safety Orange @ El Cajon Grand
- Scorch Muffin @ South Park Abbey
- OC vs. SD DJs, featuring Groundfloor, Adam Salter, Kedd Cook, Patrick Dylan @ El Dorado
- Sydney Blu, Brazzabelle @ Voyeur
- Downtown with David Sedaris @ Balboa Theatre
- Reggae Sundays @ Spin
- Fluxx*adelic with Sid Vicious and Ricky Rocks @ Fluxx
- Carmen @ Spreckels Theatre
Rosemary Bystrak writes about the San Diego music scene, events, and general musings about life in San Diego onSan Diego: Dialed In. She does social media for the Casbah, books at West Coast Tavern West Coast Tavern, and is trying her hand at band management. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
