San Diego's Top Music Hot Spots

SoundDiego scopes 15 of SD's best venues

There’s always a good spot to catch a show on any given night in San Diego -- y\ou just have to know where to look. Here is a list of 15 San Diego venues that SoundDiego has on its radar (In alphabetical order).

  • Bar Pink: Don’t be fooled by its humble stature; this North Park landmark is the place to hang out if you want to get a first-hand look at local San Diego musicians in their natural environment -- or catch a secret pop-up show by Rocket From the Crypt.
  • The Belly Up: Solana Beach’s premier live-venue has stood the test of time and continues to bring in some of world’s highest-caliber musicians. 
  • The Casbah: Perched inconspicuously on the outskirts of downtown, the Casbah has, for the past two decades, been the one of the definitive places to see emerging artists.
  • Fluxx: This upscale club not only offers a consistent rotation of top class DJs, they also host a vast amount of the hip-hop talent coming through San Diego.
  • The Griffin: Linda Vista is the birthplace of one of San Diego’s most quickly emerging venues. The Griffin is a great option for local music and national touring acts alike if you’re trying to veer off the beaten path. 
  • Hard Rock Hotel: For unreal dance parties or ultra-exclusive live performances, look no further. Funk-rock icon Prince will have a four-show stint at the hotel early next month. 
  • House of Blues: This downtown venue has only been in action since 2005, yet it has already become a staple destination of San Diego’s music scene. 
  • Humphreys: For a serene evening out on the shores of Shelter Island, head to Humphreys to enjoy a plush night in the company of your favorite artists. 
  • Porter’s Pub: This venue, located on the UCSD campus, is building up a reputation for bringing in a number of today’s hottest hip-hop artists and buzz bands.
  • Ruby Room: Tucked away in Hillcrest is one of San Diego’s most vibrant breeding grounds for local music talent. You can even catch some great touring acts here. 
  • Sleep Train Amphitheatre: Formerly the Cricket Amphitheatre, this Chula Vista site offers San Diego concert experiences on the large scale. Sleep Train is known to pack in 20,000 music fans when they welcome chart-topping musicians.  
  • Soda Bar: With live shows usually going down seven nights a week, this divey Normal Heights locale is the perfect choice for an off-the-cuff concert excursion. 
  • Tin Can Ale House: Many local acts call this Banker’s Hill hot spot home. True to its name, the ale house is the place to kick back over a brew and some tunes. 
  • Valley View Casino Center: For more than 40 years, this site has been on the forefront of premier live entertainment in San Diego. 
  • Voyeur: For a flashy night out on the town, this downtown nightclub has its finger on the pulse of some of the hottest electronic artists. 
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