Today's the day where the San Diego uniform of flip-flops and tank tops might actually be appropriate at a show. We're in for a heat wave while North Park's streets fill with excitement for the annual Festival of Arts. The festival has grown, which means more stages, more entertainment for all ages, and more hours to peruse the vendors. Don't forget to pop into Bar Pink for an early show with a free AwesomeFest lineup. If you're heading north, Fiesta Del Sol offers more beachy bands but is also a great option for the weekend. As the day cools down, head to the Irenic to catch punchy band Rubblebucket, our friends the Verigolds at Karl Strauss or Sweet Spirit at Soda Bar.
Saturday, May 20:
- North Park Festival of Arts with B-Side Players, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, the Routine, Cash'd Out, Euphoria Brass Band, Elektrik Voodoo, Mittens, Jason Hanna & the Bullfighters, Hoop Unit, Comic Strip, Fanny & the Atta Boys, Jamacha Project, Big Bloom, Finnegan Blue, Half Car Garage, Abstrack, Alive in the Lights, SD School of Rock @ North Park (University & 30th-32nd Street, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., FREE, all ages)
- Fiesta Del Sol with Dead Man's Party, Through the Roots, Betamaxx, Thicker Than Thieves, the Paragraphs, Power Brokers, Zen Thomas, Nena Anderson @ Solana Beach (9 a.m.-9 p.m., FREE, all ages)
- Taco Festival with Vanilla Ice, Mix Master Mike, Vokab Kompany, Sweet & Tender Hooligans, Fayuca, Jarabe Mexicano @ Waterfront Park (Ticketed Event $30 adv/$35 day of, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 21+, food not included with admission)
- Pizza Port Seven Year Anniversary Parking Lot Luau Party @ Pizza Port OB
- Magic Giant, Ki @ Casbah (SOLD OUT)
- Rubblebucket, Sego, Alexander F @ The Irenic
- Arts & Amps 2017 with the Verigolds, Boostive @ Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- Sweet Spirit, the Lulls, Snowball II @ Soda Bar
- Awesomefest presents Pale Angels, Tots That Kill, Cruz Radical, Jason Paul & the Know It Alls @ Bar Pink (5 p.m., FREE)
- Christian Taylor & the Rhythm Makers, Jesse LaMonaca & the Dime Novels @ The Rabbit Hole
- San Diego City Soul Club Four Year Anniversary with Mochilero All Stars, Unsteady, the Amalgamated, King Dutty, Little Rude Girl, Dr. Bones, Sir Skankalot @ Ken Club
- The Crawdaddys, the Allyrgic Reaction, DJs Richard Whig & Glynis Ward @ Space
- Back to the Garden @ Poway Center for the Arts
- Neon Beat: The Best and Worst of the '80s @ Bar Pink
- The Sweet Things, the Liza Colby Sound, California Rangers @ Pour House (Oceanside)
- Chris Youmans & the Sound Agency @ Seven Grand
- Wild Child (the Doors Experience), Chris Torres Band @ Belly Up
- Groove International: Sound the Groove! @ Music Box
- Gone Baby Gone, Fuzz Junkies, Dinosaur Ghost @ Winston's (4 p.m.)
- Poontang Clam, Batlords @ Tower Bar
- Never Shout Never @ Soma
- DJs Trop Pop, Britt Pop @ Whistle Stop (9 p.m.)
- Happy Hour Party @ Whistle Stop (5 p.m.)
- Charles Dutoit & San Diego Symphony @ Jacobs Music Center at Symphony Hall
- Lady Lush, Red Sonja @ Blonde
- Bossfight, Implants, Skipjack, Authentic Sellout @ The Merrow
- No Duh (No Doubt tribute) @ The Holding Company 1502
- John Lindahl, Miklo @ House of Blues
- Nina Francis, the Moves Collective, Justin Werner @ Java Joe's
- Lawrence Park: Seize This Day, Lyrical Groove, the Beat UCSD @ The Loft, UCSD
- Fundraiser @ Bancroft Bar
- Block Market @ Quartyard
- Yak Attack with Baby Gow (featuring members of Brothers Gow) @ Winston's (9:30 p.m.)
- Rollin With Tha Funk @ Til-Two Club
- Mezzanine @ Black Cat Bar
- The Iron Maidens, Symbolic, Seventrain, Nightshadow, RDG @ Brick by Brick
- Mike Hood, Captain Viejo @ Lestat's
- Rare Form, Sofa King Bueno, Mango Habanero, Hall Pass @ 710 Beach Club
- DJ Qenoe @ U-31
- Detroit Underground @ Tio Leo's
- Liquid Blue @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Tradewinds @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Adam Salter @ El Dorado
- Brett Bodley @ Fluxx
- Benny Benassi @ Bassmnt
- DJ Karma @ Parq
- Circle of Fifths @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Aquile @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- DJ Irie @ Omnia
- Justin Jay, Josh Taylor @ Bang Bang
- Love Life @ Kava Lounge
- Rockstar Saturdays @ Henry's
Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
