This is my favorite weekend in San Diego. I've been attending the Adams Avenue Street Fair since I was a kid growing up in Chula Vista. The amazing free Adams Avenue Street Fair had a lot to do with my falling in love with Normal Heights and Kensington and choosing to live in the neighborhood over 11 years ago. I once heard that the street fair is the largest free festival west of the Mississippi River, and while that might not be the case anymore, it's still huge, and it's still free, and is a great event for families. If you're not a regular around the San Diego music scene, today will be a great day to discover some of the talent this city has to offer.
By nighttime there are plenty of choices, too. The Black Keys take over Soma to a sold out crowd, nineties rockers Helmet take over the Casbah, and Stray Cat Lee Rocker will play at the sonically perfect Anthology. SDMA "Best New Band" winners Little Hurricane are playing at the House of Blues side stage, and there's a benefit for Becky's House over at Queen Bee's. It's a great time to be a San Diegan.
Saturday, September 25:
- Adams Avenue Street Fair @ Normal Heights (Free, All ages, 10am-10pm)
- Pacific Islander Festival @ Ski Beach (Free, All ages, 10am-4pm)
- Carlsbad Art Splash @ Armada Drive above the Flower Fields, Carlsbad (Free, All ages, 10am-6pm)
- Carlsbad Music Festival @ Schulman Auditorium, Dove Library, Carlsbad
- Casbah presents The Black Keys, Nicole Atkins @ Soma (Sold Out)
- Helmet, Bison BC, The Makeup Sex @ Casbah
- Lee Rocker @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
- Little Hurricane, Republic of Letters, Taming The Fox @ House of Blues (Voodoo Stage)
- Becky's House Benefit feat. Astra Kelly, Sheila Sondergard, SABA, Podunk Nowhere, Wendy Bailey, Gayle Skidmore, Lindsay White, Emmy@ Queen Bee's
- Archery For The Blind, Wagner Logic, Up Died Sound, Gran Sasso @ Tin Can
- C.A.M.P. (Community/Art/Music/Photography) Awesome feat. Jaws Went Swimming, Griefshare, Butch Rosser @ Community Building, 413 Olive St, San Diego (4-10pm)
- The Bertos, City Mouse, Turkish Techno, DJ SkullcRusheR @ Beauty Bar
- Mr. Rock Dude Nite feat. Earthless, The Loons, Joy, Operation Mindblow @ Soda Bar
- Booty Bassment @ Whistle Stop
- Adams Avenue After Party/BBQ "Barrio Arts District" with Brwn Bflo, Fam Royal Crew (J. Blow & Hippo) @ The Roots Factory (1878 Main St, San Diego, Free, 6pm-12am)
- The Bandits, Loose Nuts, Back 2 Black @ The Shakedown
- Back Yard Pimps, Diversifyd, Martin Hall @ Ruby Room
- Bartenders Bible @ Riviera Supper Club
- "Mexico Lindo" feat. Sarah Carpio, Soulwater, DJs Figueroa St. & Alba, live art and installations by Karen Ramirez, Abril Ibarra, Ingrid Tomassoni, Carlos Nowotny, Samuel Orozco, Invisible God, Frances Verduzco, Enrique "chikle" Lugo, Eric Nunez, Adrian Carillo, Natalie Garcia, Chris Skopec and Emerson Nowotny @ Posh Bar (683 Broadway, Chula Vista)
- Red Not Chili Peppers, Joker Face @ 710 Beach Club
- Noche Cubana feat. Saoco Son, Omo Ache, DJ Saoco y mas @ WorldBeat Center ($10, 7pm)
- Island Tat presents Fortunate Youth, Pali Roots & Friends, DJ Kutmaster Spaz, B.E.T. (Bless Every Time) @ WorldBeat Center (Outdoor concert, $25, 7pm)
- Immovable Objects, Mundy Knights @ Eleven
- Katchafire, Tribe of Kings, Polynesian Underground @ Soundwave
- Dietrich, Dead Animal Mod, Shawline Drive, Slowmotion Airplanes @ O'Connell's
- Aziz Ansari: Dangerously Delicious Tour @ House of Blues (7 & 10pm)
- Adam's Avenue Street Fair @ Lestat's
- The Business, Hollowpoints, Rat City Riot, Gross Negligence @ Brick By Brick
- South Town Generals, Raiz Muzik @ Winston's
- Jamies Elsewhere, Scarlett Ohara, Casino Madrid, Eyes Like The Sea, For The Legends, Southern Lights, Raven Like A Writing Desk@ Epicentre
- Pearl & Jodi V, Kareem & Fourth Wave, Bed of Nails, Alliance, Flourish @ Dreamstreet
- Brittany Knott @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (5-7pm)
- Ronnie Baker Brooks @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge (9:30 pm)
- Voodoo Glow Skulls @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
- Hip Hop Luau Afterparty feat. Tha Dogg Pound, Samoan Irok, Battlecat and more @ 4th & B
- n'Dambi @ Anthology (Late Show 10 pm)
- Sacha Boutros @ Donovan's Circle of 5ths
- Islander Festival feat. Kahilofa @ Gallagher's
Rosemary Bystrak writes about the San Diego music scene, events, and sometimes whatever creeps into her head on her music blog San Diego: Dialed In. Check it for even more listings. She also provides social media content for the Casbah. Follow her updates at twitter.com/sddialedin or submit your music listings.
