I haven't been much of a festival enthusiast these past several years, but maybe it's because I was an old school fan of Street Scene and nothing San Diego had to offer seemed to ever compare. But now this weekend, we've got the inaugural Wonderfront and I've got to say, I'm kind of excited about it. I hope it works out, I hope there's a positive response, and I hope that all those things that seem to hang up major events in their first years aren't a problem here. Tonight, your Wonderfront badges will allow you to check out greats like Ben Harper, Michael Franti, Miguel, and X Ambassadors. If you're not participating, head to House of Blues for Cautious Clay (who very well could be a Wonderfront artist next year), see the great return of Vetiver to Soda Bar, or catch Whitey Morgan who plays the Observatory North Park for the second time this year.
Friday, Nov. 22:
- Wonderfront: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pepper @ Uncle Ed's Damn Good Vodka Stage, Embarcadero North
- Wonderfront: X Ambassadors, Parquet Courts, Bad Suns @ C3Bank Stage, Embarcadero North
- Wonderfront: Miguel, Lil Baby, STS9, Cofresi @ Stella Artois Stage, Seaport Village
- Wonderfront: Amine, Earthgang, Duckworth @ KUSI Stage, Seaport Village
- Wonderfront: Don Omar, CNCO, Greg Santos, Ximena Sarinana, Greg Santos @ Univision & Estrella Jalisco Stage, Hilton Bayfront Park
- Wonderfront: Los Crecidos, Banda Tierra Brava, Seis en Linea @ SDG&E Stage, Ruocco Park
- Wonderfront: Alice Merton, Schizophonics, Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Belly Up/Casbah/Music Box Stage, Broadway Pier
- Wonderfront Activation: Aaron Wolf, Finn McCool, Band of Gringos, the Slashes, Twin Ritual @ Marietta Boat
- Wonderfront Activation: Giolia & Assia @ Club Dub, Broadway Pier
- Wonderfront Activation: San Diego Latin Jazz Collective @ Headquarters Stage, Seaport Village
- Wonderfront Activation: Rivest Dunlap @ American Comedy Co Stage, California Spirit
- Wonderfront Activation: XP @ Yacht Rooftop, California Princess
- Vetiver, Credit Electric, Ditches @ Soda Bar
- Emo Nite at Casbah presented by Emo Nite LA @ Casbah
- Cautious Clay, Remi Wolf @ House of Blues
- Whitey Morgan, Alex Williams @ The Observatory North Park
- Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Dark Alley Dogs, Shake Before Us @ Belly Up
- Ace Frehley, Like It, Taz Taylor, Brett Ellis Band @ Ramona Mainstage
- Bad Bunny @ Pechanga Arena
- Prince & the Revolution performed by Ingonoir & Spooky Cigarette, DJs Camila Robina, Edna Lugo @ Whistle Stop
- Julia Sage & the Bad Hombres @ Bar Pink (7 p.m.)
- Sundown Party with Hylas, Justin Campbell, DNK, Kevin Anderson @ Blonde
- Shwayze @ The Holding Company
- New Skeletal Faces @ Space
- Russian Girlfriends, Doc Hammer, The Dodges @ Tower Bar
- Euphoria Brass Band @ Seven Grand
- Great White, Slaughter @ Sycuan Casino
- The Licks, Psychic Barber, Lacker, Okay, Whatever, Leon Canoe @ Queen Bee's
- Spacebones @ De Oro Mine Co
- Oliver Francis, smrtdeath, Marco XO @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- Larry June @ SOMA Sidestage
- DJ Saul Q @ Bar Pink (9 p.m.)
- Mara Kaye Blues @ Panama 66
- Danish String Quartet Prism III @ The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
- The Expendables, Kaleo of Pepper, Divina (Boostive Sound System) @ Music Box
- The Funk Junkies @ Belly Up (Happy Hour 5 p.m.)
- Drecat, Calid the Dreamer @ Black Cat Bar
- DiVad, WidowMade, Minus 1, Bitter Kiddos, Papach @ Brick By Brick
- Lindsay Beaver @ Thunderbird Analog Recording Studio
- Tasmic, Mike Hood, the Flaxtones @ Lestat's
- The Baja Bugs @ Grand Ole BBQ & Asado
- Pink Talking Fish @ Winston's
- Brodie Stewart @ Moonshine Beach
- Canaan Cox @ Moonshine Flats
- Jimmy Lewis @ The Rabbit Hole
- Fika Friday @ The Loft, UCSD
- Rock En Espanol with Zenith @ Border X Brewing
- Jet West @ Park & Rec
- Bonneville 7 @ Pour House
- Gyrate @ The Merrow
- Joey Harris & the Mentals @ Fast Times
- Gilbert Castellanos @ Plaza Bar, Westgate Hotel
- Dubbest, Policulture, Twisted Relatives @ 710 Beach Club
- The Janice Edwards Trio @ Martini's Above Fourth
- Street Heart @ Wildwood Crossing
- Factory with Adam Salter & Ayla Simone @ The Office
- Totally '80s Band @ Mr. Peabody's
- Side of Beans @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- All Weather, Them Cuts, All Beat Up, Matt Caskitt & the Breaks @ Til-Two Club
- DJ Freeman @ U-31
- The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash @ Tio Leo's
- Barbwire @ Renegade
- Wildside @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- Sue Palmer @ Humphrey's Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Riston Diggs, Mike Holmes, Getaway 95, Lucie Lampe @ Navajo Live
- Ram Jam Fridays @ Manhattan Bar
- Pop Vinyl, DJ Ms. Mo @ V Lounge, Viejas Casino
- Cassie B, DJ Ms. Mo @ Lobby Bar, Viejas Casino
- Supafly Friday with DJs Charlie Rock, KidRiz @ El Dorado
- Shades and Eprom @ Bang Bang
- FNGRS CRSSD: The Blaze (DJ set) @ Spin
- Niiko x SWAE @ Omnia
- LA Takeover with Brees @ FLUXX
- Tech Support ft. Matth, Dolen, Dylan Andrew, & Mr. Smith @ Kava Lounge
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.
