Heads up, music fans: Humphrey's by the Bay has announced its full 2016 schedule. What always seems to start out with a trickle (previously announced shows at the venue include Tori Kelly, Neko Case and Leon Bridges) has become a full-on flood, with a plethora of recently announced shows spanning April through October.
Some the shows we've come to expect from Humphrey's are back, like Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band, Lyle Lovett, Herman's Hermits, Boston and the Steve Miller Band -- all of whom seem to make the trip to revisit the scenic outdoor San Diego institution year after year. As they say: If it ain't broke, don't fix it, amirite?
For those longing for some fresh blood, Humphrey's by the Bay has stepped up to the plate in '16, with some exciting shows on the horizon that'll satisfy an eclectic demographic of music lovers.
First and foremost, they snagged two dates with Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan. Of course, both of them (June 13 and 14) are completely sold out, as you'd expect them to be. With no sign that the nasally voiced folk prophet is slowing down (his 37th studio album, "Fallen Angels," drops later this year), the ticket demand for his shows nearly always outweighs the supply. Hope you folks were on the ball, or you'll be relegated to finding that ish on Stubhub.
Humphrey's also jumped on the most promising name in real country music by booking Chris Stapleton on May 1. Bad news: That show's sold out as well. But major props to those who snagged tickets early. Simply put: Stapleton's leading the charge of artists that are looking to re-vamp the tired (and increasingly dumbed down) country music genre with geniunely heartfelt and soulful tunes. Anyone who saw him completely annihilate the stage during his recent late-night "Fallon" TV performance couldn't help but look over the person next to them and mouth the words, "What the f--- was that!?!" And then they got online and bought his record. It'll be one of the shows of the year in San Diego, hands down.
Jumping from country music to rock, we get the Cult on May 20 -- complete with Ian Astbury's wicked bellow and Billy Duffy's oversized, gothic-themed riffs -- and the envy of beardos everywhere, ZZ Top plays the venue on Oct. 4. The Southern-rock sultans are always a wonder to behold when they bring their choreographed stage moves and barroom brawl blues-rock through town. Even the most hardened rock & roll opponents have a good time at these guys' gigs.
With so many shows on the way, it's definitely worth your time to check out the full lineup below, and head over to humphreysconcerts.com for tickets and more information.
2016 Humphrey's by the Bay Concert Season
- April 5: Tori Kelly, Thirdstory, 7:30 p.m. (sold out)
- April 10: Generation Axe -- A Night of Guitars with Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi, 7 p.m., $70
- April 14: Steve Miller Band, 7:30 p.m., $125
- April 17: James Bay, Joseph, 8 p.m. (sold out)
- May 1: Chris Stapleton, Anderson East, 7:30 p.m. (sold out)
- May 6: Violent Femmes, 7:30 p.m., $39
- May 20: The Cult, 7:30 p.m., $57
- May 21: Jewel (solo acoustic), 7:30 p.m., $57
- June 13-14: Bob Dylan & His Band, Mavis Staples, 7 p.m. (sold out)
- June 22: Neko Case, k.d. lang and Laura Veirs, Andy Shauf, 7:30 p.m., $64
- July 1: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, featuring Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette, 8 p.m., $145
- July 9: Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, 8 p.m., $65
- July 11-12: Boston, 8 p.m., $98
- July 15: Felipe Esparza, 8 p.m., $30
- July 19: Psychedelic Furs with the Church, 7:30 p.m., $45
- July 20: Happy Together Tour 2016, with The Turtles, featuring Flo & Eddie; Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night); Gary Puckett & the Union Gap; Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders); the Cowsills; and the Spencer Davis Group; 6:30 p.m.; $59
- July 21: Straight No Chaser, 8 p.m., $57
- Aug. 1: Boz Scaggs, 7:30 p.m., $65
- Aug. 2-3: Gary Clark Jr., 7:30 p.m., $40
- Aug. 4: Kansas, 7:30 p.m., $55
- Aug. 7: America, 7:30 p.m., $65
- Aug. 12: Indigo Girls, 7:30 p.m., $45
- Aug. 19: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute, 8 p.m., $46
- Aug. 21: Gipsy Kings, 7:30 p.m., $80
- Aug. 23: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, 6:30 p.m., $67.50
- Aug. 24: Culture Club, featuring Boy George, 7:30 p.m., $118
- Aug. 26: Tower of Power, Average White Band, 7 p.m., $58
- Aug. 28: Dave Koz and David Sanborn, 7:30 p.m., $60
- Aug. 29-30: Jackson Browne, 7:30 p.m., $99
- Sept. 2: The Mavericks, 7:30 p.m., $66
- Sept. 9: Lost '80s Live, featuring A Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, Naked Eyes, Farrington + Mann (the original When In Rome UK), Tommy Tutone, the Motels, Dramarama; 6:30 p.m.; $55
- Sept. 10: Jake Shimabukuro, Ron Artis II, 8 p.m., $50
- Sept. 21: Leon Bridges, Lianne la Havas, 7:30 p.m., (sold out)
- Sept. 22: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, 7 p.m.,$63
- Sept. 23: Air Supply, 7:30 p.m., $61
- Sept. 28: Aaron Lewis, 7:30 p.m., $60
- Sept. 29: The Four Tops, the Temptations, 7:30 p.m., $69
- Sept. 30: Paula Poundstone, 8 p.m., $45
- Oct. 1: Jim Jefferies, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., $42
- Oct. 2: Echo & the Bunnymen, 7:30 p.m., $50
- Oct. 4: ZZ Top, 7:30 p.m., $115
- Oct. 6: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, the Grass Roots, 7:30 p.m., $50
- Oct. 7: Kamasi Washington, 7:30 p.m., $40
