It's the most awesomest time of the year. In the past, Awesome Fest has been planned a little later in the year, but I think this move is a smart one because it falls before we get into that part of the concert season where there's some kind of street or music festival every weekend. So the deal is that you either buy a daily wristband (which are super limited and price varies by day) or you buy an event wristband. There are no tickets for individual shows and no comps, so unless you're wristbanded, you won't be at Soda Bar or Space this weekend, and they're not gonna let you into the Office or Bar Pink during the weekend showcases, either. The bands are carefully curated for their DIY and punk ethos and bands beg to play every year. If you're not participating, head to the Observatory for the make-up show from Sweet & Tender Hooligans, get your face melted with Gameface at Casbah, or check out Black Cat Bar with locals the Downs Family and Ypsitucky who are joined by some old Detroit friends, Jeremy Porter & the Tucos.
Friday, Feb. 16:
- Awesome Fest 11 ft. Dead to Me, Horror Squad, DFMK, Kira Jari, Muscle Dungon, Se Vende, Allweather, Night Dangers @ Soda Bar
- Awesome Fest 11 ft. Western Settings, Civil War Rust, the Lucky Eejits, Typesetter, Toy Zoo, the Trashies, Clown Sounds, Marriage Material @ Space
- Sweet & Tender Hooligans, Very Be Careful @ The Observatory
- Gameface, Errortype:Eleven, Weight of the Sun @ Casbah
- The English Beat, Unsteady @ Belly Up (SOLD OUT)
- The Downs Family, Ypsitucky, Jeremy Porter & the Tucos (Detroit) @ Black Cat Bar
- The Loons, the Hiroshima Mockingbirds @ Bar Pink
- The Gregory Page Show @ Java Joe's
- Jonny Deadly Trio @ Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room
- The Ziggens, No Kings, the Elastic Waste Band @ The Merrow
- My Cousin Kazi @ Hooley's
- Barbwire @ La Mesa Wine Works
- Open Mic Night @ Space Bar
- Peter Hall Music @ Helix Brewing Co.
- F---ing in the Bushes with DJ Dan Sant @ The Whistle Stop
- Dance Punk Indie Blog Haus @ Blonde
- Bertram Turetzky's 85th Birthday Celebration @ Dizzy's
- DJ Mike Delgado @ Bar Pink (10 p.m.)
- We Are One, Air-Go @ Lestat's
- Miss Erika Davies @ Panama 66
- The Living Deads, Toothless George, the Cat Chasers @ Til-Two Club
- Musicians United: A Benefit for Vic Nieto lll ft. Taz Taylor Band, Pet Shark, RDG, Aether X, Deliverance Machine @ Brick By Brick
- Electric Waste Band @ Winston's
- The Matte Gray Band @ Moonshine Beach
- Redwood Black @ Moonshine Flats
- Palos Verdes @ De Oro Mine Co.
- Ghostemane, Horsehead @ Voodoo Room, House of Blues
- Little Anthony & the Imperials @ Sycuan
- Mickey Avalon, Dirt Nasty, Ekoh @ House of Blues
- Aviator Stash, Playboy Manbaby, Geese @ Pour House (9 p.m.)
- California Rangers @ Pour House (5 p.m.)
- DJ Hoof Hearted, DJ Vinyl Richie @ Bancroft Bar
- Zen Rabbits, the Shakes @ 710 Beach Club
- All-Vinyl Happy Hour w/ Monsieur Turbeau @ The Office (6 p.m.)
- Acoustic Sessions ft. Tim Yancey @ U-31 (7 p.m.)
- Kid Wonder @ U-31 (9:30 p.m.)
- La Tropa Chicana @ El Patron Night Club
- The Reflectors @ Humphreys Backstage Live (5 p.m.)
- Como La Flor Band: A Tribute to Selena, Grupo Bronco Tribute @ Music Box
- Wildside @ Humphreys Backstage Live (9 p.m.)
- 6one9 @ Navajo Live
- Now & Later with DJs Artistic and Tramlife @ El Dorado
- Baby Girl @ Bang Bang
- Porter Robinson @ Omnia
- Rich the Kid @ FLUXX
- FNGRS CRSSD ft. Waze & Odyseey, Denney, SecondCity, Boys Don't Disco, Alex Wax B2B Rivka M. @ Spin
- Digital Cocoon with Süsio, Pro-k with Laurenmia @ 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.
