Rocking the Park

To coincide with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World exhibit, the center will also present its first ever live concert series – Rock in the Park. Located within Balboa Park, the center recently opened their guitar exhibit to rave reviews. We’ve actually gone to see it ourselves and it’s breathtaking – check out our gallery here.

In a fitting, extensive tribute to the ground-breaking (and eardrum-shaking) instrument, the exhibit features hands-on displays, interactive games, artwork, over 100 historical artifacts and a guitar collection to make any musician quiver in the knees, the Rock in the Park concert series only furthers their musical cause.

Beginning Friday, Jan. 17, the shows kick off with a performance by Common Sense, one of SoCal’s premiere rock-reggae groups. The series continues every two weeks, with Paul Cannon's acoustic pop on Feb. 7, a special tribute to Loren Nancarrow featuring Eve Selis, Berkley-Hart, Steph Johnson and Cathryn Beeks on Feb. 21, Venice -- who performed on Roger Water's The Wall tour in 2011 -- headlines March 7, and March 21 features a yet-to-be-announced “very special performer.”

As if those groups weren’t enough to warrant a trip to the park, each show will be kicked off by an opening performance by Michael Tiernan, an award-winning San Diego-based pop singer/songwriter, currently prepping his fifth studio album for release this year, and whose music has been compared to Jack Johnson and Coldplay.

In addition to the music, each show will also have food available for purchase by La Jolla bakery/restaurant the French Gourmet, and beer, wine and cocktails for your imbibing pleasure at a no-host bar. Since there will be alcohol served on the premises, these are 21+ events, folks - but don’t fret (pun intended), the guitar exhibit is open for kids and people of all ages Mon-Thurs from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Fri-Sun 10 a.m. -6 p.m.