Bringing Cool to Street Scene 2009

It's all about bringing coolness to this year's San Diego Street Scene, says its founder Rob Hagey. Famous as one of the country's longest running music festivals, Street Scene celebrates its 25th anniversary with a diverse range of bands and performers.

Headliner Black Eyed Peas will bring its Boom Boom Pow to the East Village neighborhood Aug. 28-29. But the chart-topping group is only a part of the huge range of entertainment already lined up.

There are "cool indie bands , Band of Horses, great hip electronica dance bands, Girl Talk, LA Riots, Chromeo", says Hagey. "Then there's soul, rhythm and blues with Black Joe Harris & The Honeybears, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings." Add to that, a hippy folk sound with Shooter Jennings, whose father is the late great Waylon Jennings. There's alt-country with Calexico out of Tucson and Berlin adds Hagey. And there's something for rockers, not to mention San Diego bands like Anya Marina, Wavves, Crocodiles.

Since Street Scene was launched in 1984, the festival has morphed from a city street festival to a gigantic concert bash to a return to its roots. As the budget and popularity of the event grew through the years so did the venues. From the streets to Qualcomm stadium to Coors Amphitheater to Petco Park where attendance was over 100-thousand people. But attendance began to drop and Hagey said it was time to "rebrand its coolness."

Last year Street Scene returned to downtown San Diego. And this year for its 25th year anniversary it's being held in the same environment where it began in the East Village and Tailgate Park, giving it an urban vibe again, says Hagey. It's like the Gaslamp of the 80's, he says, where renovation is going on.

Despite the economy, Hagey is confident of success. "People will get a lot of bang for their buck. There are 40 bands over two nights on 5 stages."

Will there be a Street Scene in another 25 years? Absolutely says Hagey who is teaming up with Tim Mays of Casbah. "It's in our blood." Hagey's 22 year old son Riley is the production manager of Street Scene and Hagey's 19 year old daughter Maddie and Mays' teenage son Keith give their Dads advice on what acts are "cool."