Insider’s Guide to San Diego’s Live Music Scene

Since the CRSSD music festival and KAABOO Del Mar debuted in San Diego in 2015, both festivals have become mainstays of the local music-lovers’ scene, as well as the growing international music festival industry. Each year the festivals have enjoyed rising crowds and reputations, bolstered in part by the impeccable vibes of world-class musical talent in two top locations: San Diego’s Waterfront Park and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Though the festivals returning this fall differ in their genres and style, each promises fans a chance to enjoy craft beer and gourmet food, along with top musical acts and performers.

Here is just a sampling of San Diego’s musical lineup waiting for music lovers everywhere!

Electronic fest in September

Now in its fourth year, CRSSD Festival, the two-day electronic music and dance fete in San Diego’s Waterfront Park, will return Sept. 29-30, 2018, with ticket information and lineup to be announced. The twice-a-year extravaganza has previously garnered a daily audience of 15,000 visitors, who are undoubtedly drawn by the 21-and-up festival’s craft beer and cocktails, gourmet food, sunsets on the bay and headlining musical acts and DJs performing on CRSSD’s three outdoor stages, including Flume, Miike Snow, Empire of the Sun, Chromeo, Odesza and Chet Faker. (Photo courtesy of Oliver Walker)

Katy Perry at KAABOO

Held at the seaside Del Mar Fairgrounds during Sept. 14-16, 2018, the all-ages KAABOO features performances on six stages by more than 60 musical acts, this year including Halsey, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Foo Fighters and more. The festival, which draws an estimated 40,000 attendees each year, also includes a dedicated comedy stage, this year featuring Netflix-acclaimed comedians Craig Ferguson and Iliza Schlesinger,  as well as VIP amenities, food and beverages from local and celebrity chefs, craft breweries and local wineries and an extensive arts village.

North Park’s Observatory

A historic venue in the center of North Park, the Observatory (formerly known as the North Park Theatre) was built in the 1920s and still features much of its original art deco décor. Once a venue for opera and dramatic theater in its colorful past life, its acoustics make it a surprisingly strong place to catch a touring rock or pop group. The spacious floor comfortably accommodates 1,100 concertgoers. The calendar at Observatory North Park is always full, whether it’s showcasing alternative-rock A-listers like HAIM and Franz Ferdinand or one-of-a-kind filmmaker and camp icon John Waters. (Photo courtesy of Alex Mathews)

Humphrey’s bayside concerts

Located on picturesque Shelter Island, Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay showcases jazz, soul and rock legends in the city’s most beautiful outdoor venue, perched along the waters of San Diego Bay. Fans unable to get tickets to popular shows have been known to hang out in kayaks and on inflatable rafts on the bay to catch the music from the water. (Photo courtesy of Alex Mathews)

Brick by Brick metal

Even metal fans have a venue to call their own in San Diego. Located between Mission Valley and Mission Bay, Brick by Brick hosts rock bands—mostly of the metal variety—from around the country.  With a capacity of 400 guests, this is an intimate venue to rock out with like-minded music fans.(Photo courtesy of Alex Mathews)

The Club scene

For EDM fans, San Diego regularly hosts live performances from world-famous DJs and up-and-coming electronic acts. Downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter and neighboring East Village are home to a number of clubs, including Bang Bang and Omnia, that continually book the biggest DJ names in the industry. Also downtown, FLUXX often welcomes top names in hip hop and rap, like Nipsey Hustle and Trey Songz. Find more live music at www.sandiego.org.

Photos courtesy of www.sandiego.org