When it comes to live music, San Diego rocks it as a prime tour stop and home to impressive local talent. From the central city, up to North County and to the east, dozens of San Diego music venues in all shapes and sizes host everything from acoustic folk and intimate shows to A-list rock-n-roll and big-production, elaborately choreographed pop. Not to mention, the city welcomes music festivals galore and also, there are a ton of San Diego live music venues as well.
The underground, independent music scene in San Diego also thrives, with clubs throughout the city hosting nightly shows. For more than 25 years, The Casbah in Midtown has been a prime spot to see up-and-coming acts. And just a little to the east in City Heights, the neighboring Soda Bar and SPACE have a similarly impressive calendar of shows.
In Downtown and North Park, respectively, the historic Jacobs Music Center (formerly Copley Symphony Hall), home to the San Diego Symphony, and the Observatory provide a picturesque backdrop for crowd-pleasing headliners. The Jacobs Music Center is quite the impressive San Diego music venue, located right near the bay and hosts fireworks after shows often. The Belly Up in Solana Beach and the Music Box in Little Italy are the top San Diego live music venues and offer the best chance to see big names in a small intimate setting. On Shelter Island, another great San Diego live music venue, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay pairs live music with a gorgeous waterfront view, not to mention dinner and hotel packages.
Even on college campuses, it's easy to find a great place to see a show. The CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre can be found in the center of San Diego State University's campus, and hosts big-name touring bands throughout the year. Or for a more intimate experience, grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable at The Loft at UCSD.
From stadium-filling touring acts to local bands in neighborhood bars, there's something for every music fan in San Diego and countless music venues and live music options to check out as well.
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