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San Diego's

Live Music Scene

From stadium-filling acts to local bands to the symphony, see it live in San Diego

Photo By Chris Rov Costa

Come See a Show

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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San Diego Music

Things to do|

Jeff Terich’s Live Music Faves

Ready to see what all the buzz is about? Let local music critic Jeff Terich show you the way. The San Diego live music scene is packed with awesomeness and Jeff is sharing his favorite places to catch a show.

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The Sound of San Diego

From local bands at intimate venues to full-blown festivals with rockstar headliners, the San Diego music scene has one consistent beat, and that’s the upbeat. Regardless of performer or venue (and there are a lot of great ones to explore), a spotlight of positive vibes seems to shine on every performance.

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Music and Sunshine

The live music scene is popping in San Diego, and the venues are as exciting and eclectic as the artists who rock them. Many of these venues take advantage of the beautiful San Diego weather, hosting awesome shows on sun-soaked, outdoor stages. Local music critic Jeff Terich gives the scoop on some great places to catch a show, San Diego style.

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Things to do

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Jeff Terich’s Live Music Faves

Discover

The Sound of San Diego

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Music and Sunshine

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Explore Live Music

Neighborhoods

Music

Nightclubs

1. Gaslamp Event Management (GEM) - Club VIP SD - Downtown Dolls

SoCal’s full service event management powerhouse

Gaslamp Event Management (GEM) - Club VIP SD - Downtown Dolls
835 5th Avenue, Suite 310
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 944-8900
Neighborhood: Downtown
Nightclubs

2. Finest City Improv

Laughter and Drinks in a Relaxed Setting

Finest City Improv
3746 Sixth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 306-6047
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Restaurants

3. Salvatore's Cucina & Lounge

A New Wave of Italian Cuisine

Salvatore's Cucina & Lounge
750 Front Street
San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 332-3140
Neighborhood: Downtown
Nightclubs

4. Side Bar

A Boutique-Style Nightclub and Lounge Experience

Side Bar
536 Market St
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-0946
Neighborhood: Downtown
Restaurants

5. Good Night John Boy

Good Night John Boy
401 G Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(949) 257-8170
Neighborhood: Gaslamp Quarter
Bars

6. Moonshine Flats

Events at Moonshine Flats

Moonshine Flats
344 7th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-4782
Neighborhood: Downtown
Restaurants

7. El Chingon

Bad Ass Mexican

El Chingon
560 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 501-1919
Neighborhood: Downtown
Venues

8. Music Box

San Diego's Premier Live Music and Event Venue

Music Box
1337 India Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 738-0736
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Tours & Sightseeing

9. San Diego Club Crawl

A VIP Nightlife Experience!

San Diego Club Crawl
628 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92139
(619) 718-0996
Neighborhood: Downtown
Bars

10. Prohibition

San Diego Speakeasy & Liquor Bar

Prohibition
548 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 559-1600
Neighborhood: Downtown
Nightclubs

11. Latitude Lounge - San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter

Discover the Latitude Lounge

Latitude Lounge - San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter
660 K St
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-0234
Neighborhood: Downtown
Nightclubs

12. NOVA SD

NOVA SD

NOVA SD
454 6th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 837-5700
Neighborhood: Downtown
Nightclubs

13. ALTITUDE Sky Lounge - San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter

A Stunning Rooftop Bar in San Diego

ALTITUDE Sky Lounge - San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter
660 K Street, 22nd Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-0234
Neighborhood: Downtown
Nightclubs

14. Belly Up

Belly Up, Rockin' since 1974!

Belly Up
143 S Cedros, Suite T
Solana Beach, CA 92075
(858) 481-8140
Neighborhood: North Coastal
Nightclubs

15. Observatory North Park

Legendary Venue, Epic Events!

Observatory North Park
2891 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
(949) 683-5271
Neighborhood: North Park & South Park

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