San Diego is a vibrant city with a wide variety of live music venues. From the historic Copley Symphony Hall to the modern SOMA concert hall, there's something for everyone. The San Diego County Fair is a great place to catch big-name acts, while Brick by Brick is a great spot for local and regional bands. Petco Park and the North Island Credit Union Amphitheater are also popular venues for live music.
El Ché Café, House of Blues, and The Shell are all great places to catch a show. Music historians should also check out the nostalgic view of a music journalist from the San Diego Union-Tribune on the city's live music history. Club M. Soda Bar is one of the best places to find live music in San Diego. This club for people over 21 years old has decent acoustics and a good sound system, making it a great place to watch a show.
They book just about everything, from punk to reggae to hip hop. The San Diego County Fair is held during the summer (usually in June) at the Del Mar fairgrounds and features numerous exhibits, farm animals, delicious fairground food, and great concerts. The Toyota summer concert series held during the fair brings together big names every year. Copley Symphony Hall is a historic venue in downtown San Diego that opened its doors in 1924 as the Fox Theater. It's one of the most architecturally interesting places in San Diego, making it a visual and musical pleasure.
It houses a gigantic pipe organ, built in five walled chambers, and offers a variety of performances from classical to pop. Brick by Brick is an elegant hole in the wall that's a great place to watch a show. Petco Park is home to the San Diego Padres and has hosted musicians like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. Quartyard is an urban park and event venue built with reused shipping containers in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego. The North Island Credit Union Amphitheater (formerly known as Mattress Firm Amphitheater, Sleep Train Amphitheater, Coors Amphitheater and Cricket Wireless Amphitheater) is a 20,500-person amphitheater located in Chula Vista, California, next to Aquatica San Diego. The University of California San Diego campus has an ongoing series of ArtPower American Routes that explores the variety of continental talent with Latin Grammy-winning artists. The Humphrey's restaurant and the Humphrey's Half Moon Inn sponsor the concerts, which take place outdoors in a 1,400-seat theater in San Diego Bay.
The House of Blues serves incredible soul food and incredible music. The Shell offers a variety of performances from classic San Diego Symphony performances to popular pop artists. If you're planning to visit San Diego soon, be sure to check the calendar of each of these establishments and get tickets for your favorite artist, band, or show before they sell out.
