San Diego is home to a vibrant music scene, with concerts happening all over the city throughout the year. From massive stadium shows to intimate club gigs, there are venues of all sizes hosting talented local musicians and big name touring acts. Here’s a look at some of the top places to catch a concert in San Diego.
Downtown San Diego
Downtown San Diego is a hub for live music, with several renowned venues located in the Gaslamp Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods. Some of the top downtown concert spots include:
- Petco Park – Home of the San Diego Padres, this downtown baseball stadium also hosts huge outdoor concerts during the summer. Past performers include Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift.
- Humphreys Concerts by the Bay – An outdoor amphitheater located on Shelter Island, right along the downtown harbor. Concerts here range from rock to reggae.
- The Observatory North Park – A mid-sized indoor venue hosting rock, indie, hip hop, and electronic acts. Capacity is around 700.
- House of Blues – Part of the chain of House of Blues venues, this downtown location brings well-known performers to an intimate, club-like setting. Can host over 1,000 guests.
- Balboa Theatre – This historic theater opened in 1924 and today hosts concerts in a wide variety of genres, from classical to comedy shows.
Chula Vista
The city of Chula Vista, located just south of downtown San Diego, is home to one of the largest outdoor amphitheaters in the area:
- North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – Formerly known as Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, this venue can seat over 20,000 people. It attracts major touring acts across all genres, from Brad Paisley to twenty one pilots.
Del Mar
Each summer, the Del Mar Fairgrounds located north of downtown San Diego transforms into a major concert destination. The events held here include:
- San Diego County Fair – This three-week fair includes headline concerts on an outdoor stage next to the racetrack. Past performers include Ziggy Marley, Pentatonix, and Ludacris.
- Kaaboo Del Mar – This multi-day music festival launched in 2015 and has featured artists like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink, and Imagine Dragons.
- Del Mar Racetrack Concert Series – Throughout the thoroughbred racing season at the Del Mar Racetrack, big-name acts perform after the races conclude. The 2022 lineup includes ZZ Top, Train, and Goo Goo Dolls.
La Jolla
La Jolla, the upscale coastal neighborhood of San Diego, may be better known for its beaches than its music scene. But it is home to a couple historic venues for jazz and folk concerts:
- The Comedy Store – This club has showcased standup comedy talent since the 1970s. Occasionally the venue will also host small concerts.
- Athenaeum Music & Arts Library – A member-supported library and venue focused on jazz, classical and acoustic music in an intimate setting.
Soma District
Located south of the city center, this neighborhood is home to San Diego’s top mid-sized indoor concert venues, drawing nationally touring bands and artists.
- Observatory North Park – This venue (mentioned earlier) books shows across all genres from rock and pop to comedy and podcasts.
- Music Box – A standing-room-only concert hall with booths and balcony seating. Music Box draws indie rock, alternative, and underground hip hop acts.
- The Merrow – Focused on indie, punk and metal music, this club has a capacity around 220 people.
Chicano Park
This park in the Barrio Logan neighborhood is a symbol of Mexican American culture and heritage. Throughout the year, Chicano Park hosts concerts and festivals that celebrate Latin music and heritage.
- Viva La Familia Festival – This family friendly festival includes musical acts on three stages playing Latin jazz, salsa, Tejano and more.
- Chicano Park Day – Each April, this event commemorates the park’s history with musical performances, food and vendors.
- Barrio Logan Dia de los Muertos Festival – Live music and dancing are part of celebrations for this traditional Latin American holiday.
Pechanga Arena San Diego
Formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena, this large indoor venue in the Midway District has a capacity of nearly 15,000. It hosts concerts by today’s biggest pop, rock and country musicians.
Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Nestled on the campus of San Diego State University, this outdoor amphitheater can seat over 4,000 people. Concerts here range from classical to reggae to big name touring acts.
Rimac Arena at UC San Diego
This indoor arena located at UC San Diego hosts concerts of all sizes and genres throughout the year. Home to the San Diego Gulls minor league hockey team, it converts to a concert venue seating up to 8,000 people.
Other Venues
There are dozens of other venues scattered around San Diego that host live concerts on a regular basis. Some other examples include:
- Belly Up Tavern – A legendary live music club in Solana Beach focused on rock, blues, reggae and more.
- Magnolia – Formerly El Dorado, this North Park venue books indie-leaning musical acts.
- Casbah – In Little Italy, the Casbah is a landmark rock music nightclub.
- Music Box – This Little Italy nightclub showcases indie rock, alternative, and underground hip hop.
- Soda Bar – Hosting rock, indie, punk and experimental shows in a dive bar setting in City Heights.
- Brick by Brick – Focusing on punk, metal, and hardcore music in the Linda Vista neighborhood.
- Sleep Train Amphitheatre – One of San Diego’s biggest outdoor concert venues, located in Chula Vista.
Outdoor Festivals
In addition to the regular concert venues, San Diego throughout the year hosts a number of major outdoor music and arts festivals. These large events take over parks and grounds with multiple stages, food vendors, and art displays.
- KAABOO Del Mar – This annual 3-day music and arts festival takes place at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds.
- San Diego Pride Festival – Live music and entertainment is a big part of the massive annual LGBTQ Pride festival downtown.
- Adams Avenue Street Fair – Several blocks of Adams Ave are closed to traffic for this free music festival highlighting San Diego bands and performers.
- San Diego Jazz Festival – Multiple stages in the Gaslamp Quarter feature jazz groups and musicians during this annual festival.
- Fiesta Old Town Cinco De Mayo – Celebrating Mexican heritage, this event includes mariachi music, ballet folklorico and more.
Conclusion
As this overview shows, San Diego offers a wide variety of concert experiences across neighborhoods, venues and genres. From stadium shows to small dive bars, intimate theaters to outdoor festivals, there are endless opportunities to catch live music in San Diego all year long. With a little research and planning, you’re sure to find a show that fits your taste and budget.
