The Adams Avenue Street Fair (Sept. 29-30) has been quietly chugging along a little longer than Street Scene (this year marks its 26th anniversary), and now it can clearly take on the mantle of purveyor of a diverse music and arts festival in a street fair setting.
In fact, let's just go ahead and say it: the Adams Avenue Street Fair is San Diego's unofficial Street Scene, trademarks be damned. Let's see, we have 70 artists performing over eight blocks for over 100,000 people for two days, with music ranging from folk to Cajun to country to rock to blues, in a true "street scene" in the funkiest of urban neighborhoods, Normal Heights. And best of all, it's FREE. In fact, organizers say it is Souther California's largest free street festival.
So what if you might not have even heard of any of the artists? The Adams Avenue Street Fair isn't about big marquee names or flavors of the month. It's all about music for music lovers of all stripes. And you'll be impressed what great music these "unknown" artists deliver.
This year’s Adams Avenue Street Fair will include more than 70 musical acts performing on six stages spread out over an eight-block area. Street Fair-goers will enjoy a variety of music, including blues, rock, world, roots-rock, jazz and reggae. This year’s Street Fair line-up will include legendary rock-a-billy queen Wanda Jackson, indie rocks Mike Watt & the Missingmen, roots-rockers The Blasters, jazz favorites the Charles McPherson Quintet, blues diva Candye Kane, reggae artists Boom Shaka, the Funky Swankdaddy’s, MEX (the Mario Escovedo Experience), and local ’80’s garage band the Tell Tale Hearts. Also performing are Grand Canyon Sundown, The California Rangers, The Coyote Problem, The Farmers, Married by Elvis, Sir Splendid, The Drowning Men, The Creepy Creeps, Chet Cannon & The Committee, Bishop John W. Haynes & Change, Buick Wilson Band, Bill Magee Blues Band, The West Coast Boogiemen, The Bankhead Press, Steph Johnson, Tribe of Judah and Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters, Telegraph Canyon Band, Shoestring Strap, Silverbird, The Palominos, Cee Cee James, Blue Largo, Stranger, and Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra.
In addition to the electric and eclectic music, there will be three beer gardens, giant carnival rides, children’s activities, and more than 300 food, arts and craft vendors selling their specialties throughout the Street Fair venue.
The 26th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair will be held Saturday, September 29, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., along Adams Avenue from 32nd Street on the west to 35th Street on the east and one block south on Mansfield Street in the Normal Heights community of San Diego. The Street Fair is free and open to all-ages.
Following is the stage lineup for the Street Fair.
ROOTS ROCK STAGE (34th Street & Adams)
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Saturday
Grand Canyon Sundown, 10:30, Americana
Sickstring Outlaws, 12:00, Country Rock
The California Rangers, 1:30, Country
The Farmers, 3:00, Roots Rock
Married By Elvis, 4:30, Country Rock
The Coyote Problem, 6:00, Americana
Wanda Jackson, 7:30, Rockabilly
Sunday
Telegraph Canyon Band, 10:00, Americana/Country
Shoestring Strap, 11:15, Americana
Silverbird, 12:30, Alt Country
Mario Escovedo Experience, 1:45, Tex Mex/Rock
The Palominos, 3:15, Country
The Blasters, 4:45, Roots Rock
LESTATS STAGE (Inside at 3343 Adams)
- Saturday
Jamie Robb, 11:15, Singer/songwriter
Kyle Phelan, 12:15, Singer/songwriter
Aaron Bowen, 1:15, Singer/songwriter
Eleonor England w/Shep Meyers Trio, 2:15, Jazz
The Big Provider, 3:15, Rock
Anya Marina, 4:15, Singers/songwriter
Gregory Page, 5:15, Singer/songwriter
Lisa Sanders, 6:15, Singer/songwriter
Travis Larson Band, 7:15, Progressive Rock
Bobby Rock, 8:15, Instrumental Rock
Sunday
Lou & Virginia Curtiss, 10:15, Old Time music
Lindsey Cook, 11:15, Singer/songwriter
Tom Griesgraber, 12:15, Funk/Jazz
Saba, 1:15, Singer/songwriter
Josh Damigo, 2:15, Singer/songwriter
Anna Troy, 3:15, Blues
Trevor Davis, 4:15, Pop rock/ul]
ROCK STAGE (33rd Street & Adams)
-
Saturday
Sir Splendid, 11:15, Indie Rock
The Silent Comedy, 12:45, Indie Rock
The Drowning Men, 2:25, Indie Rock
The Truckee Brothers, 3:45, Indie Rock
The Creepy Creeps, 5:15, Garage Rock
Mike Watt & the Missingmen, 6:30, Alt Rock
The Tell-Tale Hearts, 8:00, Garage Rock
Sunday
Lesson From Zeke, 11:45, Rock
Kite Flying Society, 1:15, Indie Rock
The Prayers, 3:15, Indie Rock
The Swedish Models, 4:45, Indie Rock
BLUES STAGE (Hawley Blvd. & Adams)
- Saturday
Chet Cannon & The Committee, 12:00, Blues
Bishop John W Haynes & Change, 1:30, Gospel
Buick Wilson Band, 3:15, Blues
Bill Magee Blues Band, 4:45, Blues
The West Coast Boogiemen, 6:15, Blues
The Funky Swankdaddys, 7:45, Blues
Sunday
Shelle Blue, 12:00, Blues
Blue Largo, 1:30, Blues
Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra, 3:15, Blues
Candye Kane, 4:45, Blues
PARK STAGE (Park)
- Saturday
Jazz 88 All Stars, 12:00, Jazz Steph Johnson, 1:30, FunkSoul
Stranger, 3:00, Reggae
Agua Dulce, 4:15, Latin Funk/Soul
Charles McPherson Quintet, 5:45, Jazz
Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters, 7:30, Zydeco Boogie
Sunday
The Bankhead Press, 12:00, Funk/Soul
Tribe of Judah, 1:30, Reggae
Al Howard & K23 Orchestra, 3:00, Funk/Soul
Boom Shaka, 4:45, Reggae,
DIMILLES PARKING LOT STAGE
- Saturday
Michael Tiernan, 12:00, Acoustic
Podunk Nowhere, 12:45, Acoustic
The Bayou Brothers, 2:15, Zydeco Rock
The Continental Kings, 3:45, Funk/Soul
Sara Petite & the Sugar Daddies, 5:15, Americana
The Shambles, 6:30, Rock
West of Memphis, 7:45, Blues
Sunday
Bass Clef Experiment, 11:30, Alt Rock
Johnny “V” Vernazza Band, 12:30, Blues
Roxy Monoxide, 1:30, Rock
Jeff Berkley & the Citizen Band, 2:45, Americana
Joey Harris & The Mentals, 4:00, Rock
Brain Buckit, 5:15, Funk/Rock
