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Taking It To The Streets: Adams Avenue Street Fair, Sept. 29-30

Southern California's Largest Free Street Fair celebrates 26 Years

By Inigo Figuracion, About.com

Now that San Diego Street Scene is "street" only in name, we must all move on. Thankfully, there has always been a viable alternative to that so-called alternative annual event: The Adams Avenue Street Fair.

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)

    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

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