The Adams Avenue Street Fair (Sept. 27-28) has been quietly chugging along a little longer than Street Scene (this year marks its 27th 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, Americana, swing, Tex-Mex, Gospel, Latin and reggae. The 2008 Street Fair headliners include Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos, blues giant Big Jay McNeely, indie rockers Black Heart Procession, Latin-funksters the B-Side Players, blues guitarist Guitar Shorty, Cumbia artists Very Be Careful, alt-rockers Transfer, blues singer/guitarist Laurie Morvan Band, and Ray Campi & The Rockabilly Rebels from Austin, Texas.
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 27th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair will be held Saturday, September 27, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, September 28, 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.
33RD STREET ROCK STAGE
SATURDAY
11:15 Moving Picture Show, Alt Rock
12:45 The Atoms, Indie Rock
2:15 The Powerchords, Indie Rock
3:45 The Apes of Wrath, Alt Rock
5:15 Scarlet Symphony, Alt Rock
6:30 Republic of Letters, Indie Rock
8:00 The Black Heart Procession, Indie Rock
SUNDAY
11:15 Mod Amish, Indie Rock
1:15 The Modlins, Indie Rock
3:15 Wild Weekend, Indie Rock
4:45 Transfer, Alt Rock
34TH STREET ROOTS ROCK STAGE
SATURDAY
10:30 Ghost Town Deputies, Americana
12:00 The Deere Johns, Americana
1:30 Mex, Tex-Mex
3:00 Hollywood Combo, Rockbilly/Swing
430 Tornado Magnets, Americana
6:00 Sara Petite & the Sugar Daddies, Americana
7:30 Ray Campi & the Rockabilly Rebels, Rockabilly
SUNDAY
10:00 The Honkys, Rockabilly
11:15 The Rotten Livers, Rockabilly
12:30 The Stilettos, Rockabilly
1:45 Los Boogie Boys con Pachuco Jose, ‘40’s Boogie
3:15 Rip Carson & the Carcin-O-Genics, Rockabilly
4:45 Los Fabulocos featuring Kid Ramos, Cali/Mex & R & B
LESTATS STAGE
SATURDAY
11:30 Rob Deez, Acoustic
1:15 The Turtle Project, Pop, Jazz
2:15 Kev Rhones, Acoustic, Alt
3:15 Josh Damigo, Acoustic, Rock
4:15 Molly Jenson, Acoustic
5:15 Gregory Page, Acoustic
6:15 Murrugan The Mystic, Street Performer
7:15 Chuck Cannon, Singer/Songwriter
8:15 Travis Larson, Progressive/Rock/Fusion
SUNDAY
12:15 Robin Henkel, Blues
1:15 The Flimz, Acoustic
2:15 Jordan Reimer, Indie/Acoustic
3:15 Lisa Sanders, Acoustic
415 Kenny Eng, Acoustic/Indie
5:15 Anna Troy, Blues/Rock
HAWLEY BLUES STAGE
SATURDAY
12:00 Missy Andersen, Blues
1:30 Brothers of Praise Phase II, Gospel
3:15 145th St Deluxe Blues Band, Blues
4:45 Lady Dottie & the Diamonds w/Tomcat Courtney, Blues
6:15 Lady Star & the Bustin’ Loose Band, Blues
7:45 Big Jay McNeely, Blues/R & B
SUNDAY
12:00 D.A. & The Hitmen, Blues
1:30 Laurie Morvan Band, Blues
315 Dennis Jones Band, Blues
4:45 Guitar Shorty, Blues
DIMILLES STAGE
SATURDAY
12:00 Ballet Folklorico del Centro Cultural de la Raza, Dance
12:45 Supersonic Samba School, Dance, Drums
2:15 Areito Borincano, Dance, Drums
3:45 Heavy Glow, Rock
515 The Roman Spring, Rock
6:30 15 North, Rock
7:45 Plow, Bluegrass
SUNDAY
11:30 Cadencia, Latin
12:30 Mas Grande, Tango
1:30 Paul Green School of Rock Music, Rock
2:45 Super Rod, Rock
4:00 Peter Bolland, Acoustic
5:15 Len Rainey & the Midnight Players, Blues
WORLDBEAT PARK STAGE
SATURDAY
12:00 Prince Habib, Soul, R & B
1:30 Jah Quest, Brazilian/Reggae
3:00 T. Irie Dread, Reggae
4:15 Ceci Bastida, Alt Latin
5:45 Luna Llena, Salsa, Latin Jazz
7:30 Very Be Careful, Vallenato /Cumbia
SUNDAY
12:00 Applebrown Jazz Ensemble, Jazz
1:30 Natural Incense, Reggae
3:00 Gene Perry & Afro Rumba, Salsa, Latin Jazz
4:45 The B-Side Players, Latin, Funk, Reggae
