KABOO leads list of summer, fall San Diego County music festivals

As a return to normalcy looms with the impending first day of school right around the corner, it is easy to forget that there’s still fun to be had here in San Diego County.

Our long summer season means live music festivals continue to take place well into November – and there are few things better than a good live music fest in Southern California.

Leading the way, as it has for the past four years, will be the KAABOO Del Mar festival, once again taking over the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds from Sept. 13-15.

While many large music festivals require a certain level of fitness and endurance abilities to enjoy, KABOO is a highly-amenitized festival that delivers music, household names in comedy, contemporary art, gourmet cuisine and craft libations, and personal indulgences.

Headlining this year will be Kings of Leon (Friday), Dave Matthews Band (Saturday) and Mumford & Sons (Sunday). But that’s not all, Duran Duran, Black Eyed Peas, OneRepublic, Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, a special collaboration from hip-hop stars Snoop Dogg + Wu-Tang Clan 25th Anniversary Set, plus Bryan Adams, The Revivalists, REO Speedwagon, The Bangles, The Cult, Sublime with Rome, Boyz II Men, and many more artists and bands will entertain all weekend long.

Want to laugh? Visit the Humor Me stage to see live sets by comedians Bert Kreischer, Pete Holmes & Friends, Wayne Brady, Bob Saget, Kevin Smith, and more.

Foodies will love the PALATE lineup for the weekend that features demonstrations and gourmet tastings from culinary artisans including Michael Mina (Mina Group, International Smoke, Cal Mare), Richard Blais (Juniper & Ivy, The Crack Shack), Antonia Lofaso (Scopa Italian Roots), Nyesha Arrington (Native), and more.

Art fans will have the opportunity to visit the ARTWORK section of the festival featuring recognized contemporary visual artists Greg Mike, Yellena James, Georgia Hill, Carly Ealey and Caia Koopman, and more than 70 additional galleries, artists, live mural demonstrations, exhibitions and more.

Tickets are on sale now and going fast, single day passes are $129, but three day general admission passes are $299. VIP passes of varying levels are $919 and $3,599. Descriptions of what you get with VIP passes are available on the KABOO website.

To purchase tickets or get more information on the ever-evolving festival, visit http://www.kaaboodelmar.com.

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival

Debuting this year is the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival on Nov. 22-24 at San Diego’s waterfront and downtown San Diego.

The festival is planned as a celebration of all things San Diego and features more than seven stages spread out all over the town with scheduled performances by Miguel, Slightly Stoopid, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, MGMT, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Nicky Jam, Don Omar, Vince Staples, Tyga, Los Angeles Azules, Tucanes de Tijuana, Walk the Moon, Phantogram, X Ambassadors, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Lil Dicky, Big Gigantic, Pennywise, and more.

In all, more than 70 bands will perform over three days at the event that will include culinary and arts festivals as well, and a giant local craft beer village.

General admission is $229 for all three days and there are military discount tickets for $129. VIP tickets are $1,200. The festival is age 21 and older only.

For more information, visit wonderfrontfestival.com.

16th annual Carlsbad

Music Festival

Need to get your music fix even sooner? The 16th annual Carlsbad Music Festival will take place Friday-Sunday, Aug. 2-4 at St. Michael's by-the-Sea (2775 Carlsbad Blvd.) and a couple of partner venues in Carlsbad.

St. Michael's is the festival home with three stages, a craft beer/wine garden, food trucks, an artisan market, and playground. There will also be performances at Carlsbad Village Music and nearby Witch Creek Winery.

The festival features a wildly-eclectic mix of musicians performing new contemporary classical compositions, modern twists on traditional world music, awesome local indie rock, and genre-defying experimentalists.

Scheduled to perform are composer Andrew Norman, cumbia band Very Be Careful, indie-harpist Mary Lattimore, pianist Sarah Cahill, avant-garde musician Sam Gendel, indie-hip-hop band Parker Meridien, singer-songwriter Diana Gameros, jazz pianist Joshua White, chamber meets indie Matt McBane + Build, Americana band Trouble in the Wind, New Orlean’s style brass band march from Crew D'Etat, post-punk, jazz-infused Montalban Quintet, bluegrass band The Get Down Boys, surf-jazz band The Red Fox Tails, and violist-composer Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti.

Guess what? All concerts, indoor and outdoor are free.

Daily passes will be required and will be available at the gates and online in advance of the festival. A $10 donation per day ($5 for kids 12 and under) is suggested as the producers are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization largely supported by individual contributions. There are VIP packages available for purchase.

For more information, visit http://www.CarlsbadMusicFestival.org.

Summergrass San Diego 2019

San Diego County’s best bluegrass festival is coming back to Vista’s Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum on Aug. 16-18.

This year’s headliner will be the Grascals, supported by David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition, High Fidelity and the Old Blue Band. Other artists include Chris Cerna & The Bluegrass Republic, Sheri Lee & Blue Heart, Front Porch Music Preservation Society, Prairie Sky, Vulcan Mountain Boys, LeRoy Mack & Gloryland, MohaviSoul, and Tom Cunningham Band.

In addition to the live concerts, the festival features impromptu jams, food, and vendors.

The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum is 2040 N Santa Fe Avenue in Vista. Visit summergrass.net for ticket information.

Adams Avenue Street Fair

This free festival on Sept. 21-22 and is a San Diego County staple. The 37th annual event is

Southern California’s largest free two-day music festival and takes over seven blocks of Adams Avenue in the Normal Heights.

This year’s headliners include West London reggae/tropical pop singer Hollie Cook, award-winning blues band the Delgado Brothers, Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics, the

Schizophonics, Charlie Chavez and Afrotruko, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Dirty Sweet, and Hot Rod Lincoln will reunite.

For more information visit http://www.adamsavenuebusiness.com/event-info/adams-avenue-street-fair.

Boots in the Park

Country comes to Waterfront Park in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 20 and features performances by Cole Swindell, Dylan Scott Devin Dawson, Cassadee Pope and Leaving Austin.

The all day country party includes BBQ and food options, full bars, line dancing and more. The event is 21 and over only.

Tickets are $49-$499 and are available at bootsinthepark.com.

Horizon Beer & Music Festival

Headliner CHROMEO is the featured act at Horizon Beer & Music Festival that includes beer tastings of more than 40 craft beers, food, retail vendors, games, and more from 1-7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Embarcadero North behind Seaport Village.

The event will benefit the Urban Angels “Nourishing Those in Need”, a non-profit dedicated to helping feed the homeless.

Tickets are $15-$95, visit intothehorizon.com.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].