The 35th Annual San Diego Music Awards
The 35th annual San Diego Music Awards will take place on Tuesday, April 29, at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. Performers at the event will include Matthew Phillips, The Tourmaliners, MohaviSoul, Almost Monday, Euphoria Brass Band, and miniaturized, with this year’s Lifetime Award going to iconic bassist Nathan East.
www.sandiegomusicawards.com
Upcoming Music Festivals and Events
Surf Guitar Festival Weekender
The Surf Guitar Festival Weekender will take place this year on August 1–3 at the Golden Sails Resort Hotel in Long Beach and will include The Tourmaliners and Deadbolt among the weekend’s entertainment.
Fiesta Del Sol
The 44th Annual Fiesta Del Sol is happening the weekend of May 31 & June 1 at Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach. Performers include Z-Trip, Missing Persons, The White Buffalo, The Aggrolites, Sullvn, Atomic Groove, and Through the Roots.
Live Music Residencies
Canyon River has a monthly, no-cover residency at Seven Grand (North Park), every second Friday for the rest of 2025. Bring your dancing shoes! 9-11 p.m.
1990’s indie rock favorites Rilo Kiley are reuniting for a tour kicking off on May 5 at the Fremont Theatre in San Luis Obispo. The band includes Jenny Lewis, Jason Boesel, Blake Sennett, and Pierre De Reeder, the latter two having met during their days at La Jolla High School. Meanwhile, Rilo Kiley’s 2002 album, The Execution of All Things, has just been reissued with expanded artwork and a die-cut gatefold jacket, plus a poster insert, on Cloudy Clear vinyl.
Iconic singer Rosie Hamlin’s 1961 album, Lonely Blue Nights, has been reissued on vinyl by Waxtime Records. The updated album features the original twelve tracks now joined by songs from two Rosie & The Originals singles: 1960’s “Angel Baby” b/w “Give Me Love” and 1962’s “Kinda Makes You Wonder” b/w “My One And Only Love.” Notably, the new packaging and liner notes include quotes from Rosie superfan, John Lennon.
Congrats to Jason Mraz! His 2008 single, I’m Yours, was certified 5X Platinum by the U.K.’s BPI this month. Meanwhile, his upcoming fall tour of Europe already has a string of sold-out shows, including concerts in London, Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Dublin.
Tours and Performances
San Diego Reggae Tour
Four San Diego reggae combos—Sandollar, Vibestrong, The Skyler Lutes Band, and Seawall Prophet—are teaming up for a weeklong tour of the Southwest, kicking off June 6 at Winstons in Ocean Beach and wrapping up on June 14 in Phoenix, AZ.
Slack Key Ohana’s Southwest Tour & Nā Hōkū Hanohano Nomination
Hawaiian-themed combo, Slack Key Ohana, heads out on an almost month-long tour of the Southwest kicking off on April 6 in Carlsbad, and including Arizona Tiki Oasis on April 25 & 26, before wrapping up on May 4 in Palm Springs at the Tiki Caliente Festival. Meanwhile, the band’s album, Hawaiian Cowboy, has been officially nominated for a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (aka the Hawaiian Grammy’s) in the category of Best Island Music Album. Slack Key Ohana’s latest single, “Slack Key Blues,” is out now.
Album Release and Weekly Jams
Nine-piece instrumental funk combo, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, will host an album release show for their fifth studio album, Gemini, at Lou Lou’s on Saturday, April 19. In related news, members of The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble and The Greyboy Allstars host a weekly Funk/Soul-Jazz jam session at Rosie O’Grady’s every Tuesday night, 8-11 p.m.
Alt-rockers Switchfoot have released a new single with blues legend Buddy Guy, Last Man Standing. “Buddy Guy was the blues legend that taught me how to play the guitar,” said Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman. “I remember watching him live as a teenager and being completely transformed. I wanted this song to be something worthy of the man who helped shape my musical journey. Buddy, thanks for joining our band for a tune. Bigger than that—thanks for teaching me how to play.” The track is produced by Switchfoot and Tom Hambridge.
Don’t miss out! Click here to uncover exclusive stories and insights in April’s magazine issue!
