So much going on with San Diego’s music community! Here’s the latest news for May 2026:
- This year’s International Pop Overthrow Festival takes place on August 21 & 22 at The Black Cat Bar in North Park. Artists TBA
- North Park Music Fest takes places on June 6 at venues across North Park. Artists confirmed include Frankie & The Witch fingers and Cut Chemist.
- The inaugural Field of Dreamz Festival takes place June 13 at Petco Park, with Slightly Stoopid joined by Sublime, Stephen Marley, Boostive, Band of Gringos and more on two stages.
- Music camp Guitar Workshop Plus returns to San Diego June 21 – 26, for a round of sessions at The Handlery Hotel. Guest instructors for 2026 include Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake) and Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), as well as bassist Bryan Beller (Joe Satriani, Dethklok)
- Indie-pop trio almost monday heads out on the road with Young the Giant and Cold War Kids for a U.S. tour that kicks off on May 24 in Las Vegas and ends up on June 27 in Nashville. No homecoming show on this round of dates.
- The nitty-grittiest 1960’s soul dance party band in San Diego, The Amandas returns for a rare show at the Whistlestop on May 23. It’s a matinee show with a 4 p.m. start time, and the band playing two sets. DJ Claire will spin before, between and after.
- Cathryn Beeks hosts Music Makers Market at Pamo Valley Winery, on May 17, from 2 – 6 p.m. “Musicians trading a set of music for a booth to sell the stuff they make!” said Beeks.
- Keith Urban’s upcoming album, Flow State , due out June 12, includes ten “yacht rock” covers and a new original tune, “We Go Back.” Amongst the cover songs is a version of Stephen Bishop’s 1977 hit, “On and On.”
- Congrats to Blink 182, whose 2000 single, “Adam’s Song” was certified Gold by the UK’s BPI this month. Meanwhile, for completists, Blink 182’s 1994 demos album, Buddha, is being reissued on June 12 by Kung Fu Records on Blue/Red/Yellow/Split/Splatter Vinyl LP. In addition, Blink 182 fans who are also miniature / toy collectors will want to check out the miniverse turntable and accompanying 1” records, which includes the band’s 1999 Enema of the State album, and comes in two versions, playing either a snippet of “All the Small Things,” or “What’s My Age Again.” www.youloveit.com/toys/5283-miniverse-real-music-fully-playable-mini-vinyl-records-and-a-working-miniature-turntable.html
- Nisha Catron (Calamity)has been cast to play Dr. Jill Francis in the upcoming feature film, Ethan Almighty – Ethan’s Law, a true story about an abused dog that changed the animal cruelty laws in Kentucky. Directed by Tane McClure, the ensemble cast includes Sean Patrick Flanery, Selma Blair, and Brandon Routh, and was filmed in Bardstown Kentucky.
- The Chartreuse, featuring Tim Ellison (The Nephews), Donna Daly (Cat 22) and Matt Mielczarek (Hector Penalosa Gang) are working on a new single, “Back of My Heart” b/w “Looking at Stars,” for release this summer. It was recorded at The Music Company (TMC) and engineered by Kevin Cameron.
- Allen Camp led combo Fuzz Huzzi celebrates 33 years of rockin’ San Diego with a special show at the Salty Frog on May 29.
- Guitarist Laura Chavez hosts a CD release show for her debut solo album, My Voice, at the Belly Up Tavern on May 12. The Sleepwalkers open.
- Stick player extraordinaire Tom Greisgraber has composed the soundtrack to the new documentary about scientist / farmer Wes Jackson, Prairie Prophecy, directed by Michael R. MJ. Johnson. “Currently the film is being featured in screenings and film festivals but it will be on streaming sometime this year,” Greisgraber said. “The album, titled The Split, features all 19 tracks from the full-length film as well as two bonus tracks that were created as alternates.”
- Award winning flautist Holly Hofmann has a residency at the Manhattan in La Jolla, performing the first Sunday of each month
- The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla is hosting a special art exhibition, Giants: Art From the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz & Alicia Keys, through August 9. The event’s opening night after party took place on April 17 at Lou Lou’s / The Lafayette Hotel, with Keys leading the full house in an acapella sing-a-long to her 2007 hit single, “No One,” joined by Swizz Beatz. Meanwhile on April 25, Keys made an appearance at the Chicano Park Day Festival in Barrio Logan singing to the crowd from the rooftop of skate shop, Arts-Rec
- Singer Laurie Beebe Lewis was inducted into The California Music Entertainment Hall of Fame on April 4 in a ceremony being held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Amongst the other inductees were DJ Shotgun Tom Kelly, Tierra, 70’s soul trio The Honey Cone, and John Sanford (The Sanford Townsend Band). Lewis performed the 1961 classic, “Baby It’s You,” and afterwards met up with fellow former Michigan resident and Motown Records legend, Smokey Robinson. Lewis next appears with her band, The Electric Underground, at The Barn in Ramona on May 17.
- All-star combo The Mothmen are working on their sophomore release at Earthling Studios with Mike Kamoo at the board. The band includes such luminaries as singer Ray Brandes (The Tell Tale Hearts), bassist Dave Doyle (The Unknowns), guitarists Chris Davies (The Penetrators) and Pete Miesner (The Crawdaddys), drummer Craig Packham (X), and multi-instrumentalist Ron Silva (The Nashville Ramblers).
- Jason Mraz’s 2026 Tour of Asia will open on October 27 in Manila, Philippines, ending November 14 in Seol, Korea. The tour is in support of his new album, Grandma’s Gospel Favorites, and new single, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.”
- Metal rockers Nukem’s new album, The Grave Remains, includes guest appearances from Lee Altus (Exodus), Rob Cavestany (Death Angel), Laura Christine (Dark Angel), and Gary Holt (Slayer).
- Congrats to Pierce the Veil, whose 2012 single, “A Match Into Water,” was certified Silver by the UK’s BPI this month. Meanwhile, the group will be opening two shows for Guns & Roses on the latter’s 2026 North American tour, including September 9 in Arlington, TX at Globe Life Field, and on September 16 in San Antonio, TX at the Alamodome. Finally (for now), Pierce the Veil’s 2007 debut album, A Flair For the Dramatic, has been reissued by Equal Vision Records on colored vinyl: Green / Blue mix, 750 copies. White, 3,500 copies.
- Violinist Alicia Previn is working on a new single and video, “Tortoise Valley,” with Jeff Forrest producing, for release this summer.
- Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy will take part in Gene Simmons’ Legends of Rock Expo, happening on September 25 – 27 at The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. He’ll be joined by numerous rock heroes including bassist Jerry Scheff (Elvis Presley, The Doors), as well as Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer (KISS), Carmine (Vanilla Fudge) & Vinny Appice, Mathhew & Gunnar Nelson, Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad), Dave Davies (The Kinks), Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), David Ellefson (Megadeth), John Moyer (Disturbed), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), Lita Ford (The Runaways) and more for autograph sessions, photo ops, parties, panels, and concerts.
- Producer Josquin Des Pres has contributed the theme song, “For God and Country,” to the new film, Bodyman.
- Reggae favorites, The Resinators, have a new single just out, “Make Up Your Mind,” in advance of a new EP. In further news, the band is playing two major festival dates later this year: The Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-off on June 27, and Bayfest on October 18.
- Slack Key Ohana is performing at Tiki Caliente Festival in Palm Springs, taking place April 30 – May 3. The show is in advance of a new album, The Ohana Sessions, due this summer, with a fall U.S. tour in the works. “What’ sets The ‘Ohana Sessions apart from our previous releases is a deliberate shift in focus,” said the bands Brian Witkin. “While we’ve built our sound around a rotating cast of incredible guest musicians, this record highlights the core of the band- the literal “’ohana.” It’s the first time we’ve made a full studio album centered entirely on the trio, and that was very intentional,” he continued. “That said, our collaborative spirit isn’t going anywhere,” Witkin noted. “Guest musicians will always be part of our DNA both live and in the studio. This project was about capturing something more stripped-down and honest because there’s a unique energy when it’s just the three of us, and it brings out a different emotional depth in both the performances and the songs themselves. We continue to stay true to our recording philosophy: tracking together in real time, using vintage and analog gear, and avoiding samples, extreme effects or shortcuts. That human element has always been essential to our sound.”
- British all female Slade tribute band, Slady, has released a new video covering 1983 single, “My Oh My.” The clip includes live footage filmed on March 12 at The Casbah during their recent U.S. tour. Additional footage was shot locally around San Diego and Encinitas, with Joe Macaskill of The Strangulators making a cameo at 1:03.
- Thee Sacred Souls have a new 7” single out, “Any Old Fool.” Additionally their self-titled 2022 debut album has been reissued in Tri-Color Vinyl as a Barnes & Noble exclusive.
