Shawn Mendes headed to San Diego for sold-out concert

Shawn Mendes performs during "The Tour" at the Allstate Arena on Friday, June 28, 2019, in Chicago.

San Diego Union-Tribune

July 5, 2019 1:23 PM PT

At 20, Shawn Mendes is relatively young to be considered a musical veteran. But considering he landed his first major record deal at the age of 14, he’s not necessarily a newbie. The Canadian singer first entered the musical pop culture consciousness as the product of a highly technologically savvy approach to music dissemination: on the video-sharing app Vine, doing covers of pop hits. A sensation there, he soon built a career by growing and nurturing a fan base that clamored for his music — including his own — and his teen-idol good looks. His first album, 2013’s “Handwritten,” was certified platinum during its first week out in the market and produced one of his earliest hits, “Stitches.” He’s since release two more albums (2016’s “Illuminate” and last year’s “Shawn Mendes”) and has headlined tours around the globe. On Monday, he brings his sold-out Shawn Mendes: The Tour to Pechanga Arena San Diego, with fellow Canadian Alessia Cara.

Shawn Mendes: 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 8. Pechanga Arena San Diego, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., Midway District. Sold out, but tickets with a side view of the stage are available. (619) 224-4171. axs.com

Music Events

Michael James Rocha

Michael James Rocha is the digital creative director at the Union-Tribune. He oversees the online presentation of Union-Tribune stories online and has oversight of the photo and graphics teams. Most recently, he was the arts and entertainment editor. During his tenure, the Union-Tribune’s Sunday arts section was named the best in the nation two years in a row (2021 and 2022). Michael started his career at the Union-Tribune in December 1997 as a features page designer. He eventually became the features design editor, managing a staff of 15 designers and 17 features sections. Through the years, he has done stints as the front page designer, audience development editor and home decor editor. He previously wrote a monthly column on outdoor living, which focused on outdoor decor. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications (with an emphasis on print journalism) from California State University-Fullerton in 1994. He is a founding member of the Asian American Journalists Association’s San Diego chapter, and he has taught magazine writing, editing and design at Point Loma Nazarene University. He also loves dogs.