Groove: September concert calendar
Concerts headed to San Diego in September include Carrie Underwood, John Mayer, Chance The Rapper and Lenny Kravitz.
9.1: The Stray Cats
Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom and Lee Rocker return to the band they founded four decades ago for this second night of 40th anniversary shows in San Diego. The tour follows the release of the appropriately titled 40, the band’s first studio album in 26 years.
@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
9.1: Massive Attack
Rescheduled from a canceled date in April, Bristol-based trip-hop pioneers Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall are finally hitting the road for the upcoming deluxe release of their 1998 album Mezzanine. They last played San Diego in 2010, but put on an amazing show at this same venue back in 2006.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
9.3: Melvins
Fourth time’s a charm! After a double dip at this venue in January – as well as a recent slot opening for The Raconteurs at SDSU – the Melvins return to the Casbah for their fourth show in San Diego this year. The veteran sludge metal act first played the Casbah in 1989, currently holds the record of playing the club more times than any other band, and now boasts Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Off! as an official member.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
9.5: K.FLAY
The Chicago-based singer and multi-instrumentalist was at this venue last year supporting her 2017 Grammy-nominated second album and major-label debut, Every Where Is Some Where. She returns with new music this time after dropping her second album on Interscope Records, Solutions, in July.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
9.6: Maluma
The Colombian reggaeton superstar released his fourth studio album, 11:11, in May. In addition to hitting the top spot on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, it features appearances from Ozuna, Madonna, Nicky Jam, Ricky Martin, Ty Dolla Sign and more.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
9.9, 10: Stephen Marley
The eight-time Grammy-winning son of Bob Marley makes a quick return to the Belly Up after last playing an acoustic show there in March. This two-night dip follows Marley’s appearance on the Agent Sasco single Grateful in July.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
9.10: Carrie Underwood
Not that the country music superstar needed to do anything to up her cool cred, but Underwood’s recent appearance at the 2019 CMA Fest was about as cool as it gets. The seven-time Grammy-winning singer and actress joined forces with Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee Joan Jett to sing a half dozen of Jett’s greatest hits at the televised special event.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
9.11: John Mayer
Mayer played in San Diego last year as part of (Grateful) Dead & Company with original members Mickey Hart, Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann. This time, the seven-time Grammy-winning guitarist and singer returns for a solo show after last releasing a studio album of his own in 2017.
@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
9.13-15: KAABOO
KAABOO turns 5! What? Time really does fly. To celebrate, the local festival has once again assembled a nicely curated lineup of chefs (Richard Blais, Antonia Lofaso, Michael Mina), comedians (Bob Saget, Wayne Brady, Tig Notaro) and, of course, musical acts. In addition to headliners Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band and Mumford & Sons, Wu-Tang Clan, Duran Duran, Snoop Dogg, Mix Master Mike, Cash Cash, Toots & The Maytals, Maren Morris and more are scheduled to perform.
@ Del Mar Fairgrounds, kaaboodelmar.com
9.14: Junior Brown
Known by his signature “guit-steel” – a specially designed, double-necked, electric/lap steel hybrid – the country guitarist and singer released his latest album, Deep in the Heart of Me, last year.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
9.15: Ex Hex
Mary Timony (Helium, Wild Flag) continues to front this Washington, D.C., rock three-piece that just released its second studio album, It’s Real, in March.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
9.17: The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats, aka lo-fi musician and novelist John Darnielle, released their/his 17th studio album, In League With Dragons, in April. The album was produced by violinist Owen Pallett, who has handled string and orchestral arrangements for not only The Mountain Goats but artists like Taylor Swift, Arcade Fire, The National and Linkin Park.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
9.18: Durand Jones & The Indications
Time for redemption! Tickets for their show at the Casbah in March sold out mere days after going on sale. Then, the Indiana-based soul singer and his rock-solid backing band came back in June – but only for a short opening set with Rebelution. Thankfully Jones and Co. are set to return once again, still touring on their sophomore album, March’s American Love Call.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
9.18: Bob Weir and Wolf Bros
Just like his buddy John Mayer, Bob Weir returns to San Diego after playing here last year with Dead & Company. This time, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted co-founder of the Grateful Dead returns with the Wolf Bros, aka drummer Jay Lane and musician, super-producer and Blue Note boss Don Was.
@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
9.18: Chance The Rapper
After a handful of mixtapes and plenty of guest appearances, the Grammy Award-winning, Chicago-based MC and producer released his first “official” album, The Big Day, in July. It debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and features a diverse roster of guest appearances from John Legend, Nicki Minaj and Death Cab For Cutie to Gucci Mane, Randy Newman and Shawn Mendes.
@ Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
9.18, 19: The Selector
The veteran 2 Tone ska revivalists hit the Casbah for back-to-back nights. The Pauline Black-fronted outfit released its 15th studio album, Daylight, in 2017.
@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com
9.19: Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus, aka experimental musician and producer Steven Ellison, released his sixth studio album (and first in five years), Flamagra, in May. Its 27 tracks clock in at well over an hour and feature guest appearances from the likes of Solange, Anderson .Paak, Little Dragon, Tierra Whack and director David Lynch.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
9.19: Zac Brown Band
The three-time Grammy-winning country/rock collective is set to release its sixth studio album, The Owl, this month. The new 11-song set features collaborations with a wide-range of artists from OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder to Skrillex.
@ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, livenation.com
9.19: Luis Fonsi
Although the Puerto Rican singer’s worldwide hit Despacito was already two years old, Fonsi still included it (both versions) on his 10th studio album, Vida, which was released in February. Vida is Fonsi’s first album in five years and features appearances from Demi Lovato, Ozuna, Karol G, and (of course) Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber.
@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
9.20: Lenny Kravitz
The singer, actor and KAABOO veteran returns to San Diego one year after releasing his 11th studio album, the self-produced Raise Vibration.
@ Civic Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
9.20: Florida Georgia Line
Bro-country duo Brian “BK” Kelley and Tyler “T Hubb” Hubbard released their fourth studio album, Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, in February. It marked the pair’s fourth-straight U.S. Top 5 album and featured collaborations with both Jason Aldean and Jason Derulo.
@ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, livenation.com
9.21: Tijuana Panthers
The Tijuana Panthers aren’t actually from Tijuana. And for the record, they’re not panthers, either. But the Long Beach pop-punk trio did just release an album, the 14-track Carpet Denim, in July on Innovative Leisure Records.
@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com
9.22: Jake Peavy & Friends
The World Series champion and Triple Crown-winning pitcher brings a few MLB buddies to Solana Beach to tell stories before his band takes the stage – all to benefit the Jake Peavy Foundation.
@ Belly Up, bellyup.com
9.25: Wax Tailor (DJ Set)
Wax Tailor (aka French producer Jean-Christophe Le Saout) makes some groovy records. So if he’s just the selector this time around, expect a nicely varied set list of funky tunes you never knew you needed to hear until now.
@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com
9.26: Shaggy & UB40
Mr. Boombastic joins forces with the veteran English reggae act that once again features founding members Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue.
@ The Park at Petco Park, petcoparkevents.com
9.28: Charli XCX
The English singer, songwriter and producer is set to release her third studio album, Charli, this month. It features collaborations with Lizzo, Sky Ferreira, Troye Sivan, Christine and the Queens, and more.
@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
9.29: Greta Van Fleet
It could be a lot worse than being compared to (read: taking a lot of cues from) Led Zeppelin. And if its 2018 debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, is any indication, the Grammy-winning, Michigan-based rock quartet doesn’t seem to care.
@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast
9.29: MANÁ
The veteran Latin pop-rocksters return to San Diego on their Rayando el Sol tour. It’s the same name as the single they released in April that features Pablo Alborán.
@ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, livenation.com
9.30: Tegan and Sara
The Grammy-nominated Canadian sister act is set to release its ninth studio album, Hey, I’m Just Like You, at the end of this month. The album is set to coincide with the release (just a few days earlier) of the siblings’ first memoir, High School.
@ Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org
Sign up for the Pacific Insider newsletter
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Pacific San Diego.
