Top performances coming to town this week include Ghostland Observatory, Gingee, Ray LaMontagne, Cautious Clay, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Wonderfront Music and Arts Festival.
11.20: Ghostland Observatory
After an extended hiatus, the Austin, Texas-based electro duo of Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner returned to the scene in 2015. They followed that with their first full-length album in eight years, See You Later Simulator, in 2018. Known, in part, for their wild and raucous shows that many times include fans storming the stage, expect an interesting night at the Belly Up.
Belly Up, bellyup.com
11.21: Big Freedia
Big Freedia is a flamboyant New Orleans rapper named Freddie Ross whose pronouns are she/her. She’s considered the queen of Southern-influenced Bounce music and also stars in her own reality TV series.
Belly Up, bellyup.com
11.21: Gingee
The SoCal-raised, Filipina DJ is a festival favorite thanks to her unique blend of world music and hip hop. She uses instruments native to the Philippines, like kulintang (gongs) and kettle drums with cowbells and even recites poetry.
The Loft at UCSD, theloft.ucsd.edu
11.21: Ray LaMontagne
As the sub-head of his current concert listing explains, the infamously private singer and songwriter is “Just Passing Through.” Although he isn’t overtly promoting his 2018-released seventh album, Part of the Light, that doesn’t mean many of its tracks won’t make it to the set list. Canadian roots duo Kacy & Clayton opens the show.
Copley Symphony Hall, sandiegosymphony.org
11.22: Bad Bunny
The 25-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer has become a bona fide superstar in recent years. Scoring major hits with everyone from Daddy Yankee and Cardi B to Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage, the artist born Benito Martinez Ocasio scored another smash hit when he teamed with J Balvin on the surprise-released collaborative album, Oasis, this summer.
Pechanga Arena, pechangaarenasd.com
11.22: Cautious Clay
Cautious Clay, aka Ohio-born singer and songwriter Josh Karpeh, released his third EP, Table of Context, in March. Karpeh is also listed as a writer on Taylor Swift’s song London Boy from her 2019 album, Lover.
House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego
11.22-24: Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival
Will this three-day music and arts festival be the new Street Scene? It’s definitely ambitious, boasting multiple venues and a diverse lineup that includes pop favorites Miguel and Migos, veteran punk bands X and Pennywise, and America’s Got Talent sweetheart, Grace VanderWaal.
Embarcadero Marina Park South, Embarcadero Marina Park North, Seaport Village, Ruocco Park, Hilton Bayfront Park and Broadway Port Pier, wonderfrontfestival.com
11.24: Chainsmokers
The chart-topping pop-DJ duo of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall has been making the rounds at large San Diego venues of late, with previous headlining shows at Pechanga Arena and North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. The pair returns to America’s Greatest City for a night at Viejas Arena in anticipation of their forthcoming third studio album, World War Joy, slated for release sometime later this year.
Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com
11.24: Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Brothers Dimitri and Michael Thivalos, aka Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, have released music with Diplo, Dada Life, Lil Jon, Martin Garrix, Gucci Mane, Wiz Khalifa and more. The Belgian siblings have kept that collaborative A list going this year as well, recently working with Armin van Buuren, Era Istrefi, David Guetta, Daddy Yankee and Paris Hilton on new singles.
Wonderfront, Embarcadero, Wonderfrontfestival.com
