Making plans for the fall? Let us help. In our fall arts guide, we preview the best plays, concerts, fests and more coming to San Diego. Look for a roundup of the best in music, theater and festivals, with a spotlight feature in each category.
Fall may be the time when the weather starts to cool down, but that doesn’t mean that the local music scene isn’t still hot.
From mid-September through mid-December, many of San Diego County’s smaller music venues are bringing in big talent to perform, including local and regional acts.
And as you might expect for a city with the size and diversity that San Diego boasts, many music genres will be represented by local artists performing across the region. There’s pop (Jessie Lark), jazz (David Cultura), country (Kimmi Bitter), soul (the Styletones) and more.
Here is a look at some of the noteworthy shows happening at San Diego-area venues this fall.
Jungle Fire, Colectivo Fronterizo
Oct. 1, The Quartyard. This is the kickoff concert of the 2026 San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival, which takes place across four days and three cities in two countries from Oct. 1-4. Performing with Tijuana’s Colectivo Fronterizo will be Ensenada-born rapper Fémina Fatal. Opening this free show will be a youth ensemble consisting of student musicians from San Diego and Ensenada. Free admission, but RSVP.
David Cultura
Oct. 2, Lou Lou’s Jungle Room. Cultura (his first name’s pronounced dah-veed) is a jazz saxophonist originally from Panama who came to the U.S. in 2010 and moved to San Diego about a year-and-a-half ago. He’ll play material from his upbeat debut album, “Cultura,” which was released in September 2025. Free admission.
Anna Graves, Kimmi Bitter
Oct. 3, Voodoo Room at House of Blues San Diego. Folk-Americana singer-songwriter Graves’ debut full-length album, “America’s Greatest Burnout,” came out in late August. Meanwhile, classic country/Americana artist Bitter is seemingly ubiquitous in San Diego County, playing shows here, there and everywhere. She performed a free set at the Adams Avenue Street Fair on Sept. 20. Tickets, $27.
ScHoolboy Q
Oct. 8, SOMA San Diego. Q, an LA-based rapper and singer is touring to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his fourth studio album, “Blank Face LP”, which received widespread acclaim upon its release in July 2016 and reached No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart. Tickets start at $60.
Sex Pistols
Oct. 16, SOMA San Diego. In 2024, original Sex Pistols members Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock revived the legendary English punk band after more than 15 years of dormancy. For this show, they’ll perform with Frank Carter (frontman of Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes) on lead vocals, replacing ex-Pistol Johnny Rotten. Tickets, $81.50.
HalloWomen Spooktacular
Oct. 17, Winston’s Beach Club. Featuring Sara Jade, Jessie Lark, Celina Rescott & the Embers, this third annual Halloween-themed concert will include three local artists: cinematic pop-rock artist Jade, edgy, booty-shaking pop princess Lark and pop-indie rock musician Rescott. The event also includes a costume contest and prizes. Through Oct. 15, general admission is $12.51.
Thee Sinseers
Oct. 21, Epstein Family Amphitheater, UC San Diego. This East LA souldies group, which shares many members with fellow band the Altons, is similar in sound to Chula Vista/South Bay collective Thee Sacred Souls, but the two aren’t connected, except by a deep love for modern takes on classic soul and R&B sounds. Tickets, $35–50, with limited free tickets available for UCSD students.
almost monday
Oct 22, The Observatory North Park. This particular “Thank God It’s Almost Monday” tour stop will be a homecoming for the indie pop band. The band, which just released its second album on Sept. 9, is native to the area; the group formed in North County in 2015. General admission is $120.
Rocket From the Crypt
Oct 24, House of Blues. This performance doubles as the legendary local punk band’s annual Halloween show and as a stop on the group’s “Scream, Frankenstein, Scream! Tour,” supporting their new album of outtakes and rarities. The San Diego date is one of just five shows the band’s playing on the tour. Also, the album’s only available on vinyl and solely at the five shows. Tickets are $86.
Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, The Styletones
Nov 21, The Casbah. The Soul Ensemble, one of the best bands making music in San Diego today, will perform in front of an audience for one of the first times since a late-May live album recording session before hundreds of fans. Co-headliners the Styletones are a San Diego soul band. Tickets: $24.74.
Worth a look
Pearl & the Oysters, Sept. 25, Soda Bar; Paloma Morphy, Oct. 9, Voodoo Room at House of Blues; War, Oct. 24, Belly Up Tavern. B-Side Players, Elijah Emanuel, Nov. 28, Belly Up Tavern; Deap Valley, Nov. 28, Soda Bar, and The Womack Sisters, Dec. 8, The Music Box.
