![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/timesofsandiego.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/LF2-19-Headphone.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>Headphone (Photo courtesy of The Holding Company)<\/p>\nSynth-forward indie electronic band\u00a0Headphone<\/a>\u00a0was founded in 2014 by Morgan McRae (who studied piano and business management at St. Louis University) and drummer Philip Cullin. The duo was later joined by bassist Darren Goldberg (who co-owns Foxhole Studios with McRae) and guitarist Nick Costa. \u201cOur music blends our interests in everything from classical and jazz to electronic and independent rock,\u201d according to the band, \u201cwhile the lyrics look at the enigmatic space between connection and detachment, hopefulness and despair.\u201d Known for a dynamic alt-electro sound, blending energetic, gritty rock with electronic elements, their music is characterized by an indie\/alternative style, with recent work focusing on high-energy, guitar-driven indie music Their album\u00a0Sector 1\u00a0was released in 2015, followed in October 2016 by\u00a0Clouds of Scattered Noise, with their newest release being Sledgehammer. You can get a taste of their Winstons gigs on Youtube, where they\u2019ve uploaded a video of them performing \u201cReady Steady Run<\/a>\u201d at the OB venue.<\/p>\n Tribute to reggae legends<\/p>\n The 45th annual Tribute to the Reggae Legends, also known as Bob Marley Day, honors the rich cultural and musical legacy of reggae. Founded by Prophet World Beat Productions, the event promises a powerful message of unity, peace, and awareness of social inequities. Thanks to pioneering artists such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, reggae music continues to unify as well as entertain. This celebratory concert will span two days with both local and national acts slated to perform. The Friday bill includes\u00a0Julian Marley & the Uprising<\/a>, Johnny Osborne & Fully Fullwood Band, Mara Sulu, Pinnacle, and DJ Mykol Orthodox. Saturday features\u00a0King Yellowman<\/a>,\u00a0Ginger Roots<\/a>, Johnny Clarke, Marlon Asher, Ranking Joe, Quinto Sol, Chezidek, and more.<\/p>\n Steve Poltz\u2019s 17th Annual 50th Birthday Bash<\/p>\n Steve Poltz<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0new album\u00a0JoyRide\u00a0is his 14th solo album and first new LP in close to four years. The record was produced, engineered, and mixed by Dex Green (known for his Grammy Award-nominated work with such artists as Shemekia Copeland, Elvis Costello, Margo Price, and Nicole Atkins). It was preceded by a single for \u201cIf It Bleeds It Leads.\u201d Says Poltz, \u201cI used Emmylou Harris\u2019s rhythm section: Bryan Owings on drums, and Christopher Donohue on bass. Dex Green played this weird-sounding keyboard that added to the whole vibe, along with my acoustic guitar. I wrote the song after watching the news with some people who were yelling at the TV screen. I had to leave the room and immediately write this song.\u201d Another single dropped recently for \u201cLove a Little Bigger,\u201d co-written with longtime pal Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, and the album track \u201cFixin\u2019 Up\u201d is a three-way co-write with Americana icon Jim Lauderdale and 2018 CCMA Songwriter of the Year, Skip Black. The Saturday February 21 show will feature a reunion performance by his one-time band\u00a0The Rugburns<\/a>, alongside\u00a0Gregory Page<\/a>.<\/p>\n CupcakKe<\/p>\n Rapper, singer, and songwriter\u00a0CupcakKe<\/a>\u00a0rose to fame via SoundCloud and TikTok,\u00a0where her explicit lyrics are frequently used in memes. Known for her bold, hyper-sexualized and often humorous lyrics, she blends raw and explicit sexual content with themes of LGBTQ+ advocacy and female empowerment.\u00a0Despite the explicit nature of popular tracks including \u201cDeepthroat\u201d and \u201cVagina,\u201d albums like\u00a0Ephorize\u00a0and\u00a0Eden,\u00a0have received critical praise for their artistic aspirations and production.\u00a0Her debut mixtape Cum Cake appeared on Rolling Stone\u2019s list of the Best Rap Albums of 2016 at number 23.\u00a0Beyond sexual content, she also addresses topics such as childhood trauma and mental health, evincing an ability to be both raunchy and deeply personal, showcasing confidence and tackling taboo subjects with both humor and depth. She\u2019s touring in support of her sixth full-length, The Bakkery, released last October.<\/p>\n San Diego Music Awards nominee announcement show<\/p>\n Established in 1991, the 35th annual San Diego Music Awards are at hand.\u00a0Covering diverse genres\u2014including Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Americana\u2014the event highlights local talent and serves as the primary fundraiser for the San Diego Music Foundation\u2019s Guitars for Schools program,\u00a0which has placed guitars in over 123 schools, raising over $800,000.00 to foster music education. Although the actual award show doesn\u2019t take place until\u00a0May 6 at Humphreys by the Bay, the nominees will be announced at this Little Italy event which will feature live performances previewing what to expect on Shelter Island. Doors open at 6pm for a\u00a0bill that includes\u00a0Matthew Phillips<\/a>, who won Best Pop Artist at the 2024 and 2025 San Diego Music Awards. His debut album\u00a0Till It\u2019s Over\u00a0has earned 138,000 Spotify streams, with around 15,700 Monthly listeners, and his Spotify account has over 817,000 views, with\u00a0Till It\u2019s for 574,000 of them. Also appearing is singer-songwriter\u00a0Cheyenne Benton<\/a>, who was born in California City near Lancaster before relocating with her family when they moved to San Diego just before she turned five. Among the influences she cites are Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, the 1975, Lorde, Pale Waves, Kim Petras, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ke$ha, and Transviolet. Her song \u201cDrinkin\u2019 About U\u201d earned a nomination for Best R&B, Funk, or Soul Song at the 2023 San Diego Music Awards, and her sophomore album\u00a0Corrupted\u00a0dropped last August. The bill includes The Bastards and Patch & Maggie.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>See Julian Marley on Bob Marley day! (Photo courtesy of Ticketmaster)<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>Oh, I get it \u2013 it\u2019s a club card! (Event poster)<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>CupcakKe (Photo courtesy of House of Blues)<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>35 years! That\u2019s institutional! (Event poster)<\/p>\n