A week of jazz, Britpop-inspired beats, dance-happy pop and old-school musical heroes shows that even when San Diego\u2019s music scene is a little mellow, it\u2019s far from boring. Check out some of the stellar musical acts going on around town this week and you might find your toes tapping along too. <\/p>\n
Acoustic Evenings<\/p>\n
The Acoustic Evenings concert series at the Athenaeum continues on April 10 with a show hosted by Jefferson Jay and set to include Evans Kontopuls<\/a> and Jerry Raney<\/a>, Joel Rafael<\/a> and Gayle Skidmore<\/a>. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a strong bill. Kontopuls and Raney are key members in two of San Diego\u2019s top bands, Switchback Railway and The Beat Farmers, respectively. Meanwhile, Rafael is one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in San Diego, with more than three decades of playing local stages to his credit. Rafael is such a good tunesmith that he\u2019s been covered by the likes of David Crosby and Graham Nash. Finally, award-winning multi-instrumentalist Skidmore is playing in advance of the release of a new single and video, \u201cThe Road to Nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Fans of any of these artists will love the rare opportunity to hear their music in one of San Diego\u2019s best listening rooms.<\/p>\n Brian Levy Quartet<\/p>\n Jazz aficionados won\u2019t want to miss the Brian Levy Quartet<\/a>, who play a free, hour-long, afternoon concert in The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center\u2019s courtyard on April 10. <\/p>\n The quartet is led by saxophonist Levy, who has inspired generations of musicians as both the director of jazz studies and as associate professor at SDSU. It also features gifted pianist Mikan Zlatkovich among its members. The show is part of the venue\u2019s celebration of jazz giant John Coltrane\u2019s centennial, and is set to feature a mix of his compositions and original songs inspired by him.<\/p>\n Devo<\/p>\n Great news for Devo<\/a> fans! The band makes a stop in San Diego on April 15 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay on what is billed as their \u201cfarewell tour.\u201d Fans will be treated to a multi-media show covering Devo\u2019s 50-plus year run as one of the most adventurous and iconic groups in music, with multiple costume changes, short films, and classic songs including \u201cUncontrollable Urge,\u201d \u201cWhip It,\u201d and \u201cGirl U Want.\u201d <\/p>\n Longtime listeners won\u2019t want to miss this chance to see one of the \u201980s best-known groups, but the odds of a third local farewell show are slim.<\/p>\n The Memphis Soul Revue<\/p>\n Fans of classic 1960s and 1970s R&B and funk will want to head to Winston\u2019s on April 11 for a special afternoon show from The Memphis Soul Revue of San Diego<\/a>. The ten-piece, horn-driven band plays a fun set of crowd-pleasing dance floor fillers, with songs in their set lists from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Kool & The Gang. <\/p>\n Attendees at this show are advised to look sharp as the band will be filming music videos of their versions of \u201cShake A Tail Feather,\u201d as sung by Ray Charles in the 1980 film classic, \u201cThe Blues Brothers,\u201d and Robert Parker\u2019s 1966 hit, \u201cBarefootin,\u201d for release later this summer.<\/p>\n Kekoa the Artist<\/p>\n Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kekoa the Artist<\/a> plays The Holding Company on April 11. Nominated for \u201cBest World Music Artist\u201d at the 2026 San Diego Music Awards, Kekoa\u2019s mix of reggae and pop music, as well as relentless gigging, has built him a strong following in Southern California. <\/p>\n Kekoa\u2019s versions of cover songs, such as late, former La Jollan, Bobby Caldwell\u2019s standard \u201cWhat You Won\u2019t Do For Love,\u201d are superb, recasting them with island rhythms, but fans are also drawn to his original socially conscious material, like the new single, \u201cPeople Unite.\u201d<\/p>\n The Moss<\/p>\n Hawaiian alt-rock trio The Moss<\/a> stops in at The Quartyard on April 10. Formed in 2015, The Moss eschew the expected heavy reggae influences and traditional island sounds, instead mixing guitar-fronted rock \u2018n\u2019 roll with strong pop hooks. <\/p>\n The band has a long list of earworms in their set list, featuring songs such as \u201cThe Place That Makes Me Happy,\u201d which have a youthful energy that\u2019s irresistible, meant to play loud while you jump around. Fans of The Replacements or Weezer will find much to appreciate in The Moss.<\/p>\n Colin Hay<\/p>\n Australian singer-songwriter Colin Hay,<\/a> frontman for \u201980s hitmakers Men At Work<\/a>, performs at the Balboa Theatre on April 11. Currently touring in support of his latest album, \u201cMan @ Work Volume 2,\u201d the night\u2019s focus will be on Hay\u2019s solo works of the past 30 years. Fans can rest assured Hay is still in great voice and does include several of Men At Work\u2019s best-known songs in his sets, including \u201cWho Can It Be Now?,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s A Mistake,\u201d and, sure to get the night\u2019s biggest response, \u201cDown Under.\u201d <\/p>\n Fun fact: Hay returns to San Diego next month as a member of Ringo Starr\u2019s All-Starr Band<\/a> for a concert at Humphreys.<\/p>\n Whitney Shay<\/p>\n Blues and jazz singer Whitney Shay<\/a> performs outdoors at Balboa Park\u2019s Panama 66 on April 12. Located in the park\u2019s Sculpture Garden, Panama 66 offers up one of the biggest bargains in San Diego: free music performances while you dine in one of the city\u2019s most scenic locations, under the California Tower. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, Shay is one of the busiest performers in town, playing with several combos including The Styletones. For this show, she will be in solo mode, featuring songs from her acclaimed album, \u201cA Woman Rules the World,\u201d with dancing encouraged.<\/p>\n San Diego Music Awards Showcase<\/p>\n A terrific San Diego Music Awards Showcase<\/a> takes place at The Casbah on April 12. The early afternoon concert features performances from a diverse lineup featuring several of this year\u2019s nominees, including The Farmers, Go Scarlet, The Reckless, and Tamar Berk. The bill opens strong with pop\/rock songstress Tamar Berk, with performances from up-and-comers Go Scarlet and The Reckless before wrapping up with long-running favorites, roots rockers, The Farmers. <\/p>\n These four artists have been packing local venues on their own; this concert, combining all their talents into one concert, should be at the top of the list this week for fans of the area\u2019s burgeoning music community. <\/p>\n Bonus: Funds raised at this show go to the San Diego Music Foundation<\/a>, helping to bring music education to the schools countywide.<\/p>\n Pleasure Pill<\/p>\n\n
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