A brand new type of weekend music and art festival is about to debut on Adams Avenue. Adams Avenue Unplugged will take place the weekend of April 21st and 22nd along a two mile stretch of Adams from Texas St. on the West, on through Normal Heights and into parts of Kensington to the East. The event will feature 170 live musical performances staged inside or around, more than 30 restaurant and bars lining the neighborhood. Musicians will also perform on three community stages spread throughout the area. As the name implies Adams Unplugged will feature acoustic music.
This free event also will include artists, crafters and dealers who will be displaying both inside business district storefronts as well as in Adams Park, within an open-air market setting. Merchandise from outside the business district will be augmenting the art and craft related selections that permanently inhabit the neighborhood, to add to the weekend’s variety. The event is produced by the Adams Avenue Business Association (AABA). Free trolley service will be provided on Adams Avenue during the event which will give folks the option of subsidizing the walking required to traverse the expansive event footprint. MTS bus routes 2 & 11 service the neighborhoods. The event will offer bike valet hosted by Brooklyn Bikes at Smitty's on the corner of Adams & Hawley. Wear comfortable walking shoes and plan on getting your daily portion by exploring all the avenue has to offer.
Music will be scheduled from 11am until 9pm on Saturday 21st and noon until 7pm on Sunday the 22nd. Some performers will be playing multiple sets allowing folks more opportunity to catch their favorites. Many of the Avenue’s bars will also extend performances later into the night. Stage and performance schedules will be announced the middle of March and will be available online and through local media outlets such as the Troubadour. A program will be available at the event.
Because of the extensive musical line-up, Adams Unplugged is being booked by a quartet of local music veterans who each have curated past Adams Avenue music festivals as well as having bona fides in the San Diego music scene. Kent Johnson who is co-publisher of the Troubadour, a performer in his own right and who has booked past Roots Festivals is one of the Unplugged talent buyers. Lou Curtiss of Folk Arts Rare records, a music historian, collector and festival organizer who booked the Roots Festival for most of its existence as well as founded its precursor- the San Diego Folk Festival-is back to add his selections. Louis Brazier who has developed the full time performance program at Lestat’s and has booked stages for the Street Fair is bringing his expertise. Steve Kader who rounds off the foursome has been involved with supplying talent to the Adams Street Fair for more than a decade as well as booking for venues such as 4th and B.
Leave a Reply