Moonshine Beach has a reputation for hosting great country music events, but on occasion they also spotlight other genres, such as on Nov. 21, with reggae/rock group, Through the Roots. The band celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, now one of the area’s top practitioners of the Cali-reggae sound, regularly touring cross country. Through the Roots have released numerous albums, but live is where they really excel and the main reason they have become solid festival draws. If island sounds mixed with a tinge of rock is your thing, Through the Roots is one of the best bands on the West Coast. Through the Roots: Wednesday, Nov. 21 at Moonshine Beach, 1165 Garnet Ave. at 9 p.m. 21 and up. moonshinebeachsd.com. One of heavy metal’s icons, Philip H. Anselmo, performs at Brick by Brick on Nov. 15. Currently touring behind the latest album with his band, The Illegals, “Choosing Mental Illness As a Virtue,” Anselmo is prolific to a fault, with influential quartet Pantera the best known of his previous combos. In 2015, he collaborated with local’s Cattle Decapitation on their album, “The Anthropocene Extinction” so the possibility of a special guest in the audience is there, but fans can rest assured the majority of the night’s set list will be tunes originally by Pantera circa 1988 – 2003. Philip H. Anselmo: Thursday, Nov. 15 at Brick By Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave. at 9 p.m. 21 and up. With more than 20 million copies sold in the U.S. alone, it’s safe to say that few musical bodies of work are as beloved as Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors.” On Nov. 16 The Benedetti Ensemble will perform the entire album at Dizzy’s, recasting the tunes for guitarist Fred Benedetti’s virtuoso playing and the vocals of Regina Moomjean and Julia Picone. Every song on “Rumors” is a certified classic, such as “Go Your Own Way,” Don’t Stop” and “Dreams,” here we get to experience Benedetti and company breathing new magic into old favorites. The Benedetti Ensemble: Friday, Nov. 16 at Dizzy’s, 1717 Morena Blvd., at 8 p.m. 21 and up. tioleos.com. For sheer fun on the dance floor, The Sleepwalkers are still the band to beat. Mixing up a brew of rock-a-billy, Mexican cumbias, early R&B and Latin rhythms, The Sleepwalkers are an instant dance party that doesn’t let up until the last note has rung out. Appearing at Tio Leo’s on Nov. 17, the band does play occasional covers, but the heart of their show is their wonderful originals such as “Digame.” All the players in this combo are great, but with guitarist Ritchie Orduno, they have a music legend in the making.
The Sleepwalkers: Saturday, Nov. 17 at Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. at 9 p.m. 21 and up. tioleos.com. Tribute band fans fans will want to check out a double bill of Anesthesia (Metallica) and The Black Crowes Revival (BCR) taking place at the 710 Beach Club on Nov. 24. Both bands have legions of fans but the nod here goes to BCR, who have a set list full of bar room classics at their disposal, such as “Remedy” and “Hard to Handle.” It’s been a decade since the Black Crowes split, so bands like BCR are the only way for modern fans to get a taste of what made the originals into stadium stars. The Black Crowes Revival: Saturday, Nov. 24 at The 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave., at 9 p.m. 21 and up. Mission Bay High School will be well represented at the 39th Annual San Diego Jazz Fest taking place on Nov. 21-25 at the Town & Country Hotel and Convention Center. Dozens of performers will take part in the event, including two of the schools combos, The Preservationists and The Swing Choir. Both will perform multiple sets, as will the school’s music director JP Balmat’s own group, The Euphoria Brass Band. All are non-smoking. The festival performers represent a variety of traditional jazz, dixieland, ragtime, swing, and rockabilly, rejuvenating classic sounds for modern times.
The Preservationists: at San Diego Jazz Fest Nov. 21-25, Town & Country Hotel and Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North. sdjazzfest.org.