David Bowie may no longer be with us, but fans of the British music legend’s music will have the next best thing on Sept. 28 when A Bowie Celebration stops in at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay.
This is not a tribute band, instead it’s a group of musicians who performed both live and in the studio with Bowie, including such legendary players as pianist Mike Garson and guitarist Earl Slick, alongside guest musicians including Corey Glover of rockers Living Colour, Bernard Fowler bassist for The Rolling Stones and singer Evan Rachel Wood. With music running the gamut from “Space Oddity” to material from Bowie’s final album, “Blackstar,” if you are a Bowie fan, this is the concert of the year. A Bowie Celebration: Friday, Sept. 28 at Humphrey’s Concerts, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 7:30 p.m. humphreysconcerts.com. One of the most popular bands in San Diego of the past few decades, Superunloader, returns to the 710 Beach Club on Sept. 21. The trio is led by superb guitarist and singer Jimmy Lewis, and is capable of turning out great versions of classics by the likes of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac or Led Zeppelin. However what sets them apart is their terrific originals, which are cut from the same cloth as those classic rockers. Superunloader has stood the test of time.
Superunloader: Friday, Sept. 21, at 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. 9 p.m. 21 and up. 710bc.com. Mission Bay High School’s acclaimed jazz group, The Preservationists, stage their first public performance of the school year with a free performance as part of the Moon Festival, taking place at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on Sept. 22. The combo, led by music director JP Balmat, excels at New Orleans-style jazz, with classics such as “Kansas City” in their repertoire and like-minded originals. The Preservationists are one of San Diego’s musical treasures, with this music program one of the key reasons for jazz music’s vitality in San Diego.
The Preservationists: Saturday, Sept. 22 at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. 4 p.m. eventbrite.com/e/moon-festival-at-balboa-park-tickets-44012893750. Campland on the Bay will host a free outdoor waterfront dance party on Sept. 22, with an appearance from Rising Star. A true party band, Rising Star is all about groove with a set list full of R&B dance floor fillers, including songs from Prince, Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire. Unlike many similar bands, Rising Star also includes plenty of current dance hits, from Bruno Mars to Daft Punk, making for a well-rounded night of music whether you want to shake your groove thing or just pull up a beach chair and listen. Rising Star: Saturday, Sept. 22 at Campland on the Bay. 8 p.m. All ages. campland.com. Jaded music fans who think they’ve seen it all, will want to check out Captured by Robots, appearing at Brick by Brick on Sept. 22. Almost more of a premise or concept art than a band, Captured by Robots is just what the name says: a human, JBOT, is enslaved by two real robots, GTRBOT666 and DRMBOT0110 and forced to travel the world making grindcore music. It’s a surreal and unique concert experience that will leave you talking for months about what you just witnessed and how it’s all put together. Captured By Robots: Saturday, Sept. 22, at Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave. 8:30 p.m. 21 and up. brickbybrick.com. Two of San Diego’s finest guitarists, Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda, perform together at Dizzy’s on Sept. 29. The duo has released four albums, each a dazzling display of fretwork well worth adding to the collection of any acoustic guitar fan. While those albums are well worth hearing, their music is even better live, where you can see the pair’s incredible playing as well as listen. For this performance Benedetti and Svoboda will be spotlighting the music of Spain and Europe. If you are a fan of flamenco, jazz or virtuoso guitar work, you will find much to enjoy at this concert. Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda: Saturday, Sept. 29, at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd. 8 p.m. dizzysjazz.com.
