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<\/a>Celebrating its 33rd anniversary, this year\u2019s fair plays host to a number of established acts such as Austin, Texas-based garage country sweethearts Heartless Bastards, UK reggae sensation Pato Banton, Midwest folk storyteller extraordinaire Tom Brosseau and a host of beloved hometown bands, including The Burning of Rome, The Nervous Wreckords and The Album Leaf.<\/p>\n
Incredible headliners aside, the festival shores up quality local talent spanning both days with up-and-coming acts promising to bring as much musical magic to stages as their national touring peers. In fact, more often that not, it\u2019s those hungry, on-the-rise San Diego artists that make this street fair so particularly enjoyable.<\/p>\n
Such is the case with the local garage rock band Shady Francos: Appropriately set to kick off the festival at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Casbah 33rd Street Rock Stage, the energetic trio has made a name for themselves around town for their show-stealing, high-kicking performances. Previously known as The Nformals until a recent lineup change (and a subsequent revitalized musical direction), the group is readying their debut EP under the new moniker and prepping for the potentially hazardous upcoming outdoor activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a fan of playing during the day in the sun, \u2019cause I\u2019m a ginger,\u201d the band\u2019s lead singer\/guitarist Joshua Kmak said laughing. \u201cBut if the fest is rad enough, I\u2019m down. In my opinion, playing somewhere like the Del Mar Fair is less of a golden opportunity because people are there to play carnival games and eat chocolate-covered bacon or deep-fried, cheese-filled pop tarts. They aren\u2019t there to watch a band. But a fest where people go specifically to see bands is where it\u2019s at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed with all the acts involved, attendees have some potentially difficult decisions ahead. Do you take in Javier Escovedo and the City Lights\u2019 power pop ear candy at the Casbah stage at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, or the hypnotic soul funk jams of Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact at the Park Groove Stage? Do you soak up the lonesome country pop crooning of Nena Anderson on Java Joe\u2019s Stage or the vintage folk revival of fiery troubadour Jimmy Ruelas on the DiMille\u2019s Stage at 1 p.m.?<\/p>\n
The latter is a particularly tough call. With a style alternately invoking the contemplative musings of early Bob Dylan and the ancient steel guitar blues of Robert Johnson, Ruelas (who released his debut album \u201cI Shall Not Be Moved!\u201d this past August) looks forward to catching the sights and sounds of the Normal Heights neighborhood surroundings and hopes he has an equally enthusiastic crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always dug the smaller, non-amplified stuff at street shows,\u201d Ruelas said. \u201cIt all depends on the audience. If people give a f**k, it\u2019s great. I\u2019ve had some real beautiful moments at outdoor shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
For what it\u2019s worth, show-goers may never get the chance to see the charismatic singer\/songwriter perform in quite the same fashion after Saturday\u2019s gig.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my music is in a constant stage of change,\u201d Ruelas explained. \u201cPeople may have caught a show where I was doing my old-timey stuff. But, the next week, you may see me with an electric guitar and a few fuzz boxes. I feel it\u2019s the job of a musician and a performer to constantly evolve and progress. I never want to make the same record and I never want to play the same show.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Saturday\u2019s activities aren\u2019t enough, Sunday\u2019s schedule promises more musical entertainment than you can shake a stick at. Ranging from the alt-country leanings of The Whiskey Circle, to the rock \u2018n\u2019 roll thunder of costumed duo The Pheasants, to the \u201960s-inspired psychedelic groove of The Loons \u00a0the lineup certainly has something for everyone.<\/p>\n
Blending electronica, hip-hop and alt-rock, We Are Sirens jumpstart the Casbah Stage\u2019s Sunday action at noon and mark the trio\u2019s introductory performance at the annual festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve played a good few street fairs in San Diego now, which has been incredible, but not this one yet,\u201d the group\u2019s guitarist Chris Biggin said. \u201cWe\u2019d like to think our songs fit anywhere people enjoy letting loose. Just give us 10 square feet and we\u2019ll play it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Set to officially release their album \u201cEvery. Body. Panic.\u201d at Bar Pink on Oct. 7, the band issued a refreshing, we\u2019re-in-this-together sentiment that seems to be a constant thread throughout the local music scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re constantly in awe of who we\u2019re playing with,\u201d Biggin said. \u201cWe\u2019re really stoked to be sharing the stage with The Album Leaf and Hills Like Elephants. There\u2019s just so much talent in this city.\u201d<\/p>\n
After more than three decades of tunes, food, art and friends, the Adams Avenue Street Fair somehow manages to consistently raise the bar on what a free outdoor festival can \u2014 and should \u2014 be. This year, it\u2019s primed to make yet another entry in an already illustrious history. On Sept 27 \u2013 28, head out and soak up the sun, some fun, and plenty of the finest music San Diego has to offer. For more information about the festival, visit adamsavenuebusiness.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n