San Diego Acoustic Music Venues

Acoustic Music San Diego hosted by Carey Driscoll (Normal Heights)

Hosted in (but in no way affiliated with) a beautiful circa 1913 Methodist church, Acoustic Music San Diego.com is a not-for-profit, all volunteer series run by the seemingly tireless Carey Driscoll. AMSD showcases national touring artists that you probably will not find at any other San Diego venue. Performances here are always "plugged in" but the amplified sound in this medium-sized venue (seats maybe 250?) is good and the ambiance of vaulted ceilings, stained glass, and wooden beams is lovely. I like that the shows start at an early hour - 7:30pm. This concert series is an acoustic bonanza for the San Diego music scene.

KyM

Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach)

Well, the Belly Up Tavern (aka the BUT) is not the most pleasant venue to listen to singer/songwriters.  It's a bar with a dance floor, and what little seating they have is not particularly fabulous.  In fact, they rarely set up listening seating on their dance floor even during singer/songwriter shows so you end up having to stand around a big empty space to listen to the music. People go to the Belly Up to drink and talk and have a good time, and it can be pretty annoying if you're there to hear a favorite songwriter.  The performances are always amplified through an electronic sound system which is very good but also very loud.  That all said, this is sometimes the only venue that can bring some of the bigger name singer/songwriters to town especially in the alt-country genre.  If you wanted to hear Aimee Mann or Graham Parker or Jonatha Brooke, you were at the BUT last year.  The Belly Up is also wonderful about providing opportunities for local artists as opening acts and in occasional showcases.

KyM

E Street Cafe (Encinitas)

I am loving this coffee house! A coffee house venue in the classic style, there is the to-be-expected competition between the music and the shushing of the milk steamers and the chatting of the coffee drinkers. But the not-too-loud amplification helps, the music is free for the customers (1 drink minimum), and E Street books higher tier musicians than your average coffee house stage. You'll find music there several nights a week and always on Friday's and Saturday's. I've gotten in the habit of dropping in after dinner when there's nothing else on the calendar. A very fun place to be~ join me sometime!

KyM

Hot Java Cafe (Carmel Mountain Ranch)

I recommend this venue! Performances take place on a stage toward the front of this small coffee house but the audience here is generally a listening audience and I don't find the espresso machines too intrusive. The amplified sound is very good. You'll find singer/songwriters on the stage most Fridays and Saturdays. The real treat here is how well-run the shows are. They start nice and early, almost always at 7pm and almost always on time. The online schedule can be counted on to be accurate, the performances are professional and high-qualit. Come on out ~ I'm pretty sure you'll like it, too!

KyM

Lestat's Coffee House (Normal Heights)

Lestat's is an electrically amplified venue but the sound here is very, very good due to legendary sound man Lou Brazier's efforts. The listening room is separate from the coffee house so that conversations and cappuccino machines don't interfere with the music. Because of the small setting, Lestat's is an excellent place to listen to singer/songwriters (and I'm a big fan of their skinny cappuccino's, too). They feature San Diego's finest as well as lesser-known, high-level touring artists. The shows do start a bit late for me. They're usually scheduled for 9 pm but somehow always seem to start later! FInd me here at least once a week!

KyM

Meeting Grace House Concerts hosted by Lizzie Wann (location is moving!)

Plugged/Unplugged	Venue Type	Time	Charge	Contact
Unplugged!	House Concert	8:00 pm	$10 - $20	http://www.meetinggrace.com/

My favorite place in the world to hear music - partly because I love house concerts, partly because this was the very first house concert I ever attended, and partly because Lizzie Wann is such a great organizer. Meeting Grace shows start on time, the intermissions don't go on too long, and Lizzie runs an efficient yet non-intrusive notification/ reservation/ confirmation email system. She brings top-notch local and national touring acoustic talent to the very intimate Meeting Grace living room in Normal Heights (maybe seats 35?). This is where you'll hear the best singer/songwriters in the smallest setting in a truly acoustic, always unplugged venue. Desserts and coffee are included in the price of admission. I almost never miss one of Lizzie's productions!

KyM