Adams Avenue Unplugged 2027, San Diego, United States

What to expect in 2026

Adams Avenue Unplugged 2027 is expected to continue the event’s established format as a free musical walkabout through San Diego’s University Heights, Normal Heights and Kensington neighborhoods. The event traditionally brings live music into restaurants, bars, coffee shops, patios and other neighborhood venues along approximately two miles of Adams Avenue, creating a festival experience where visitors can move between different performances rather than staying at one main festival ground.

The previous edition featured approximately 90 musical performances across 26 locations, with artists representing blues, rock, Americana, jazz, soul, country, folk, roots, swing and other styles. Most performances were free and open to the public, while the featured headliner concert at Normal Heights United Church required a separate ticket.

For 2027, visitors can expect the same neighborhood-focused concept, with independent local businesses serving as performance venues and outdoor patio locations adding to the atmosphere. The Adams Avenue Business Association has not yet published the complete 2027 artist programme, so the previous edition provides the best indication of the festival’s likely format rather than a confirmed 2027 lineup.

Festival dates

Adams Avenue Unplugged 2027 is planned for April 2027, with dates TBD.

The official 2027 date has not yet been announced by the Adams Avenue Business Association. Visitors should check the official event page for the confirmed date, performance schedule and any changes before making travel arrangements.

The festival traditionally operates as a large-scale musical walkabout rather than a conventional enclosed festival, with performances distributed throughout the Adams Avenue corridor.

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Venue & festival site

Adams Avenue Unplugged does not use one single festival venue. Performances take place throughout the Adams Avenue commercial corridor, extending from University Heights through Normal Heights and into parts of Kensington.

The main festival area covers approximately two miles and incorporates restaurants, bars, coffee houses, patios, music spaces and community venues. Outdoor performances have also been staged at locations such as Smitty’s Food Court and Lestat’s Coffeehouse.

The historic Normal Heights United Church at 4650 Mansfield Street, San Diego, California 92116 has served as the Main Stage location and has also hosted the Community Beer Garden and ticketed headliner performance.

Because the event is spread throughout an active neighborhood, visitors should expect to walk between venues rather than remain in one dedicated festival field.

Full lineup

The 2027 lineup has not yet been announced. The following artists appeared in the previous edition and provide a reference for the scale and musical diversity that visitors can expect from Adams Avenue Unplugged:

• Albert Gary Lewis
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Alex Bergan
• Aly Roswell
• Amanda Portela
• Audrey
• Bart Mendoza & David Fleminger
• Billy Shaddox
• Bobo Czarnowski
• Brian Blue
• Brown Party Liquor
• Calcutta Kid
• Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits
• Chuck Schiele
• Comedy Heights
• Daniel Ezra Band
• Dave Gleason
• Dave Preston
• Deke Dickerson
• Divina Jasso
• DJ Junyahh
• DJ Lafs
• DJ Orchid
• Dolly’s Revenge
• Double Knot
• Earth Tones
• Elizabeth Bowersox
• Elysian Cadence
• G.A. Flores
• Gayle Skidmore
• Ghost in the Amp
• Gregory Page
• Hardly Human
• Harpo
• Hauntology
• Helena Holleran
• High Rolling Loners
• Israel Maldonado
• J.T. Moring
• Jackson Wagner
• Jayfreed
• Jeff Lynn
• Jesus Gonzalez
• Jimmy Lewis
• Johnny High-Hat Combo
• Jonny Wagon
• Julia Sage
• Julian Forest
• Kyle Luna and the Moon Dogs
• Lady Dottie & The Diamonds
• Lady July
• Lethal Ferguson
• Matt Hill
• Ms. Connie
• Nubella Honey
• Pacific Ocean Relics
• Patty Hall
• Pinnacle
• Puro Feeling
• Red Street Riot
• Rey Wolf
• Rock of Ages
• Roger!
• Ron Houston & The Berry Pickers
• Rookie Card
• Ryan Blue & The Bi’s
• Sandra Bacall
• Sara Petite
• Saul Cruz
• SaxSoulJah
• School of Rock
• Sham Blak
• Shea Givens
• Soul Ablaze
• Sutton James
• Sven-Erik Seaholm
• T.A. Tomlinson & Co.
• The B Line
• The Barnacle Boys
• The Beard & The Bird
• The Cedar Shakers
• The Gravities
• The Heartbreak Hustlers
• The Vinyl Shop
• Thea The Band
• Tim Atkins
• UL Standard
• Whiskey & Burlap
• Wolf Report
• ZB Savoy

The official previous-edition lineup shows artists performing at numerous neighborhood businesses and stages, demonstrating how the event combines established performers, local musicians, DJs and specialty acts.

Headliners

The 2027 headliner has not yet been announced.

For the previous edition, Alejandro Escovedo served as the featured headliner. His performance was presented at the Normal Heights United Church Main Stage and was the principal ticketed concert within the otherwise free musical walkabout.

The festival has also featured prominent musicians in earlier editions. For example, the previous year’s headliner was Terry Reid, demonstrating the event’s tradition of bringing respected performers from the wider roots-rock, Americana and rock music community to Adams Avenue.

Stage-by-stage schedule

The 2027 stage schedule has not been released. Adams Avenue Unplugged traditionally uses a network of individual business venues rather than a conventional collection of large festival stages.

Previous-edition performance locations included:

• Normal Heights United Church: Main Stage and ticketed headliner performances.
• Verbatim Books Stage on Lestat’s Patio: Acoustic and alternative performances.
• Adams Avenue Theater: Live bands and specialty performances.
• Kensington Club: Rock, roots and Americana performances.
• Rosie O’Grady’s: Multiple afternoon and evening performances.
• The Ould Sod: Irish, folk, country and roots-oriented artists.
• The Rabbit Hole: Rock and contemporary performances.
• Mixed Grounds Coffee: Acoustic artists, DJs and singer-songwriters.
• Smitty’s Station: Outdoor and roots-oriented performances.
• Blind Lady Ale House: Bands and live music.
• The Vibe: Rock, roots and contemporary acts.
• Mission Brewing: Live music alongside the neighborhood brewery atmosphere.
• Heights Optometry: Acoustic and singer-songwriter performances.
• Polite Provisions: Evening performances.
• The Haven Pizzeria: Local musicians and evening acts.
• Kensington Cafe: Acoustic and intimate performances.
• Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant: Live music in a neighborhood dining setting.
• Soul Side Vinyl: DJ and vinyl-focused programming.
• Cantina Mayahuel: Live music in a Mexican restaurant setting.
• Hopnonymous Brewing: Local live performances.
• Marta: Selected daytime performances.
• Sycamore Den: Music and DJ programming.
• Bica: Evening live music.
• Triple Crown Pub: Multiple performances throughout the day.

The previous schedule demonstrates that visitors can build their own route through the neighborhood, selecting different venues according to their preferred musical styles and performance times.

Set times

The 2027 set times have not been announced.

Previous-edition performances generally ran from late morning through late evening, with individual sets commonly lasting approximately 45 minutes to one hour. Some venues hosted several performers consecutively, while others operated with longer evening performances.

Examples from the previous programme included:

• Jimmy Lewis — 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
• SaxSoulJah — 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
• Amanda Portela — 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
• Earth Tones — 12:00 PM–12:45 PM
• Jeff Lynn — 12:00 PM–12:45 PM
• Gregory Page — 2:30 PM–3:30 PM
• Deke Dickerson — 4:45 PM–6:00 PM
• Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits — 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
• Daniel Ezra Band — 4:00 PM–4:45 PM
• Lady Dottie & The Diamonds — 7:30 PM–8:30 PM
• Ghost in the Amp — 9:00 PM–10:00 PM
• Roger! — 9:15 PM–10:15 PM
• Rock of Ages — 9:30 PM–10:30 PM

These times are historical examples and should not be treated as the confirmed 2027 timetable.

Ticket types

Adams Avenue Unplugged is primarily a free public event. The main musical walkabout does not normally require a general admission ticket, allowing visitors to move between participating venues throughout the Adams Avenue corridor.

The previous edition used the following ticketed options:

• General festival access: Free.
• Headliner concert ticket: Separate ticket required for the featured headliner performance.
• VIP Food & Beer ticket: Optional add-on connected with the Community Beer Garden.
• Public venue access: Individual participating businesses may have their own capacity or age restrictions.

The previous headliner ticket was $40, while the VIP Food & Beer option was $25. These are historical prices and should only be used as a guide until 2027 pricing is announced.

Ticket release phases

No official 2027 ticket-release schedule has been announced.

Based on the previous edition, the main festival walkabout remains free, so there is no conventional general-admission ticket release phase. Separate ticketing is used for the featured headliner concert and optional VIP Food & Beer experience.

For the previous edition, headliner tickets were sold online, while the VIP Food & Beer tickets were also available online and were limited in quantity. The organizer specifically advised visitors to purchase the VIP option in advance because those tickets were not available for purchase during the event.

Visitors should monitor the official Adams Avenue Business Association website for the 2027 headliner announcement, ticket links and release information.

VIP/Village options

Adams Avenue Unplugged does not operate a conventional VIP village comparable to a large enclosed music festival. Instead, its premium experience has traditionally centered on the Community Beer Garden at Normal Heights United Church.

The previous VIP Food & Beer option included three craft beers and a taco combo plate from Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant. The ticket was valid for one person and one day, with limited availability and advance online purchase.

The Community Beer Garden provides visitors with a dedicated place to enjoy food and drinks while remaining close to the Main Stage programming. The exact 2027 VIP offering has not yet been announced.

Festival rules

Because Adams Avenue Unplugged takes place across existing businesses and public neighborhood spaces, individual venues can have their own rules, capacity limits and age requirements.

Visitors should follow these general guidelines:

• Respect venue capacity limits and staff instructions.
• Follow the individual rules of participating restaurants, bars, clubs and other businesses.
• Check age requirements before entering venues that serve alcohol.
• Keep public areas and sidewalks clear for residents and other pedestrians.
• Be considerate of local residents and businesses.
• Follow applicable San Diego public safety and alcohol regulations.
• Use designated event and venue areas rather than obstructing sidewalks or entrances.
• Check the official programme for any venue-specific restrictions.

The event is designed as a community musical walkabout, so respectful behavior toward participating businesses, performers, residents and other visitors is an important part of the experience.

How to get there

Adams Avenue Unplugged takes place along Adams Avenue between University Heights, Normal Heights and Kensington in San Diego.

Because the festival covers a large neighborhood area rather than a single venue, visitors should choose their starting point according to the performances they want to see. The Normal Heights United Church at 4650 Mansfield Street is an important reference point because it has hosted the Main Stage and Community Beer Garden.

Driving is possible, but parking in the surrounding residential neighborhood can be limited and congested. Organizers have historically encouraged visitors to use rideshare services and public transportation where possible.

Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended because moving between venues is a major part of the Adams Avenue Unplugged experience.

Public transport after the festival

Public transportation is a useful option because the event stretches through several neighborhoods and parking can become difficult.

Previous event information specifically identified MTS bus routes 2 and 11 as serving the Adams Avenue neighborhoods. Visitors can use local public transportation to reach the corridor and then walk between participating venues.

Rideshare services are another practical option, particularly for visitors leaving the event after evening performances. Because individual venues finish at different times, visitors should check current MTS and rideshare availability when planning their return journey.

Accommodation areas

Visitors staying overnight can choose accommodation in several areas of central San Diego depending on whether they prioritize proximity to Adams Avenue, nightlife, restaurants or public transportation.

Normal Heights: This is one of the most convenient areas for visitors who want to stay close to the festival’s central performance corridor. It provides direct access to many of the participating venues and neighborhood restaurants.

University Heights: Located toward the western end of the Adams Avenue route, University Heights offers restaurants, cafes, bars and accommodation options while providing convenient access to the festival area.

Kensington: Kensington forms part of the eastern side of the festival corridor and is suitable for visitors who prefer a quieter residential neighborhood while remaining close to participating venues.

North Park: North Park is a popular nearby area with extensive dining, nightlife and accommodation options. It can be convenient for visitors who want more choices outside the immediate festival corridor.

Downtown San Diego: Downtown offers the broadest range of hotels and transport connections and can be suitable for visitors combining Adams Avenue Unplugged with other San Diego attractions.

Mission Valley: Mission Valley provides additional hotel choices and can be practical for visitors arriving by car, although transportation to Adams Avenue should be planned in advance.

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