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    Summer Pops

    3.9 (44 reviews)
    ModerateMusic Venues

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    Free shuttle!
    Elle N.

    This is now my favorite summer venue in San Diego for live music! I'm sure many pop performers have dreamed of playing with a world class symphony orchestra to back them! WOW! The husband and I went to see one of our favorite performer's Ben Folds and we booked the Champagne 1, front row, center seats. It doesn't get much better than this! This section includes pre-paid meal booking (if you want it) and bar table service. The site provides many options for beer and wine and you can order a bottle. We chose to pick up food from Brother's Provisions (food and nonalcoholic drinks may be brought in) and order a bottle of Pinot Noir at the event. We were very pleased with our $26.00 selection. The Summer Pops takes place on the waterfront/Embarcadero. The evening of the show the weather was perfect. It was not hot (performances usually begin around 7:30pm) and it never got cold (but be prepared to layer, as this was not the norm for a SoCal evening on the water)! The Summer Pops has a pop up shop on-sitewhere you may purchase blankets and other logo merchandise, should you need something. The sound at this event was incredible, it was very natural! Ben Folds is an incredible lyricist and storyteller. Between songs he shared many personal experiences and encouraged the expression of music and support for the symphony and to top the night off, he wrote a song for the evening with the front row...about...San Diego! He also served as our conductor for the sing along portion of the evening! Note: You may purchase parking near the convention center for $20.00 in advance, there are golf cart shuttles to the gate, where you will be greeted by friendly volunteers! Ben Folds and the San Diego Symphony... rocked our urban waterfront...much better than the suburbs!

    The intermission!  Yeah yeah yeah, I can't get a good shot in the dark, even if it is Into Darkness!  Hahaha!
    Kristal C.

    Expensive dinner, movie, and a live Symphony Orchestra! It just can't get any better than this!!! I have played in several symphonies myself from 4th grade and well into college, and these guys are top notch, as would be expected from Summer Pops. I still find it quite hilarious when people clap for when musicians are tuning though. It always made me laugh! Watching the Startrek movie with the real symphony. This is my 2nd time going to one of these movies with an orchestra playing the score. The conductor and musicians were flawless with timing! The emotion put into playing the music is apparent, something that you can't get from a record, because you can feel the music being played. I love these events! I wish I could go to more of these! If only I lived in the area! Whenever we go to comic con we get tickets for the movie and love music!

    First sets of seats
    Jackie B.

    What a great event to attend. Who would've thought that they would offer a FREE event to feature not only local bands, family games/activities, but also the San Diego Symphony Orchestra performing Academy Award winning composer John Williams music. We were entertained by Raylee Nikole, The King Taylor Project, Todo Mundo and The San Diego Symphony Orchestra tonight and had a blasts. Tim and I's first time and we are both totally hooked. What can you ask for amazing venue, live music, you can bring in your own food if you wanted to. If not they have a great selection of food and drinks. The atmosphere is just fantastic. Bay to the left and the SD skyline to the right. SD always delivers a beautiful day. Such an amazing time listening to live music while the sun is setting. When the SD Symphony came out and played John Williams's scores, you totally forgot where you were. So mesmerized by the music that it made you feel like you were elsewhere. Tim and I sat in the last two seats on the right hand side of the front row. The bathrooms were steps away to our right. Which there was never much of a wait. There's two bars. The one nearest to our seats served food as well. And if you keep to your left, there's another bathroom area set up. There's a grass area that had games. And people brought their own picnic chairs and blankets. There's also bleachers. But that didn't get packed til towards the end since the sun was out and anyone who would have sat there would have had a nice burn on their skin. The show went from 4-9pm. It said 930. But we walked out at 830 and the symphony was playing the last score. Oh btw, we didn't buy a parking spot prior to the event. So we ended up parking at the convention center for $20. Which was pretty convenient. Not much of a walk. And there's a shuttle right outside of the parking structure if you really do not walk lol! Also brought a blanket per other reviews recommendation, but didn't end up using it. I was wearing a maxi dress and just needed a light sweater to warm me up towards the end (about an hour prior to the show ending). Great location. Great times. This was such a great introduction to the SD Symphony Orchestra. This definitely will not be our last time attending.

    Julia K.

    Review is for ** 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular ** - A Bayside Summer Nights Concert The concert itself was astonishing. It just can't get any better than this! This is now my favorite venue in San Diego for live music. Coronado on the left and skyline to the right. All around you is the bay with boats and yachts anchored to listen to live music while the sun is setting down. 5 stars for the venue, 5 stars for the concert we saw!! There were LOTS of people but the venue was small and made everything seem much more intimate. Not to mention it's open air so the cool breeze made the night that much more fantastic. RECOMMENDATIONS: - UBER to the event if you can - Bring snacks with you (they're allowed)

    The shell is beautiful and the sound gets an A+.
    Bonnie S.

    So far I've been twice to the new SD Symphony shell; once to see Gordon Sumner of the Police and once for Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Both were equally great concerts. I'm so glad that the symphony has finally reopened and the newly redone venue is AMAZING. No more portapotties is a plus and the local restaurants (albeit pricey) are delicious. I like the soups because they donate one bowl for each one ordered. The pizzas are also tasty. The down side is that they don't let you bring food in or picnic there anymore. You also can't bring in water bottles although you can bring in empty bottles and refill them. The venue itself doesn't have a bad seat in the house and plenty of leg room between rows. The best part is the sound which is utterly amazing. At one point, I thought the music was behind me and it's worth the cost of the tickets that have gone up in price. Regardless, I highly recommend going and supporting our symphony. A+!

    Lauren G.

    It's never a bad time at the Summer Pops venue. The symphony is amazing and the staff is wonderful. I can't say enough good things about these events. It's exactly what summer is made of. Located right on the water, small boats pull up to hear the music. People have many seating options; on blankets, in chairs, at a personal-sized table near the stage. There's food and wine for purchase. Blankets and jackets to buy if you get cold and didn't plan well, as I so often do. It's perfect for any type of outing, family, friends or a date. I highly recommend Summer Pops. Try the kettle corn, it's amazing!

    Mediterranean Platter and a Cabernet bottle. Always good times at Summer Pops!

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    1 year ago

    The music gets always exceptionally excellent. I look forward to going every summer and being part of the great best of activities.

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    7 years ago

    So much fun. Just being on the water, and seeing the beautiful view is worth going. Lots of good music choices. Worth your while.

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    19 years ago

    awesome venue, best outdoor place to see a show in San Diego. And its right in down town!! can't beat that!

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    11 years ago

    Italian sailboats slowly drifting by as the Italian pop singer sang. Spacious. Great picnicking. Nice crowd.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Summer Pops

    Review Highlights - Summer Pops

    I'm so glad that the symphony has finally reopened and the newly redone venue is AMAZING.

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    Music Box - Third level interior seating

    Music Box

    3.9(517 reviews)
    1.0 miLittle Italy
    $$

    First time here and they definitely did impress…read more Staff was friendly and quick to make drinks and get people through the line. Security was nice and friendly even when I was in the wrong spot. The venue itself is more intimate, which I enjoyed, but they still had some seating they had private spots and even some reserve reserved or VIP tables which I really liked and I think I would get next time I came here. If you have a band that you enjoy, this is definitely a good venue if they're playing out to go check them out. Easy to get to via Lyft. And in a nice location in the downtown area.

    Music Box in Little Italy is such a gem for a fun date night! We went to see CID and had the best…read moretime from start to finish. The layout of the venue is one of my favorite parts--it feels intimate but still gives you options depending on your vibe. Downstairs is where most of the action is, but the upstairs is a total game changer. There's another bar (huge plus), plenty of space to move around, and a patio/terrace area where you can step out, catch some air, and still enjoy the music. It's the perfect balance between being in the crowd and having a more relaxed viewing experience. And the sound system? SO good. Crisp, immersive, and you can feel the music without it being overwhelming--CID sounded incredible. Overall, such a fun and unique spot for a night out or date night. We'll definitely be back for more shows!

    Photos
    Music Box - 3rd floor near bar

    3rd floor near bar

    Music Box - Third floor

    Third floor

    Music Box - Side seating

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    Side seating

    Prohibition - Our famous Prohibition Old Fashioned

    Prohibition

    4.0(1k reviews)
    0.4 miGaslamp
    $$

    As I approached the old law office, we found a line wrapped outside ensuring ID was confirmed prior…read moreto entry. Our group was surprised as is was 2115, it's been open for about an hour and a half and packed. As you enter this old law office down a staircase one would find the "speakeasy statutes/rules" to maintain the 1920s atmosphere-- we loved the setting, the people, the drinks, and of course the live music!! One would not be disappointed. The cocktail menu was on an old record, which I thought it was so clever. Back to the rules, seems pretty easy! They mention to keep an open mind with the drinks as they do not carry vodkas, redbull, Budweiser or bulls**t. Mentioned a dresscode, more so be classic and states be respectful and don't be a di*k. I couldn't agree more with the rules. I don't think there is good at this establishment, as our group just came from dinner I wasn't looking for food. Just spirits, live music and a good time. Highly recommend if you are looking for live music and uniquely crafted cocktails.

    I am writing this review to bring a serious safety and security issue to management's attention. On…read moreMay 18th. around 10pm, I was at this establishment and was unfortunately dealing with a male date who became erratic, weird, and made me feel unsafe. Multiple bystanders witnessed his behavior but failed to intervene, assuming it was just "relationship drama" After the man finally left, the venue's security completely misread the situation. Instead of checking on my well-being or ensuring the aggressor had left the premises, security targeted and chased me as if I were the problem. It is incredibly disappointing and dangerous for a business's security team to lack the basic situational awareness and training required to identify the actual victim in a situation. I felt entirely unprotected by the staff here. I hope management takes this as a serious sign that their security team needs immediate retraining on bystander intervention and de-escalation, rather than harassing women who are already in vulnerable situations.

    Photos
    Prohibition
    Prohibition - El Fruterio featuring Azunia GBOD single barrel reposado tequila

    El Fruterio featuring Azunia GBOD single barrel reposado tequila

    Prohibition - Live Jazz/Blues/Roaring 20's kinda vibe! My kind of bar/lounge! (5/5)

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    Live Jazz/Blues/Roaring 20's kinda vibe! My kind of bar/lounge! (5/5)

    The Shout! House - The Shout! House Dueling piano bar

    The Shout! House

    3.9(1.7k reviews)
    0.5 miGaslamp
    $$
    Live music
    Large group friendly

    On our last night in San Diego we asked the concierge for a suggestion. We wanted something far…read moreenough away ee could walk our dinner at The Melting Pot but not so far we would have to Uber back. She had complimentary tickets ( usually a $10 cover) to The Shout House, a dueling piano bar. We almost didn't go and let me tell you, that would have been a sad mistake. We walked in and while it was a little loud for us older folks, we looked around and took in all that was happening. There were people there much older than us as well as people barely old enough to be in a bar. The pianist (s) were hard at work a the drummer was rocking out too. We sat down. Let me tell you, that was the most fun we have had in a long time! All three musicians played multiple instruments, piano, harmonica, sax, and drums. The songs were everything from Slim Shady to Elton John and everything in between. Slips of paper were placed on the piano, a nod was given and off they went. The crowd sang along and we all laughed! Some of it was silly but ALL of it was fun! Highly recommend. About 10:30 the older crowd started making their way out, us included, early morning flight but we would have stayed until closing time. We might have paid for it the next day but had we not had a plane to catch we absolutely would have stayed. It was fun to see multiple generations having so much fun together and the music was incredible. We had just eaten so we didn't order food but what we saw on other tables looked good. Go!! You won't be sorry!

    When you wake up with a hoarse throat and sore muscles, you know you had a great night of singing…read moreand dancing. Had a blast at dueling pianos, a little cheesy, but the performers kept it rolling and entertaining with little to no lulls. Food is pretty basic bar food, service was top notch. I was amazed how well our server handled what we needed along with everything else he had going on.

    Photos
    The Shout! House - The Shout! House Glow Up Hurricanes

    The Shout! House Glow Up Hurricanes

    The Shout! House - Guest having fun at The Shout! House

    Guest having fun at The Shout! House

    The Shout! House - The Shout! House Bar

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    The Shout! House Bar

    The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park - John Legend

    The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

    3.8(276 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    The Rady Shell is a fantastic venue and it was well run and organized. I had not been there since…read morethe remodel and I was very surprised at all the changes. On the positive side first and foremost they now have regular bathrooms available which is so great. They also have a really nice area for sitting and having food and beverages along with many options for ordering. I miss not being able to to bring my own food and picnic but at least the alternative is nice. I was also surprised at the seating which is now all level and continues much further back. I think when they had the risers the seating was closer with the exception of the option to bring your chair and sit in the back. The seats further back now feel very removed and the video monitors are much too small for the back location. Overall the changes are positive and the venue is still fantastic on the water. It was a great experience attending a show there and I look forward to going back.

    I wanted to leave The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park a nicer review. I really did…read more A few years ago I saw Tower of Power with Lettuce there, and it was fantastic. Parking has always been rough, but considering the venue sits at the end of a peninsula, it felt forgivable. The views, bay atmosphere, and overall ambiance were beautiful. One odd thing, though: people can freely gather along the surrounding sidewalks and watch the concert on giant screens just yards from the stage. Good for locals, but it does make paying customers feel a little cheated. Because of that first experience, I was excited when James Taylor came through last year. My wife and I are always looking for concerts we can take my dad to. He's fully blind and uses a wheelchair, so accessibility matters a lot. I remembered the movable seating at the Shell and assumed ADA accommodations would be easy. The night of the concert immediately became stressful. We arrived early, but parking was a disaster. I tried to at least drop my dad off near the entrance, but traffic attendants were overwhelmed and simply yelling at cars without directing anyone properly. People were illegally unloading in traffic lanes while attendants simultaneously yelled at them to leave. My family follows the rules, so we waited for actual direction that never came. Despite having an ADA placard, we were never given a proper place to unload my dad safely. We eventually parked at the convention center, where staff were far more organized and quickly directed us to ADA parking. From there we had to push my dad uphill from the garage to the venue. Not terrible for me, but definitely difficult terrain for many wheelchair users. At the gates, security felt equally chaotic. My wife nearly walked in unchecked because staff seemed disorganized. Eventually someone directed us toward the ADA entrance, though not before tying random numbered paper tags to my dad's wheelchair that nobody ever referenced again. Inside, things got worse. An attendant escorted us to standard seats on a steep incline. When I explained we had paid for wheelchair-accessible seating, she looked confused and actually asked, while looking directly at my dad, "Well, can he get up and sit in one of these chairs?" That comment alone was shocking. No wheelchair user should ever be put in that position. She apologized, but then suggested parking his wheelchair across the aisle with walkers and scooters while he sat separately from his family. Another staff member arrived, and after several minutes of discussion, the final answer was essentially: "Make it work." Their solution was either for my dad to squeeze into tightly packed standard seating or remain isolated across the aisle near a guardrail. This was for tickets costing over $400 each. We first tried moving a chair to create wheelchair space, but the incline was so steep his wheelchair brakes couldn't hold. I spent the opening act physically bracing his chair with my foot and arm to stop him from rolling forward. My wife had to sit separately across the aisle just so I could angle myself properly to hold him in place. After the opener, I reluctantly asked my dad if he could transfer into a regular chair because I physically couldn't stabilize the wheelchair for the entire concert. He agreed, but the seating remained unsafe and uncomfortable. The rows were so cramped that people constantly brushed into him trying to pass. Because he's blind, I had to continuously warn him to pull his legs in or explain to strangers that he couldn't see them waiting. This became especially concerning because he's diabetic and a partial amputee with little feeling in his feet. Even a minor injury could become serious. My wife and I tried shifting chairs around to give him more room, but that forced her chair farther into the aisle. She eventually spent most of the concert sitting alone across the aisle in my dad's wheelchair. Meanwhile, staff seemed absent whenever actual problems arose. During the show, an intoxicated woman behind us screamed loudly, kicked audience members, and was loosely "handled" by security for nearly ten minutes before stumbling down the incline and falling into my wife. Staff mostly stood around watching. Leaving the venue was equally chaotic. Drivers were honking aggressively at the parking exits, and we watched one person eventually break a malfunctioning gate arm so cars could leave. Outside the venue, street musicians and vendors blocked walkways with speakers and displays, forcing families into the street to get around them. James Taylor sounded great, but I barely remember the performance because I spent the entire night managing accessibility problems, repositioning my dad, and worrying about my wife sitting separately. What should have been a bucket-list family memory became an exhausting, embarrassing experience. Sadly, I don't think we'll ever return to the Shell.

    Photos
    The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park - View of the skyline

    View of the skyline

    The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park - Panoramic pick

    Panoramic pick

    The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park - John legend

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    John legend

    House of Blues - Music Venue - Bread pudding and caramel sauce

    House of Blues - Music Venue

    3.3(1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Came here to watch The Cab and really enjoyed it! The space is a bit dated and you can tell it's on…read morethe older side but the sound and the intimate feel was really good. They have a lower and an upper floor with the upper stage reserved for VIP. The main floor is not huge but at least for our concert it didn't feel too packed.

    Large group reception, food only, no music event…read more I am attending a conference in San Diego and we went to the House of Blues for dinner. There were about 100 of us and we went into the basement, which has a cool, 60s vibe. It's kind of dark and seedy, I don't think my wife would go in there if the lights were bright. All this to say, this is not a normal review. Caveat emptor. You can see from the pictures that we went down a set of stairs, where there was a private bar and an informal gathering place, and we were served buffet style. Nonetheless, I had a chance to taste the brisket, jambalaya, vegan Cajun penne, mac & cheese, bread pudding, shrimp and grits, Brussels sprouts, and ooey gooey butter cake. I had to taste the jambalaya because it gets such great reviews. It was quite good, though I don't think I could eat a whole lot of it as it's pretty heavy. The brisket was fantastic, something I would go back for. The attached picture makes it look less appetizing than it was, because it's being served in a buffet pan. Shrimp and grits were little shrimps, tasted like they were previously frozen, and a piece of deep-fried grits. As I am a Texan, the grits didn't live up to my experience. The vegan Cajun penne was ordinary. The Brussel sprouts were sweet, covered in a thick sauce, very good if you like that sort of thing, but definitely not naked. The bread pudding and caramel sauce was OK, and the ooey gooey butter cake was pretty good. All in all the only thing I would return for (which is what I always look for in a restaurant) was the brisket. The staff were very friendly. The downstairs bar was run by one person, not enough for such a big crowd, so we had a very long line to wait for our liquor. We had two people doing quick portraits, and an LP decorating stand. And those were fun.

    Photos
    House of Blues - Music Venue - Bar

    Bar

    House of Blues - Music Venue - Ooey gooey butter cake

    Ooey gooey butter cake

    House of Blues - Music Venue - Entrance to music venue

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    Entrance to music venue

    Summer Pops - musicvenues - Updated June 2026

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