Adams Avenue Unplugged connected community, businesses to array of talented artists

On Saturday, Uptown hosted Adams Avenue Unplugged, a free musical walkabout that had the neighborhood’s streets buzzing with people, food vendors and the sound of live music.  

Adams Avenue Unplugged is an annual event that started back in 2012, but its foundation can be traced back decades earlier in accordance with San Diego’s rich music festival scene, evolving from the Roots Festival and the Adams Avenue Street Fair. 

The most recent edition took place on a two-mile stretch through Uptown’s neighborhoods, including University Heights, Normal Heights and Kensington. Over 90 performers took the stage in an assortment of 26 indoor and outdoor venues, including restaurants, bars and the historic Normal Heights Church, among others. 

With no need to RSVP or to purchase a ticket, guests had the freedom to choose whichever performance to attend, whether they gravitated towards a lively show by an indie rock band at a bar, a quiet and conversational acoustic folk set at a church, or a late night experimental DJ set at a dimly lit lounge. 

Throughout the day, Adams Avenue Unplugged welcomed new and returning artists in an array of musical genres that showcased the versatility of talent local to San Diego. 

Amongst the returning artists was Amanda Portela, who gave the first performance of the day at 11 a.m. in a coffee shop, Marta. Portela’s genre-defying music creates a distinct sound that transcends language and nationalities, blending Latin jazz, R&B and alternative rock. 

She has been part of Adams Avenue Unplugged for 15 years and has continued to experiment with distinct styles and musical combinations for every performance, this time joined solely by guitar player Nico Hueso. 

Underneath the Normal Heights sign just east of Felton Street on Adams, The Gravities played at The Rabbit Hole bar & restaurant in the afternoon. The band’s signature soul/funk fusion had the dance floor full as people danced along to the music of frontman and drummer Isaac Guerra, vocalist Riston Diggs, bassist Ben Roberson and electric guitarist Sam Triston.

The San Diego-based band drove the festival towards an energetic jam session that encouraged its audience to groove to a  ‘70’s inspired sound that has made them a staple in the city’s live music scene. 

Next door at The Ould Sod, country artist Sara Petite drew in an audience that had the bar filled to capacity. The intimate setting accommodated Petite, an electric guitar player and drummer, who played an original setlist, sharing personal stories through song in true country fashion.

The performance came three days before Petite left San Diego to complete a series of 10 shows through the United Kingdom. She is another of the returning artists who has come back to Adams Avenue Unplugged since 2012. 

Down the street at Smitty’s Service Auto Repair shop, The Beard and The Bird stood with their classic acoustic guitar, white upright bass and an additional violin that attracted the attention of passersby. In addition to performing original songs – self-described as “western swing music,”​ the duo gave a unique rendition of “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics. 

Event organizers transformed the space outside Smitty’s into an open-air courtyard complete with seating and food vendors, including Flavors of East Africa. Additional vendors throughout the event included Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant, House of Baro and Goodboy Pizza. For vinyl enthusiasts, Soul Side Vinyl had a pop-up outside of Mixed Grounds Coffee Shop. 

One disappointment – the cancellation from rock musician Alejandro Escovedo, who was set to perform in the Normal Heights Church as a headliner. So Deke Dickerson served as the last performer of the day at the venue, alternating between electric and acoustic guitar throughout his performance. He also told stories between songs, emotional country and rockabilly tunes, making for a personal performance.  

The event is set to continue next year after 2026’s successful installment again connected members of the community with local businesses, artists, vendors – and one another.

Note, featured photo: Vocalist Riston Diggs and bassist Ben Roberson of The Gravities; photo by Shanti Velasco.