Street Scene: Music Festival, San Diego, Bands And Concert Tickets
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Published: October 30, 2007
In 1984, Rob Hagen began the yearly San Diego musical festival that thousands still flock to: Street Scene. Originally a one-day event catering to rock music fans, it has transformed into a blend of musical genres over a three-day spread of various concerts. Through important transitions, Street Scene has evolved to be considered a premier event for musical artists and bands.
Street Scene shares its history with a cherished San Diego neighborhood and one of the city's most culturally diverse social events, The Taste of San Diego. Originally, the music festival held two events in May and August in one of San Diego's historic districts located on Fifth Avenue in the downtown area. The event initially featured only two stages placed on both sides of the street. By 1987, Street Scene's venue outgrew the small space it primarily had required. The event founder obtained more blocks to host larger crowds, and as a result five stages were added. As the festival gained prominence with artists and fans, The Taste of San Diego was welcomed to Street Scene to add a touch of flavor. The Taste is a showcase of the various food vendors of San Diego in a festival-like event of food tasting and celebrating. When The Taste partnered with Street Scene in 1995, the event went from one day to three days of musical concerts with a carnival appeal.
Street Scene caters to all ages. The Taste of San Diego has incorporated an all inclusive spirit to the music festival that is more than just food, great bands and music. Street Scene elicits a celebratory mood that includes parades of people trailing down the streets in elaborate costumes. For the older event-goers there are festival perks such as alcohol badges that allow for all day alcohol consumption. There are also booths for gambling and a lineup of cabaret shows, djs, and light shows.
The core of Street Scene remains the music. Some of the world's most famous bands and solo artists have taken part in the music festival. Street Scene covers almost every musical genre with performances by such artists as rap icon Snoop Dog, hip-hop star Kanye West, pop group REM, and blues artists like The Allman Brothers Band. Fans are treated to simultaneous musical concerts on various stages. Concert tickets have reached nearly $70,000 – $105,000 over the 23 year period that Street Scene has existed.
In recent years, Street Scene has had more than a few venue changes. In 2005, event founder Rob Hager moved the musical event from the original Fifth Avenue location to the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot, where it spent two years. The Qualcomm Stadium venue change left room for criticism as concert attendees did not appreciate the parking lot location. In 2007, Street Scene held its annual event at the Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California, after plans to move to Del Mar's fairgrounds were scrapped. These moves have been an attempt by Street Scene's founder to rejuvenate the festival.
There is a price for admission to Street Scene that includes general tickets and VIP packages. For further information, the Street Scene website offers a lineup of scheduled bands and their performance times, as well as tickets and upcoming concerts. This information is forthcoming as Street Scene is currently putting together the 2008 event. It is currently one of the longest running musical events that is still going strong.
Sources:
Cronkhite, Miriam. “Street Scene Turns 20.” The Music Box. 5 Sept 2003. 24 Oct 2007. http://www.musicbox-online.com/ss9-03.html
Street Scene 07. History. Street Scene. 2007. 24 Oct 2007. http://www.street-scene.com/history.shtml
"Street Scene (San Diego Music Fesitival)." Wikipedia. 13 Oct 2007. 24 Oct 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Scene_(San_Die go_music_festival)
